Men shall be blessed in Him

"Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever." -Psalm 45:2 [KJV]

I admire this blessed portion, as well as the method in which the sacred writer hath introduced it. He opens the psalm, professing his design of speaking of the King: but in a moment, as if beholding him, he breaks off, and speaks to him. The verse now quoted contains but three short sentences: but indeed within its bosom, there are folded up as many volumes. For who so fair, so lovely, so engaging, as Jesus? "He is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person:' and if all the accomplishments and perfections which can constitute excellency, be among the recommendations of beauty and loveliness; then it will be found, that in the person of Jesus they all centre and shine in one full constellation.  

Well might the prophet therefore speak of him in this character: for he is a perfection of loveliness. Every thing in him is lovely, nor can there be, any loveliness but what is derived from him. "Thou art comely, (saith Jesus to the church), from the comeliness that I have put upon thee." My soul! never lose sight of this view of thy Jesus. And let it be everlastingly impressed upon thy mind, that whatever is fair, or amiable, or lovely, in the church of Jesus, or in, any individual member of it, ordinances, or means, of grace, all are so only as beheld in him. Nothing can endear or recommend them to God, but as they are accepted in Him, the beloved. This is the first volume of beauty contained in the bosom of this verse of scripture. And the second is like onto it. For, next to the glory of Christ's person, we are called upon to admire the glories of his work and office. "Grace is poured into grace in his heart only, his lips." Not a fulness of or in the purity and holiness of his nature: but it is "poured into his lips," to give out to his people.  

And no wonder, therefore, that the church, under this view of her Lord, cried out with an earnestness of holy longings and desires, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth," as if conscious, that by those means, grace would be communicated in fulness and abundance. Let those who know the blessedness of these communications, explain the justness of the church's breathings for those tokens of the love of Christ; for such only can fully explain their meaning. But, my soul, do thou judge for thyself, whether thou hast so tasted of the Lord's graciousness, from the fulness "poured into his lips," as to have received those frequent manifestations of his love. There is one word more in this delightful verse to be noticed, and which indeed gives a finishing beauty to the whole, namely, "God hath blessed him for ever."  

Yes, Jesus, as the glorious Head and Mediator, is blessed for ever, and is Jehovah's salvation to the ends of the earth. "Men shall be blessed in him," is the sovereign decree, and "all nations shall call him blessed." My soul! behold what a blessed subject for endless delight, the Holy Ghost hath opened to thee, in this one short verse of scripture. Take it with thee to thy bed; let it lie down with thee, and arise with thee; for it will give thee songs in the night, and under the Holy Spirit's teaching, it will so open to thy view the glories of thy Jesus, as to make thy constant "meditation of him sweet." 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)  

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