Section 794
III. The request which Christ makes to his church, is; cause me to hear it
That is, thy voice, which is exceeding sweet and charming to Christ, as appears from chapter 2:14, where he says, "let me hear thy voice;" a phrase exactly agreeable to this, and which is there more largely explained, and the reason there given, why he makes such a request, is, "because sweet is thy voice:" so is the voice of the church, in praying to him, praising of him: speaking largely of his person, grace and office; as well as boldly confessing of him before men. Though the word here used may as well be rendered, cause me to hear me;[4320] that is, preach me, as Junius translates it: and the meaning is, seeing the companions thus flock unto thee, and listen with the utmost attention and satisfaction to thy voice; take the opportunity of preaching me unto them; let my person, blood, righteousness, and grace, be the subject of thy ministry. And thus indeed it was in the primitive times; for, says the apostle Paul, "I determined not to know," that is, to make known "any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified," (1 Corinthians 2:2). The first ministers of the gospel did not preach themselves nor others, but Christ Jesus the Lord; he was the sum and substance of their ministry; and now though this way of preaching was "to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness;" yet it was owned of God, for the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of saints; and has been more or less so in all ages of the world, and will be continued to be practiced until the second coming of Christ; which he may perhaps here intend, and is what the church earnestly prays for in the following verse.