I. Here is a general assertion of her fairness
I. Here is a general assertion of her fairness
In which we have, 1st, The thing asserted, that she is fair. 2dly, An "ecce, a behold," prefixed to it; "behold thou art fair." 3dly, A loving character given, "my love." 4thly, The assertion repeated.
1st, The general assertion is, that she is "fair;" not on the account of her good works, or any righteousness performed by her, which is as filthy rags and "an unclean thing," as the Targum and R. Sol. Jarchi interpret it; but on the account of her being clothed with Christ's righteousness, washed in his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, as has been shewn on verse 5.
2dly, To this general assertion is prefixed an ecce a behold; which is sometimes, 1. A note of attention; and may be here designed to stir her up more seriously to consider her own beauty, which she had in and from him: believers are too apt to keep their eyes upon their blackness, sins and imperfections, which fills them with sorrow, weakens their faith, and inclines them to diffidence; and though a consideration of this is sometimes necessary for the humbling of our souls, and the magnifying of divine grace; yet we should not have our eyes so fixed upon these things, as to be unmindful of and not regard our perfection, completeness, beauty and comeliness, we have in Christ, who is both our "sanctification and our righteousness." 2. It is sometimes a note of admiration: Christ here, setting forth the greatness and excellency of the church's beauty, is introduced wondering at that "comeliness" which he himself had put upon her, she being in his eyes "the fairest among women;" and much more reason have we to wonder at it, that we who are "by nature children of, wrath," whose natures are corrupted and depraved, who are both by actual and original sin, black, uncomely and deformed, yet are now fair and beautiful in Christ, through his blood and righteousness; that we, who were clothed with the rags of sin, are now arrayed with "the sun of righteousness; that we who were cast out into the open field, to the loathing of our persons, in the day that we were born, yet now should be clothed with raiment of fine linen, silk, and broidered work," and be adorned with bracelets, chains, jewels, and earrings; O stupendous grace! astonishing love! 3. It is sometimes a note of asseveration; and may be so used here, to assure her of the truth of what he asserted concerning her. Believers are very apt to call in question their fairness and completeness in Christ; and to indulge themselves in fears, doubts and unbelief about it, especially when they consider how full they are of imperfections, sins and spots; in the view of which they are very hardly brought to believe, that they are "all fair, and there is no spot in them:" Christ therefore to remove his church's doubts and fears, banish her unbelief, and strengthen her faith, uses this way of speaking.
3dly, Christ gives his church here a very affectionate title, "my love," which has been already considered and explained on verse 9 and is here mentioned again to let her know, that she was still the object of his love, pleasure, and delight that his love towards her was great, strong, lasting, and unchangeable; as also how much his heart was ravished with her.
4thly, This assertion of Christ's, respecting the church's beauty, is repeated, "behold thou art fair;" which repetition is, 1. To shew the exceeding greatness of it: she was "fair, fair," that is, exceeding fair; no such beauty to be found in any as in Christ, he is "fairer than the children of men;" and next to him is the church; she is "the fairest among women;" it is a superlative, surpassing and excelling beauty that she is possessed of. 2. It being repeated, shews the reality of it; this is inward and real, and not merely outward, nor painted: outward favor is deceitful, and natural beauty is vain; but such is not the church's, which is supernatural, spiritual, glorious, and perfect. 3. It manifests the great value and esteem which Christ has for her, and her beauty, and how much he desired it; none so beautiful in his sight as she is; nor any beauty so desirable to him as hers; his thoughts are fixed upon, his eyes are sweetly delighted, and his heart surprisingly and divinely ravished with it; therefore he repeats it here and elsewhere, again and again in this 16. It is repeated to shew that she was both inwardly and outwardly fair; she was fair, both with respect to justification and sanctification.