INTRODUCTION
"Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels..."
The husband is speaking to his wife. More importantly, Christ is speaking to his Church.
1. BEAUTIFUL CHEEKS
"Thy cheeks are comely..." The groom compliments his bride on the beauty of her face. Jewels are dangling from her hair. They are a gift from her husband. He has made her beautiful. The same is true in the gospel. Christ makes sinners beautiful by putting the jewels of His grace upon them. Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Ezekiel 16:14 "thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD."
2. BARE CHEEKS
Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my...cheeks to them that plucked off the hair." The cheeks of the Lord Jesus Christ were bare when the Sanhedrin and the soldiers pulled the hair from His beard.
3. BRUISED CHEEKS
Lamentations 3:30 "He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him." Micah 5:1 "they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." Luke 22:63 "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face." The cheeks of Christ were bruised from the grievous bodily harm He received at the hands of the Sanhedrin and the soldiers.
4. BLESSED CHEEKS
Cheeks that are wet with tears. Tears of repentance are the diamonds of heaven.
Oh let me kiss Thy pierced feet,
And bathe and wash them with my tears!
The story of Thy love repeat
In every drooping sinner’s ears;
That all may hear the quickening sound
Since I, e’en I, have mercy found.
