THE VOICE OF CHRIST

“Never man spake like this man”, John 7. 46. Psalm 45 is described as “A Song of Loves”. It speaks of a royal marriage, and describes the king in all his beauty. It points to the beauties that are in Christ, and the beauties of His voice for today are indicated in verses 1, 2.

Its Source, “My heart is inditing a good matter”, v. 1, or overflowing, bubbling over. Some suggest that there is here a picture of the meal offering in preparation and presentation; as prepared in the frying pan and with the mingled oil in Leviticus 2, it is bubbling over. The source here is the heart— those things that we give outward expression to must begin within the heart. So it is with Christ—everything that He said came from the heart.

Its Subject, “I speak of the things which I have made touching the king”, v. 1. The subject is the king. Christ had many things to say, but He spoke so much of His Father in heaven. His object was always to glorify His Father, and the Father always honoured His Son. There could be no better subject about which to talk than that of the two on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24. 13-27.

Its Service, “my tongue is the pen of a ready writer”, v. 1. These words could suggest the thought of a reporter or observer making detailed notes, ensuring that nothing is omitted. So it was with Christ—no words were wasted, but nothing that had to be said was omitted. Note that the writer is described not as a penman but as a pen. God is the Craftsman; we are the tool. He is the potter; we are the clay.

Its Sweetness. The stress here is on moral and spiritual beauty rather than on anything physical, namely on inward perfection and a readiness to impart to others what He has to say. The voice of Christ is a still, small voice, and it behoves us to draw near to Him and to stay there so that we can hear His voice speaking to us. John heard the voice of Christ in connection with the charge concerning Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ—and this was because he was standing near the cross, John 19. 25-27. Are we standing by Him at the cross?; can we hear His voice?

Speech is the gift of many, but thought of few.