Nov 13
9
5:1. “I am come into My garden, My sister, My spouse–I have gathered My myrrh with My spice; I have eaten My honeycomb with My honey; I have drunk My wine and My milk. Eat, O friends; drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved.”
Scarcely is the invitation uttered, when acceptance sweetly comes. The echo of “Let my Beloved come into His garden” has not died away, when the glad voice is heard, “I am come into My garden, My sister, My spouse.”
Many and precious are the assurances that prayer excites heaven’s smiles. It flies directly to the mercy-seat, and it triumphantly prevails. It is the Spirit’s breath, and therefore success is sure. It touches the heart of love, and moves the right hand of omnipotence. No delay checks the outpouring of sympathy and help.
Let us especially treasure up the instance now before us. Let it dispel all doubts and fears. Let it excite to more earnestness in its exercise. How grand is the privilege of the believer! It cannot be over-estimated. He feels that he may present the entire volume of his need, and that supplies of grace will copiously respond. The answer may not be in exact compliance with unenlightened words, but it will be in super-abounding wisdom.
Our blessed Lord invites our importunities. Why do we ever give Him rest? Let us revel in the assurance, “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” To the supplicating Daniel the angel was bidden to fly very swiftly. It is recorded, that we might be followers of the example, and partakers of the success.
Let us now proceed to view Jesus hastening into His garden, and let us regale ourselves in the instructive scene which follows. He assures the Church that He is not indifferent to the graces, which He Himself has planted. He looked for fragrance, and fragrance fills the air. “I have gathered My myrrh with My spice.” What an evidence of superhuman goodness is found in His being thus gratified by the produce of our poor hearts! He looked for redolence, and He expresses that He finds more. He testifies that there is food most luscious and abundant, to increase strength and invigorate power. “I have eaten My honeycomb with My honey. I have drunk My wine with My milk.” Let it be repeated that it requires strong faith to realize that Christ can find any charms in the believing heart.
But let us never rise from deep humility–for He rejoices not in what springs from poor nature, but in what His love and power has cultivated. Let us learn, also, that He gives more grace. Never let us sit down content. Through His help we may have climbed high in the heavenward path; but there are summits above summits yet to be reached. We may have drawn water from the wells of salvation; but there are depths below depths of surpassing excellence, which our lines have not yet fathomed. We may have gathered fruit from branches hanging low. But the topmost boughs are not yet touched. Let us never rest until we are filled with all the fullness of God. Let us cultivate our gardens with faith–with diligence–with prayer, that they may contain what our Lord seeks to find.
Marvelous is the invitation which ensues. We invite Him. Instantly He invites us. We see another exemplification of the often-repeated words–“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rich is the banquet which His grace provides. The Spirit describes it as “a feast of fat things, of wines on the lees well refined.” On this table there is the rich abundance of the Holy Word–the refreshment of exuberant promises. There is the Bread of Life–His body and His blood, and all the discoveries of redeeming love manifested in His deep humiliation, that He might represent, redeem, and save. Who will refuse the invitation, “Eat, O friends; drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved.” Henry Law.
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THE VOICE OF THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM
The speaker is the heavenly Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is his voice we hear; the voice which is as the sound of many waters; which spoke the “gracious words” the like of which were never uttered on earth. It is to his bride he speaks; “the bride, the Lamb’s wife;” his chosen, redeemed, called, sanctified one; given him by the Father before the world began; his one spouse, his “love, his dove, his undefiled;” of whom it is written, “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Of the saints of all ages is this “bride,” this “body,” composed; all of them washed in the same blood, and clothed with the same righteousness.
1. It is the voice of LOVE. “My darling” is his name for his church. Other names of endearment he has for her, but this is chief. All in him betokens love. All that he is, and says, and does, intimates love; a love that passes knowledge; a love stronger than death and the grave; a love which many waters cannot quench nor the floods drown. It is in tender love that the Bridegroom thus addresses the Bride.
2. It is the voice of ADMIRATION. “My beautiful one” is his name for her. “You are all beautiful, my love, there is no spot in you.” The “fairest among women, “is his name for her, even as her name for him is the “chief among ten thousand.” The heart of the Bridegroom is full of admiration for the beauty and perfection of his bride. She is “perfect through the loveliness which he has put upon her.” He has ravished our heart, and we have ravished his!
3. It is the voice of AUTHORITY. The husband is the head of the wife; so is Christ the head of the church; and though it is love that speaks, it is authoritative love. “Arise,” “come with me.” Obedience is our true position; and no amount of love in him can ever alter this. It is not bondage; but it is obedience. It is not sternness on his part, yet it is authority. Our Bridegroom is Jehovah, Immanuel, King of kings, and Lord of lords. Shall we treat his voice as that of an inferior or an equal; or as the voice of him whom no amount of condescension and endearment, and admiration, can ever make less truly the Head of the church, Head of principalities and powers, the Head of the universe, of whom it is said to the church, “He is your Lord, worship him.”
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O the wonders couched in electing love!
(James Smith, “God’s Special Treasure” 1860)
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth — the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure!” Deuteronomy 7:6
God highly prizes His people. Yes, it is impossible to say how highly He prizes them. Those are wondrous words, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own special treasure!” Psalm 135:4
Did the shepherd prize his flock? God calls His people, “His flock, His beautiful flock.”
Does the miser prize his wealth? God says of His people, “You shall be a special treasure unto Me above all people; for all the earth is mine.”
Does the prince prize his jewels? God says of His people, “They shall be Mine, in that day when I make up My jewels!”
Does the bridegroom prize his beloved and dearly purchased bride? It is written, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride — so shall your God rejoice over you!”
Does the reigning monarch prize his crown? God has said, “You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
What wondrous love, such expressions as these represent! How precious must the Lord’s people be to Him! Truly they are His special treasure!
God CHOSE them to be special unto Himself. He chose them out from among others. He chose them in preference to others.
He chose them out from others, on purpose that they may be a special people unto Himself. And in so doing, He acted FREELY. It was not on account of anything He saw in them, or on account of anything He expected from them; but in the exercise of His most free and holy sovereignty — He chose them to participate in the glory of His Son!
In choosing them, He acted also DELIBERATELY. It was no hasty choice. His thoughts had been eternally filled with them. His heart had been eternally set upon them. Therefore He chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world!
In choosing them, He acted WISELY — as He really desired to have them. For each one of them is ready to confess that if God had not chosen them — that they would never have chosen Him! The nature regulates the choice; and as our nature is carnal and impure — we would never have chosen God, who is spiritual and holy.
His choice was just an early expression of His LOVE. The love which chose them — would do anything for them, and give anything to them! Therefore God spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up for them all; and in so doing, gave them the assurance that He will also freely give them all things in Christ.
O the wonders couched in electing love!
This act of choosing such creatures as we are, to be a special people unto Himself, displays . . .
such grace,
such condescension,
such infinite wisdom and love!
God’s election says, “The Lord loves you!” Loves us! Yes, and with a love that is eternal, immutable, sovereign, infinite, and free! All the love of God is lavished upon us as His special people in Christ. Oh, those wondrous words of Jesus, “You have loved them — even as You have loved Me!” John 17:23
But few among the worldly wise,
But few of nobler race,
Obtain the favor of Your eyes,
Almighty King of grace!