Samuel Stennett, 1727–1795
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
The dominant theme of the beautifully expressed text in this hymn, “Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned,” is the adoration of Jesus Christ. It is based on the descriptive passage found in the Song of Solomon 5:10–16. Here the awaiting maiden, anticipating the return of her lover, describes him with such terms as: “Chief among ten thousand,” “head of pure gold,” “body like polished ivory,” “altogether lovely …”
The Bible often refers to believers as the bride of Christ. We too are awaiting the return of our lover, the One who is “fairer than all the fair.”
This hymn text originally had nine stanzas and was titled “The Chief Among Ten Thousand” or “The Excellencies of Christ.” It first appeared in Rippon’s famous Baptist collection, A Selection of Hymns from the Best of Authors, published in 1787.
The author, Samuel Stennett, was a well-known Baptist pastor in London, England, and was regarded as one of the outstanding evangelical preachers of his day. Dr. Stennett was also an influential writer on numerous theological subjects as well as the author of thirty-nine hymns. Despite his many accomplishments, however, he will always be best remembered for these beautiful words of adoration often used in communion services as well as for spiritual enrichment during times of personal devotions:
Majestic sweetness sits enthroned upon the Savior’s brow; His head with radiant glories crowned, His lips with grace o’er flow; His lips with grace o’er flow.
No mortal can with Him compare among the sons of men; fairer is He than all the fair who fill the heav’nly train, who fill the heav’nly train.
He saw me plunged in deep distress and flew to my relief; for me He bore the shameful cross and carried all my grief, and carried all my grief.
To Him I owe my life and breath and all the joys I have; He makes me triumph over death and saves me from the grave, and saves me from the grave.
For Today: Song of Solomon 5:10–16; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–3
Express in your own words your feelings of love and adoration to your heavenly bridegroom for all that He means in your life and the anticipation of someday soon actually seeing Him. Allow these musical truths to help you during this time of personal devotions—
Osbeck, K. W.
- My well-beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand. His head is as fine gold, his locks curled, and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves upon the rivers of waters, which are washed with milk, and remain by the full vessels. His cheeks are as as a bed of spices, and as sweet flowers, and his lips like lilies dropping down pure myrrh. His hands as rings of gold set with the chrysolite, his belly like white ivory covered with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is as sweet things, and he is wholly delectable: this is my well-beloved, and this is my lover, O daughters of Jerusalem. Song of Solomon 5:10-16
- Who is the image of the invisible God, the first begotten of every creature. For by him were all things created which are in heaven, and which are in earth, things visible and invisible: whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body of the Church: he is the beginning, and the first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell. And through peace made by that blood of his cross, to reconcile to himself through him, through him, I say, all things, both which are in earth, and which are in heaven. Colossians 1:15-20
- At sundry times and in doves manners God spake in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets: in these last days he hath spoken unto us by his Son, Whom he hath made heir of all things, by whom also he made the world, Who being the brightness of the glory, and the engraved form of his person, and bearing up all things by his mighty word: hath by himself purged our sins and sitteth at the right hand of the Majesty in the highest places. Hebrews 1:1-3
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