Ver. 14. “Ο my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice: for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” In thy meditations, Ο my soul, on the signs of the coming glory, see that thou distinguish according to scripture, between that which is earthly, and that which is heavenly—between the earthly calling of Israel, and the heavenly calling of the Church. The blessed Lord, as Jehovah, in the latter day will espouse the cause of His earthly people, and Jerusalem will become the center of earthly glory and blessing in her character as Bride of the King. The Church is the Bride of the Lamb—the once lowly, suffering, atoning Lamb, but now exalted, heavenly Christ. Both, of course are figurative. But figurative of what? The term Bride is the symbol of affection, endearment, and oneness as to position. The Bride ranks with the Bridegroom. The Jewish Bride will rank with Him in earthly glory. The Church, the heavenly Bride, will rank with Him in heavenly glory. Having owned and trusted Him during His humiliation and rejection, she will be nearest and dearest to Him, in His exaltation and glory. The term also represents myriads of saved souls. An individual believer now, could not speak of Christ as his Bridegroom, but as his Savior. I can say, He is my Savior, and that “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” He is the Savior of the sinner, the Bridegroom of the Church.
The glory of the coming kingdom will be twofold—celestial and terrestrial. “ That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” (Eph. 1:8, 9, 108Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:8‑10).) The full power, blessing, and glory of both spheres, will be headed up in Christ.
Here, mark, for a moment, the difference between Israel’s place and blessing in connection with the coming kingdom, and that of the Church, as spoken of in Scripture. The Lord comes down to where Israel is, and blesses them there. “The Redeemer shall come to Zion.” (Luke 1-80.) The Church is caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thess. 4) They (the Jews) will be blessed with all temporal blessings in a pleasant land. (Amos 9:11-1511In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 12That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this. 13Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 14And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God. (Amos 9:11‑15).) We, with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. (Eph. 1) Jerusalem on earth will be the center of earthly glory and blessing—the royal city—the metropolis of the whole earth; and through it all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isa. 2) The Jerusalem above will be the center of heavenly glory. The glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb will be the light thereof. (Rev. 21) The heavenly saints will be in their bodies of glory; fashioned like unto Christ’s body of glory. (Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21).) The whole house of Israel will then be blessed with the long promised blessing of the new heart and the right spirit. (Eze. 36:24-2824For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:24‑28).) And they shall fall away no more forever.
Israel of old is spoken of as being married to Jehovah. “For thy Maker is thine husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name.” (Isa. 54:55For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isaiah 54:5).) But because of their unfaithfulness, and especially for their rejection of Christ, they were cast off for a season. Since then, Israel has been on the common level of all sinners. In the preaching of the gospel, both Jews and Gentiles are alike addressed as lost sinners; and all who are gathered out by the grace of God from both parties, are formed into “ one body.” Both are blessed with the same privileges in Christ, and the “one body” is blessed with the same privileges as Christ in heavenly places. The Gentiles who were dispensationally far off, and the Jews who were nigh, have now, on the principle of faith, equal blessings in Christ. He hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition, for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” See Eph. 2:13-2213But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:13‑22).
The true hope of the Church—the “one body”—indwelt by the “one Spirit,” is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, to receive us unto Himself. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where Ι am, there ye may be also.” When this has been accomplished, Israel will again appear on the scene. Then the Spirit of God will begin to work in the remnant of Judah. After the Church is caught away, and during the open reign of Antichrist, before the Lord appears in glory—just between the rapture of the saints and the glorious appearing, this remnant will be the object of the Lord’s especial care and love. Speaking of them under the figure of a spouse, He says, “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her, her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi, that is, my husband, and shalt call me no more Baal, that is, my lord. And I will betroth thee unto me forever” Now, their espousals shall be everlasting, the union shall endure forever, and great will be the Lord’s delight in His faithful, loving, admiring, adoring, Worshipping spouse. See Hos. 1; 2; 3
What then, are we to understand by the passage before us? “Ο my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” From the tenth verse to the close of the fifteenth, we have an unbroken address of tenderest love, sweetest encouragement, and brightest hope. What more blessed words could even the lips of divine love utter? His object is to draw out her heart in love and confidence towards Himself. It is quite evident that the full blaze of millennial glory, will not burst suddenly on the land of Israel and the nations, but by degrees, like the passing away of winter, and the gradual approach of spring and summer. Hence the need of faith on the part of the spouse. But He cheers her heart with the assurance that the day of her deliverance draweth nigh. He would have her to know that His eye is upon her, and to wait patiently. On the other hand, we learn from many portions of Scripture, that she will, at this moment, be the special object of the malice of Antichrist. He will seek to devour the faithful remnant. (Rev. 12:6, 176And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Revelation 12:6)
17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17).) But guided by the Spirit of God, she finds a refuge in the wilderness. “Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” The Beloved knows her hiding-place. To His eye and to His heart, she is like the dove in the rock—in the secret place of the stairs, or the rugged side of the precipice, which has the appearance of a stair.
But her voice is sweet to her Beloved, and He loves to hear it, though it still resembles the mournful note of the dove, that sits solitary, mourning for its mate. Her countenance is comely: she is beautiful to Him, however marred by persecution, suffering, and trial. And He seeks to see her—to hear her—oh deepest, tenderest, kindest love! Was ever love like this? There is no love like His. “Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” Oh! what gracious, unselfish love! What a revelation, what an unfolding of His heart! Truly may it be said of His heart, but of His heart only, “Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave.” Does death take a strong hold of its victim? Oh, how strong!—what a hold!—such is the strength—the hold of the Savior’s love. Let thy meditations be deep, and patient, Ο my soul, on the love of Christ—the love of Christ to His spouse—the love of Christ to thee. Think of the grasp—the hold—which death takes—think of the almighty grasp, the eternal hold of the Savior’s love. The similitude is appalling—overwhelming—the reality consoling, comforting, refreshing, and strengthening, beyond all measure. Oh! the deep, vast, profound, immeasurable, untraceable glories of the Savior’s love!
Still further,—gather up all thy strength—concentrate all thy thoughts—meditate on that other aspect of the Savior’s love: “Jealousy is cruel as the grave.” What meaneth this? These seem hard words to set forth my Lord’s most tender love. Only strong similitudes give an idea of the power of His love. These give its twofold aspect. If death takes a strong hold of a person, the grave keeps it. It is unyielding. It is a cruel grave. It hears not the cry of the bereaved. The widow’s groans, and sighs, and tears—the orphan’s deep and bitter wail, are alike unheeded. It holds fast its prey. It yields not to the deep tones of the broken in heart, the wounded in soul, and the crushed in spirit. If thou shouldst supplicate the grave on bended knee, ever so earnestly, it will never yield to thee the beloved one who has been wrenched from thy heart’s core, and entombed in its deep caverns. How often it has been besieged, and besought, with bitterest tears, deepest groans, loudest cries, but all in vain. It hears not, it heeds not, it yields not. What takes such hold as death? What keeps it like the grave?
Learn then, Ο my soul, from these dark, but strong similitudes, the character of the Savior’s love. Sheltered in the cleft of the rock—in His wounded side—nestling in that mysterious heart of love; His timid, fluttered dove securely rests. No bird of prey can ever molest her there. All the vultures of hell cannot touch a feather of her wing. They can never reach the cleft of the rock wherein she hides. She is far above their highest flight. But may she not lose her hold some day, in an unguarded moment, and after all be seized and perish by those who are seeking to devour? Did her security depend in the least degree on her holding fast all would be lost in a moment. But, bless God, all depends on the hold which Jesus has. It is the rock that holds her, not she that holds the rock. What takes such a hold as death? What keeps it like the grave? Divine love holds its objects with a power stronger than death, though sweetly tender, and is more unyielding than the grave. Will the blessed Lord ever “deliver the soul of his turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked?” No! never! never! “I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28, 2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29).) “Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isa. 32:1, 21Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 2And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:1‑2).
But all types and figures, allegories and illustrations utterly fail to set forth the Savior’s love. His glory will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it. But His love can never be revealed. True we shall see Him as He is—in all the realities of His love, and know even as we arc known; and find in His love our eternal delight. But there are heights and depths, lengths and breadths in His love which must remain unknown, unrevealed forever.
Ver. 15. “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Most graciously the well-beloved links himself with His spouse, in the care of the vineyard. Take “us” the foxes........for “our” vines have tender grapes. They are yet green and tender. They are only beginning to blossom. The vineyard must be guarded. The little foxes have sharp teeth, and though little, they are subtle, and do great damage amongst the vines. During the bleakness and barrenness of winter there is no cover in the vineyards for the fox. The leafless bough offers no inducement. But with the reviving spring they find abundant shelter, and favorable opportunities to commit their ravages. Watch thou, Ο my soul, the state of thine own heart. Watch especially against the daily cares of this present life, and the thousand things that tend to mar thy fruitfulness. Abide in the true vine, let thy nourishment be drawn from His roots. So shalt thou bear much fruit to the Father’s glory. “Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6, 76Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6‑7).
In times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and of great awakenings, there is need for redoubled care. It is truly pleasing to witness the springing bud, and the unfolding blossoms. To listen to the songsters amongst the branches; the soft and significant voice of the turtle; but the keeper of the vineyard has more to do than contemplate the beautiful, or listen to the sweet sounds of music. He must watch against the subtle intruder, that lurks amongst the luxuriant foliage of the vines to deceive and to destroy. Around thee now, and back over many years’ experience, thy thoughts instinctively flow. Many a goodly vine hast thou seen marred for a season by the cunning craftiness of him who lieth in wait to deceive. Oh! how heart-breaking such disappointments are!
“Redouble your precautions, Ο ye saints!
Aware of the destroyer!—stop the gaps
Where, entering silently, he spoils the vines:—
Be cautious! for your enemy is strong,
To sleepless malice adds perfected craft,
And spiteful certainty of shortening rule;—
Ye know, if ye are Christ’s, your struggling souls
Resist a baffled and defeated foe.
‘Take ye those foes’ who contrive the woe
Of God’s Jerusalem! expose their craft.
Seize your keen weapons, servants of the Lord.
And sword in hand, yea, in your armor build
Her walls and fences that are broken down!
“The weakest is made strong who cleaves to Christ.”
Like the vine-dresser who has taken every pains to see that his vines are well watered, trained and pruned; he leaves them in the evening, full of hope that they may be looking still better in the morning. But, lo! to his bitter disappointment, the destroyer has been amongst his vines—many are sadly nipped, one, to outward appearance, is ruined. While the keeper of the vineyard slept, the fox was accomplishing his work of devastation. Its sharp teeth had gnawed the stem to its core. The life-blood was running down. It was also stripped of its bark, the branches were broken, the leaves lay scattered on the ground, and the tender grapes were entirely gone Alas, alas, it was one of his most flourishing vines. It had a goodly stem, well-nourished in a rich soil, beneath the genial beams of a southern sun. Its blossom was beautiful, and it promised an abundant vintage. But in the night, in an evil hour, it fell a prey to the enemy. While the husbandman looked thus sorrowfully on his dismembered vine, the thought crossed his mind—thank God! —the root remains. For even the foxes of hell may not burrow up the roots of any plant of the Father’s planting. But such was the damage done to his hopeful vine, that for a long time to come, it would bear but little fruit.
The application is easy. In the secret of the divine presence, Ο my soul, study the lesson. Has God given thee a love for souls? —a pastor’s heart? Oh! seek to win souls to Christ; and to shelter, nourish, and watch over the sheep and lambs of His fold. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof........And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Pet. 1:1010Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1 Peter 1:10).