This keen and penetrating Song is bulging with suggestions for sermons and profitable meditations. It opens by setting forth seven steps to sanctification and success (verses 1-11). These seven steps to the skies are:
(1) Fret not,
(2) Trust,
(3) Do good,
(4) Delight thyself in the LORD,
(5) Commit thy way unto the LORD,
(6) Rest in the LORD,
(7) Wait on the LORD.
The key verse is "Mark the perfect man . . . . behold the upright. . . . the end of that man is peace." Perfection of heart and uprightness in life terminate in peace. Such a man's steps are "ordered by the LORD" (verse 20), and "None of his steps shall slide" (verse 31). In "the evil time" (verse 19) they shall not be ashamed and in "the days of famine" they shall be supplied and satisfied (verse 19). His mouth speaks wisdom (verse 30), and "In the time of trouble" GOD shall be his strength and support (verse 39).
"CHRIST is the pattern, the sample, the exemplary cause, of our sanctification. Holiness in us is the copy or transcript of the holiness that is in the LORD JESUS. As the wax hath line for line from the seal; the child limb for limb, feature for feature, from the FATHER: so is holiness in us from CHRIST." - P. Henry