1 Kings 10:9 Blessed be the LORD your God, which delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever… The Queen of Sheba acknowledgeth and praiseth Jehovah, as the author of Solomon's advancement. She observes, that it was an evidence of God's special regard to him, that he was set on the throne of Israel, God's peculiar people. And she further observes, that it was a token of God's great and everlasting love to Israel, that so wise and pious a prince was set over them. With much more justice may these words be applied to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom God hath "set as king, on His holy hill Zion." Let us see how the words are applicable to Christ, and what reason we have to bless God for so wise and gracious an appointment. I. THE DESIGNATION OR APPOINTMENT OF CHRIST TO BE HEAD AND KING OF THE CHURCH WAS AN EVIDENT INSTANCE OF GOD'S DELIGHT IN HIM. Thus a great honour was conferred upon the Son of God. It is an honour to be any way employed for God. In this view the work of Christian ministers is honourable, and it becomes them to magnify their office. It is an honour to the angels to be the ministers of God and do His pleasure. But signal honour was conferred upon Christ, in being invested with so great authority, exalted to so extensive a dominion, and having all things put under His feet. This was an evidence that He loved righteousness and hated iniquity, that God thus exalted Him. II. THE APPOINTMENT OF CHRIST TO BE KING OF THE CHURCH, IS A REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF GOD'S LOVE TO MAN. Because He loved the world, He made Jesus Christ king, to do justice and judgment. It was an evidence of God's love to men, that He appointed prophets and teachers to instruct and reclaim an ignorant, idolatrous, sinful world. But in proportion to the excellency of the persons commissioned to this work, will the Divine love and grace be apparent. It is a merciful scheme, to rescue the world from ignorance, superstition and vice; to erect a spiritual kingdom in it; to destroy the works of the devil, and to deliver men from the worst slavery. But to manifest His Son for this purpose, was an astonishing instance of mercy. The perfections of His nature, and especially His moral excellences, qualify Him for this work. (J. Orton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. |
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