Songs 1:6 Look not on me, because I am black, because the sun has looked on me: my mother's children were angry with me… I. THE RELATION WHICH CHRIST SUSTAINS TO US AS THE SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS. II. THE WARM AFFECTION WHICH CHRIST'S RELATION TO US INSPIRES. "Thou whom my soul loveth." III. The special manifestation of his favour for which our affection pleads. "Tell me where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon." It is a perfectly legitimate thing to desire a close, personal intimacy with our Saviour. There is no virtue in spiritual timidity. We ought not to be contented with a dwarfed and maimed Christianity, with an imperfect righteousness or a disturbed peace. In everything we should seek to attain the highest and do the best. And if Christ be a Saviour at all, we ought to desire His best and choicest blessings. If He welcomes us in our sin and sorrow, He will not spurn our endeavours to be always near Him. If, however, we are to reach this height, we must take the course indicated in our text. We rise by earnest and fervent prayer. "Tell me where Thou feedest." To receive we must ask; to find we must seek; to have the door opened to us we must knock. The receiving of this blessing must be made a direct and specific aim. IV. THE SATISFACTION AND DELIGHT SUCH A MANIFESTATION OF OUR LORD'S FAVOUR WILL BRING. ,"Why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?' I need scarcely remind you how in actual life other lords than Christ claim to rule over us. (J. Stuart.) Parallel Verses KJV: Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. |
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