Prov. 9; Matthew 22
In Proverbs 9:1-5 we have wisdom's feast. Who this wisdom is may be gathered from the previous chapter, where it is written, “Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” (vers. 22, 23). “When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by him as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men” (vers. 29-31). Of whom could this be here but of “the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father,” and who declared Him? and of none other indeed, for “no man hath seen God at any time” (John 1:18).
Wisdom sets out in connection with the house she has built, stability-"She hath hewn out her seven pillars” ; and as for her feast, readiness “she hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished (or prepared) her table"; and the invite is characterized by openness and broad daylight-” she hath sent forth her maidens, she crieth upon the highest places of the city.” And the apostle Paul could say, We “have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2). Further, there is no disguise as to the character of the persons invited. For, whilst making them welcome, she lets them plainly know how she regards them “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.” How blessed it is to adopt God's estimate of ourselves and to accept of His bounty!
In marked contrast to all this are the ways and allurements of the world (chap. 7.)-"The stranger which flattereth with her tongue,” whose call is given “near the corner,” “in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night” ; for she is “subtle of heart"-no security about it. The most she can allege is, “the goodman is not at home.” But, “when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
In 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul quotes from Isaiah 64, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” But he adds, “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” And these things are connected with Jesus Christ, once crucified, but now glorified. And the apostle's testimony was not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, for he felt that what was entrusted to him was God's testimony. So he goes on to say, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained (or, predetermined) before the ages for our glory.” What a mine of boasting we have in our Lord Jesus, a mine which “the princes of this world” [or, age have rejected, for “had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” But of the blessings connected with the eternal state (see Revelation 21:1-7) we read, “He that overcometh shall inherit these (not “all,” as A.V.) things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” The character of the overcomer is given us in 1 John 5:4, 5, “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.” If we think only of the millennial state, is it nothing to be part of “the bride, the Lamb's wife” ? to have one's share in “the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, and her light like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” ? Nothing to be part of that city of which it is written, “I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it, and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” ?
Truly lovely is the preparation of the king's marriage feast for his son, as given in Matthew 22. In contemplating it we must be careful to note the leading thought of the Holy Spirit, which is, “a certain king made a marriage feast for his son” (ver. 2). The king-” the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, only God” (1 Timothy 1:17); the son—Christ Jesus, who “came into the world to save sinners” (ver. 15). Surely at such a feast all would be of the best; it would be below such royalty to provide anything inferior, or that could even be matched. And the guests who receive and accept the invitation have an entertainment as far transcending that provided by Ahasuerus (Esther 1:1-8) as the light unveiled by. cloud of the noonday sun is above the glow worm's gleam. But the idea of the whole is not how the guests will fare, or even be arrayed, but what is worthy for Him whose “portion shall be with the great” and His “spoil with the strong"-for whose glory the feast was instituted, and who is in all things to have the pre-eminence. Let us seize this thought, and then everything else in a certain sense will cease to be wonderful. Yes, tell them, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen, and [my] fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come unto the marriage feast.” Who, in view of such extensive preparations, could think of taking with him provisions or garments of his own? To do so would be a direct insult to the king's “all things.” And who could keep away in the light of such a gracious injunction-"As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast” ?
So these wise servants “gathered together all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests.” Who then could doubt his welcome? for in the world mankind is either “good” or “bad.” But God's word concludes all in unbelief-there is none “good,” for all have sinned, and come short of His glory (Romans 3:9-23). Do you think of the furniture that becomes the abode of royalty, and on such an occasion? Do you ponder the “white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the beds of gold and silver upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble” (Esther 1:6)? Are these, or even superior, glories the furniture that attracts the attention of the king? No. The wedding was “furnished” with guests. And every guest there spoke to the King's eye and heart of the unexampled sufferings of His Son, of the depths of the lowliness to which He went, of the grace that led Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yes; those marriage robes—how they must have brought it all before the King's heart. And if before the feast began they sang, “Unto him that loveth us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto his God and Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen,” would they not be in perfect unison with the King's own thoughts and wishes (see John 5:23)? Needless is it to remark in the vernacular of to-day, that a man “not having a wedding garment” was indeed not in it.
But there is one other preparation we may allude to before closing. And it is a scene not of glories, blessed as they are in their place, but of the heart's affections. Before the Lord Jesus left this world He spake thus, “In my Father's house are many mansions (or abodes); if it were not so I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also” (John 14:2, 3). Comment fails us here. The One who comes to fetch us, the prepared place to which He will bring us after first receiving us to Himself, and the being with Him in His Father's house (and that forever), are enough to fill to overflowing any heart that has tasted His love.
W. N. T.