THROUGHOUT the Christian centuries spiritually-minded believers have discerned in the Bridegroom and the Bride of the Canticles, pictures of Christ and His Church. Here the Bride is seen coming up out of the wilderness leaning in loving confidence on the mighty arm of her Beloved. It is a delightful illustration of the dependence of the Church upon her risen, glorified Lord.
“Leaning on my Beloved as I tread the desert
sand,
Journeying o’er the pathway, that leads to
Immanuel’s Land;
Learning my utter weakness, — leaning upon His
might.
Dark ‘tho the road and dreary, His Presence
makes it bright.
Leaning on my Beloved I am safe from all
alarms.
No evil can befall me when sheltered within
those Arms;
Tempests may blow around me, and the thunders
roar o’erhead,
Leaning on my Beloved, I’ve nothing at all to
dread.
Leaning on my Beloved, His right Hand embracing
me
How can I e’er feel lonely, or how can I
anxious be?
Surely there’s peace and gladness, and surely
there’s perfect rest.
Found by the weary pilgrim who leans on
Jesus’ breast.
Leaning on my Beloved. His voice I can always
hear,
His Word like the sweetest music falls on my list’ning ear, —
He tells how He died to win me, on Calvary’s
cursed tree.
How He gave His life a ransom, in order to
purchase me.”
―M. E. Rae.