Jun 13
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Paved with Love Song 3:9-10 King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of cedar-wood from Lebanon. Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its top was upholstered with purple, its interior being PAVED WITH LOVE, for the daughters of Jerusalem. I shall beg you to notice, first, this morning, THE GROWTH WHICH IS INDICATED HERE AS TO OUR VIEWS OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE.
The description advances step by step, each sentence mentioning an additional and far-enhanced preciousness. Thus do those who study the work of salvation prize it more and more. At the first glance the sweet singer who speaks in this song perceived that the chariot was made of cedar, a costly wood; a closer view revealed “the silver pillars, beauteous to behold”: further observation showed “the base all of burnished gold.” From cedar to silver, and from silver to gold, we have a clear advance as to precious material.
On looking again, the observer remarks “the top of princely purple,” which is yet more precious as the type of imperial dignity, and the token of that effectual atonement which was wrought out by the ensanguined stream of Calvary. The blood which dyed that purple canopy is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire. And then, though one would think there could be no advance beyond the precious blood, the song proceeds yet one step further, for we find that “the interior thereof was paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.”
Beloved, the whole way of salvation was devised by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is all his own planning, and all his own carrying out. Hence the Song says, “King Solomon made for himself a chariot out of the wood of Lebanon.”
Jesus is the sole author and finisher of our faith; salvation is his from first to last; every part of the covenant reveals his master hand. This is the glory of the whole, and this the believing eye perceives at the very first glance, and is thereby made glad; but further knowledge reveals other bright and glorious facts, and as the matter is considered, wonder and gratitude increase. Let us, then, take a brief survey of this glorious gospel chariot, that wondrous thing, — Jehovah’s covenant of grace.When we look at the covenant of salvation, at the very first glimpse of it we see that there is none like it: many schemes have been imagined and preached up as ways of salvation, but not one of them can be likened to the method of atonement by blood, reconciliation through a substitutionary sacrifice, redemption by the incarnate God, salvation all of grace, from first to last . DWELL ON THAT LOVE itself just for a moment.
Remember it is SPECIAL love. It is not love for all men. There is some consolation in universal benevolence, but here we go deeper, and rejoice in love for “the daughters of Jerusalem”. There is an electing, discriminating, distinguishing love, which is settled upon a chosen people– a love which goes forth to none beside, but only to them; and it is this love which is the true resting-place of the saint.
It is love UNDESERVED, for what daughter of Jerusalem ever deserved that our glorious King should fall in love with her? It is a love, therefore, which is a theme for eternal wonder. Why did you love me, Redeemer? Why did you make a covenant of grace with me, and line that covenant with immutable love?
This love is EVERLASTING and ETERNAL. It never had a beginning, it never will have an end. Simply as I have stated the truth, it is a nut with heaven for its kernel. You were always loved, O believer, and you always shall be, come what may.
It is love UNRIVALLED, for never was there such affection as that which Christ has for his chosen; love UNEXAMPLED, to which none of us shall ever reach. There is no love like the love of God in Christ. It is love which to us has become this day our brightest thought, our truest comfort, and our most potent incentive. Law rules the slaves of this world, but love rules the freemen of the world to come. The ungodly, if they do right after a fashion, do it from fear of punishment or hope of reward; but the true-born children of God find in the love of Christ their sole motive: they are obedient not because they are afraid of being lost — they know they never shall be: not because they hope to get to heaven by their good works — they have heaven already by the works of another, guaranteed to them by the promise of God: but they serve God out of pure gratitude for what they have received, rejoicing as they work in the service of one they love so well.
Beloved, may the love of God be shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Spirit this morning, and all the days of your lives, and O that many who have never tasted of that love may be made to long for it, that they may be made alive by it, and unto God shall be glory. Amen and Amen. Charles Spurgeon (extract from paved with Love,1973.)