Scripture: Psalm 45:2
Sermon notes
The loveliness of Christ, #2: A lovely man, with a lovely message
It is perhaps important again to insist that the content of this Psalm relates to Christ the Saviour. The words of v6-7 are cited in Heb 1:8-9. It is Him that the Psalmist speaks of and to.
The heart warming thoughts of King Jesus that fill the Psalmist’s mind begin to spill out now in words on the page. His tongue is indeed the pen of a ready writer.
The Saviour appears in this text as a man with a message of eternal grace and blessing. This is a chief aspect of His beauty in the eyes of the Psalmist. It is very striking to see where he begins His description of the loveliness of the Saviour.
I THE BEAUTY OF CHRIST IS SEEN BY COMPARISON WITH MEN.
- An instructive point of comparison made. He is said to be fairer than the children of men. Clearly this indicates that on one level He is a ‘son of man’. There is a sense in which He may be compared legitimately with men—because He is a man! Cp John 12:34.
- The beauty of Christ appears in His humanity. Fairer > ‘to be bright, beautiful’. His loveliness is not limited to His humanity but does appear there. The far-reaching implications of the incarnation make Christ beautiful to the believer. Cp Is 52:7. He is beautiful both in His state of humiliation and exaltation. There is a wonderful illustration of how the beauty and glory of the Godhead appears in His humanity in His transfiguration, Matt 16:27-17:2. John saw something of this again, Rev 1:12-17.
- He exceeds the natural beauty of men. All beauty and virtue is perfected in Christ. He is as described in SoS 5:10. The imperfections and blemishes caused by sin in the best of men are absent in Christ. He is the perfect man, without sin. Cp 1 Cor 15:47.
- An important statement. These words are spoken to the Saviour. It is important to tell Him that this is what He is to us! Such communication is to be a part of our prayer and praise. There is a measure of devotion and consecration in these words—the Lord comes first in the affections.
II HIS WORDS ARE A PRIMARY ASPECT OF HIS LOVELINESS.
- He speaks. There is a loveliness to the sound of Jesus’ words. Cp SoS 2:8. The people of Christ have an ear for His voice. Cp John 10:27, 4-5—this voice is not that of a stranger. It is an attractive voice to them that draws them after Him. His word is the chief means of communicating Himself to His people. It is here we see the beauty of the Saviour.
- There is an abundance of grace in His message. The words of Christ are words of grace/kindness. Even the word grace is on occasion used to convey the idea of beauty! Beautiful words! Cp John 1:16-17. He has been commissioned to speak gracious words to mankind. These are gospel words spoken in love to sinners. Cp Is 50:4, Luke 4:22 (Is 61:1-2), John 7:46. It is striking to see that these words are presented as originating outside of Himself and poured copiously into His lips as part of His anointing by the Father. Cp John 7:16. His word is the revelation of a message of the infinite grace of God to sinners.
III THE LOVELINESS OF CHRIST IN GOD’S EYES MAKES HIM A CHANNEL OF ETERNAL BLESSING.
- Because of what Christ is He becomes the possessor of eternal blessing. The Saviour embodies in Himself all of the rich, eternal blessings of God. Cp Eph 1:3. He is made the source of eternal blessing by the Father in His role as the Redeemer.
- This blessing is communicated to Him solely on the basis of the message that He has been given to communicate. There are many different aspects of the perfect, infinite blessedness that is to be seen in Christ. Cp Rom 1:25—He is blessed/glorious as the Creator. Yet it is a gospel blessedness that is seen here. It is communicated to Him by the Father on account of the message that He has been given. As the communicator of the gospel message, He has been endowed with all this gracious blessing. The message He brings gives access to a vast store of Divine blessing. Cp Ps 34:8.
- By His gracious words He dispenses that blessing to men. His gospel pronounces that blessing upon sinners. He opens His mouth and what blessing pours into the hearts and lives of all who will give heed.
Do we recognize the beauty of Christ in His words? Can we say with John: And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17