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Introduction
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When considering the beauty of the Lord it is important to
realize that to the unsaved or carnal saint, “there is no beauty
in the Lord that
we
should desire Him” (Isa. 53:2). Neither is there any desire for
a deepening knowledge or appreciation of Him (2 Pet. 1:8; 3:18). |
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a) |
God sees no spiritual beauty in any one of us (Rom. 3:9-18) and
before salvation we see no beauty in God and His character.
Even after salvation we may sing of His beauty, speak of His
beauty, but in reality not see anything really attractive in
Him. To see sin and all that is of the world is either a
distortion by Satan or a method to distract us from the beauty
of the Lord. Therefore, when we speak of the beauty of the Lord
this is from God’s evaluation and only ours as we grow and
develop spiritually by divine enlightenment. |
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b) |
The Lord was beautiful to God and the Father, of Whom He said,
“In whom my soul delighteth” (Isa. 42:1-2) and, “in Thee I am
well pleased” (Lk. 3:22). That which enabled God to say that
Christ was His delight was that he was all that thrilled, elated
the heart of God the Father. To God He was always beautiful,
stunningly magnificent, for in Him every attribute, decree,
word, deed and thought was a sweet fragrance to God. |
The beauties of the Lord are seen as
illustrated by piano playing. A
single note can be played and it is
acceptable in certain cases.
However, if a harmonizing second
note is played it is more
interesting. Furthermore, a whole
series of notes can be played at one
time and when this is done
repeatedly, it can produce a piece
of music that will move the heart
and mind. This is the way it is
with the Lord. We can see His
actions, and they are beautiful. If
to his actions are added his words,
it is increasingly beautiful. When
there is added to these His motives,
His goals, His attitudes or
reactions and watch these day after
day unfold every moment of every day
in perfection, the heart is moved by
the superlative perfections of the
Lord.
However, whither I simply have an
intellectual knowledge that the Lord
has beauties or whither this is a
real heart and mind appreciation,
depends on the level of my
spirituality and entrance into
eternal life. Eternal life (ginosko)
is knowing God and Christ (Jn.
17:3). The longing of the heart of
Paul was to know (ginosko) Him
(Phil. 3:10).
(Ginosko means to know, understand,
perceive, have knowledge of)
John will tell us that we know (ginosko)
Him, that is true. This “knowing”,
(ginosko) is not intuitive, but it
is knowledge gained by experience,
to become acquainted with. The fact
is that I can know and speak of the
beauties of the Lord and it is all
intellectual, but to know (ginosko)
Him is heart appreciation.
Illustration:
An individual who is totally deaf
goes to a concert and there is
played a splendid piece of music.
It is played with great skill and
feeling. However, this particular
individual has not heard a single
note, but when they all stand
afterward, he will bluff his way and
say, “That was beautiful”. He is
only saying that which others who
have appreciation and hearing will
say, but personally he has no idea
what they are talking about. We can
be the same! The beauty of holiness
meaning He is altogether lovely,
fairer than the children of men, yet
these be nothing other than dead
facts being repeated by individuals.
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There is an expression found only four times in all the
scriptures. It is, “the beauty of holiness” (1 Chron. 16:29; 2
Chron.
20:21; Psa. 29:2; 96:9). |
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a) |
Holiness marked the life of the Lord for He was holy in: |
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i) |
In birth (that holy thing) (Lk. 1:35) |
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ii) |
In life for, “He did no sin” (1 Pet. 2:22); “He knew no sin” (2
Cor. 5:21); “In Him is no sin” (1 Jn. 3:5); He was “without sin”
(Heb. 4:15). |
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iii) |
In death (when speaking of the sin offering which typifies the
death of our Lord, God describes it as “Most holy” (Lev. 6:17,
25) |
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iv) |
In the tomb He was holy, “thine Holy One” (Acts 2:27) |
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v) |
And as our Great High Priest He is the same, “who is holy” (Heb.
7:26) |
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How beautiful He is for holiness is the balancing of all other
attributes. |
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When the Holy Spirit reveals to the individual a little of the
glories of the Lord, we stand amazed at His exclusive
perfections in: |
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a) |
His suitability to reveal the Father (Jn. 14:9) |
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b) |
The fulness of His resources to accomplish salvation (Heb. 5:9) |
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c) |
His sovereign right and power to be the Governor among the
nations (Psa. 22:28) |
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d) |
His superlative power for overcoming every opposing force (Heb.
2:14) |
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e) |
None of His honors and titles are the bestowments of any human
legislative body, none of His powers are enabling of
governmental authorities. His dominion is not exercised under a
house of representatives or military dictatorship, and finally,
they are not from earth and therefore are eternal. |
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Glorious it is to know that we are accepted in
the Beloved (Eph. 1:4),
that is, despite my sin and ignominy, self will and
distortedness, ugliness and shame, I am seen in He who is the
delight of the heart of God. |
Some of The Beauties of The Lord
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The Lord was beautiful in: |
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a) |
His love of the Father. Before leaving the upper room the Lord
said, “That the world may know that I love the Father” (Jn.
14:31). Precious is the truth that at Calvary was the Son
saying, “This is the manifestation of my love for the Father”. |
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b) |
His
love for His own (Jn. 13:1). The stupendousness of this truth
is that as the Father loved the Son, so has He loved us (Jn.
15:9), (loved in both cases is
the same Greek word). Who could measure the depth and
fulness the love of the Father has for His well beloved? That
is the depth and fulness of love He has for us (Jn. 15:9). |
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c) |
The tenderness with which He spoke to Judas. I ask myself, “How
would I speak to a professed disciple who had betrayed me and
sold me to those who hate me?” The naturalness in me would be
to spit at him and want him to get out of my sight, despising
the individual. The Lord was ever so compassionate and gracious
so that when he spoke to Judas giving him the sop, there was not
a tint of spitefulness but rather it was as if he told him to
“go and give something to the poor” (Jn. 13:29). Then in that
dark hour when Judas came with the multitude, the Lord called
him “Friend” (Matt. 26:50). The word indicates, “my good
friend”. How beautifully the Lord spoke to him. |
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d) |
Other beauties which one could meditate on are: |
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i) |
Truth - “The truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32) |
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Humility - “As one . . . serveth” (Jn. 13:4-5) |
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iii) |
Power - “What manner of man is this” (Matt. 8:27) |
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Meekness - “Grow up . . . as a tender plant” (Isa. 53:2) |
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v) |
Authority - “Teaching, with power” (Matt. 7:29) |
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vi) |
Gentleness - “He touched” (Matt. 8:15; Lk. 22:51) |
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vii) |
Sensitiveness - When He spoke to Mary (Jn. 20:16) |
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viii) |
Sorrows - “Acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3) |
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ix) |
Joys - He rejoiced in spirit - Joy (Lk. 10:21) |
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x) |
Words - “Never man spake like this man” (Jn. 7:46) |
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xi) |
Silence Before Pilate and Herod - (Matt. 27:14; Lk. 23:9) |
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xii) |
Compassion
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“When He saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion” (Matt. 9:36) |
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xiii) |
Prayers - How reverently the Lord speaks to God the Father (Jn.
17:1, 11, 25) |
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xiv) |
Actions - “Grace of God was upon Him” (Lk. 2:40) |
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xv) |
Tears - “Jesus wept” (Jn. 11:35) |
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xvi) |
Disfigurements - They are the manifestations of His love (Jn.
20:20, 27) |
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xvii) |
Fortitude - “Endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2) |
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xviii) |
Actions - (Jn. 8:29) |
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xix) |
Approachability - “came a leper to Him” (Mk. 1:40) |
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xx) |
Reproving
- “Woe unto thee”
(Matt. 11:21) |
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xxi) |
Compliance with the scriptures - “goeth as it is written of Him”
(Matt. 26:24) |
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xxii) |
Faith and dependence on God - “Father, into thy hands I commend
my spirit”(Lk. 23:46) |
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xxiii) |
Deportment under harassment - “when he was reviled, reviled not
again” (1 Pet. 2:23) |
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xxiv) |
Freedom from nationalistic prejudice - “woman of Samaria” (Jn.
4:9) |
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xxv) |
Godly fear (Heb. 5:7) |
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xxvi) |
Humility - “I am among you as he that serveth” (Lk. 22:27) |
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xxvii) |
Loathings - “Which thing I hate” (Rev. 2:15) |
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xxviii) |
Resoluteness - “When the time was come . . . he stedfastly set
his face to go” (Lk. 9:51) |
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xxix) |
Sighs - “He sighed deeply in his spirit” (Mk. 8:12) |
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xxx) |
Zeal - “The zeal . . . hath eaten me up”
(Jn. 2:17) |
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Surely in our deepest spiritual moments we can sing the words of
the old hymn: |
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Fairest Lord Jesus!
Ruler of all nature!
O Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!
Fair are the
meadows,
Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing!
Fair is the
sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heav’n can boast!
All fairest beauty,
Heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, Fairer, or dearer,
Than Thou my Savior art to me.
Beautiful
Saviour!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine! |
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