Ver. 16. “My beloved is mine and I am his; he feedeth among the lilies: The happy spouse now speaks with full assurance, as to the possession of her object. She speaks of Him as her own. There is conscious possession of the object of her affections. “My beloved is mine.” She does not say, “I hope He is.” But says plainly, without a question, He is mine. When affection is real, the desire of the heart is to obtain possession of the object. For this it will persevere. Nothing, less will satisfy the heart.
We have seen, in our Meditations, that the Bride was in the full enjoyment of the blessings of His love. We have also listened to her speaking with admiring delight, of His many, and excellent qualities; still the heart was seeking after possession — relationship. When the person is possessed, all his qualities and virtues are possessed. He Himself is mine. Thus will it be in the latter day. Christ will be for the remnant, and the remnant will be for Christ. “Thou shalt abide for me: thou shalt not be for another: so will I also be for thee.” (Hos. 3) But we are all slow of heart to believe. Again and again, He assures her of His admiring love, and of His great delight in her. The outpouring of His affection is wonderful. Even when she speaks of her blackness, His ready reply is, “Ο thou fairest among women.” How could a doubt remain as to the purpose of His heart? Now she sets what is coming, relationship is anticipated, she can say with certainty — He is mine! Blessed triumph! Happy victory! “Jesus is mine.” Now, she speaks not of the fruits of His love, or of His excellencies, but of Himself. All are included in the person.
Couldst thou speak thus certainly, Ο my soul, as to the possession of any earthly object? Assuredly not. One might say, with a measure of truth, “This money is mine — This place is mine — This honor is mine — This happiness is mine.” But how soon may all these things pass away from us, or we from them? Only when Christ is the object of the affections can it be truly said, “My beloved is mine.” How often it has happened, that when we thought we had sure possession of that on which the heart had been set, it either eluded our grasp, or if, perchance, we got a hold, the long looked-for object withered in the hand like a flower plucked from its stem, or if it bloomed for a while, our disappointment was the deeper when it perished. How many, alas, of the children of men, will have at last to take up a lamentation and say, “ All I cared for, all I lived for, all I toiled for, all I sighed for, is not mine, now — never will be mine, never can be mine; for a morsel of meat I sold my birthright, and now all hope is perished, and I must go penniless and portionless forever!”
What a vain thing it is, for any of the sons or daughters of men, to speak of “My” anything as to this world. Supposing one could speak of everything that the world holds dear, as my riches, my influence, my power, my wisdom, my fame, — what would they, what could they do for the soul, the nobler part of man? But, oh! how different, when Christ — the well-beloved, is the object of desire — of affection! And when faith can say without the least misgiving — “Christ is mine — He is my beloved — and my beloved is mine” — mine now — mine to wash my sins away — mine to clothe me with the righteousness of God — mine to dwell in my heart by His Spirit — mine through life — mine in the swellings of Jordan — mine in heavenly glory. Yes! my soul, and more — much more! Mine to look to — mine to speak to — mine to care for me — mine to sympathize with me — mine to succor me — mine to close my pilgrim path — wind up my long and weary journey and take me up in the skirts of His cloudy chariot to be with Himself forever. Say, say, Ο my soul, is this — all this, a suited portion for thee? Is it enough for a poor, vile sinner?
Ah, who can weigh
The mines of treasure hidden in those words:
I am my Savior’s, and the Savior mine?
What overwhelming prospects they reveal
Through ages yet to come! The spouse of Christ
Fears not to use them, glories in their use,
My Lord, my God, my Savior, my beloved!
But has she not His warrant? Said not Christ,
As Me the Father loved, so loved I you?
And loved He not unto the end His own?
And claims He not from them one only gift, —
That only gift their heart?
But ere leaving this blessed, precious, glorious subject, record thy wonder and astonishment that any of the sons and daughters of men should overlook, neglect, or despise this portion — this Christ, —this well-beloved. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”— All else is emptiness and vanity. And now, as the risen one in glory, the heir of all things, He invites the poor and the needy, the rich and the noble, the young and the old, to come to Him, that they may share with Him His position, His riches, and His glory. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:1-131Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:1‑13).
On the other hand, many a dear, precious soul that truly loves the Lord and trusts in Him is afraid to say, “My beloved is mine.” They think it would be presumptuous. Surely they forget that He says it first. And can it be presumptuous to affirm that His word is true? It is always more humble to be guided by His word, than by our own thoughts and feelings. But how came such to love Him? Just because He first loved them. “We love him,” says John, “because he first loved us.” We never anticipate Christ. The soul that really desires Christ and His salvation, is in possession of both. It may refuse to believe it, but it is not the less true. He has already visited that soul in the riches of His grace. He creates the desire that He may satisfy it. He creates the love that He may meet it. He creates the faith that He may answer it. Every good thing cometh down from above. Nothing good can spring up in our hearts naturally. Nothing good can be planted there by the world or Satan. Everything that is good must come from above. And all this is wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit, through the gospel. Every good thought or desire comes from the Lord; so that we may truly say, to desire Christ is to have Him — to desire His salvation is to have it. Every soul that really desires to know Christ — to trust Him — love Him — serve Him — praise Him; shall surely know and enjoy Him; love, serve, and praise Him forever. Man may awaken expectations that he can never satisfy; he may induce love, and bitterly disappoint it: but not so the blessed Lord. He is the true God — His love is perfect. It has been fully manifested.
Be assured then, dear fellow-believer, that He is ours — ours, by the free gift of God; ours by the gift of Himself, so that we can say in all humility — “Jesus is mine” — “My beloved is mine.” May our souls be enabled to take a more comprehensive grasp of all that He is, and of all that He has for us!
“And I am his.” Well she knows that she is His. He has often assured her heart of this precious truth. The Bride is in the habit of saying what she thinks of her Beloved to others; but He addresses herself directly. “Ο my love, my dove, my fair one.” The dignity and glory of the Head are seen in Him. Is it not a truly blessed thought, Ο my soul, that the Christian belongs to no one but Christ — and is subject to nothing but Him? “Therefore let no man glory in men,” says the Apostle, “for all things are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come: all are yours. And ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3:21, 22, 2321Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:21‑23).) Precious truth! It is plainly stated. The word can never change. “Ye are Christ’s.” The individual soul can say, “I am his.” Thus we honor God’s word. We belong exclusively to Him. We are subject only to Him.
Moreover, it is also said, “All things are yours.” While we belong to no one but Christ, all things belong to us. “Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas,” &c, &c. They are all in the place of servants to as, no longer as masters. Even death itself has lost the mastery; It is now to the believer, not a master, but a messenger of peace — his servant. It can no longer look on me as its prey; the world can no longer say I am its own; the enemy cannot say, 1 am his. That precious word settles all, “ye are Christ’s,” and no one’s else. Oh! believe it—so believe it, as to follow Him alone. We are bought with a price. We are His by right of purchase — the price, His precious blood. But is it not enough, Ο my soul, to know that thou art His — His now, henceforth, and forever — His in time, and His through all eternity? Blessed Lord! it is enough It is relief and rest to the heart, energy and power to the life, to know that Thou art mine, that I am Thine, and that I never can pertain to another. Ο my soul, meditate on these realities — ponder them closely. Though thou must now dismiss them for a season, return to them again. There is a living freshness to the soul in kindred love, in eternal relationship.
“He feedeth among the lilies.” She remembers the name He gave her, “The Lily.” This is happy — anything but presumptuous! Oh! that we might think more on the words which He uses, on the titles which He gives. As “The Lily,” she is the representative of all His people. In the largeness of her soul, she calls them all “lilies.” Besides, she knows that “He feedeth among the lilies.” He is to be found there. He finds His refreshment, satisfaction, and delight, in the garden of lilies. Oh! to be used in gathering lilies into His garden, that He may find fresh delight, while yet He delays His coming.
Ver. 17. “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved; and be thou like a roe, or a young hart, upon the mountains of Bether” (or division, margin.) The full assurance of His love, and the happy enjoyment of Himself by faith, greatly increases her desire for the day of His glory. Then, “all shadows flee away.” All types and shadows being fulfilled in Him, they pass away when He appears. Now, we see through a glass darkly, then, face to face. We shall see the same Jesus then as we see now, but the dim glass shall be removed. “We shall see him as he is.” For Israel, the rising beams of the Sun of Righteousness shall chase away forever all the darkness of night, and all the gloom of their long and dreary winter. The flowers appear, the birds begin to sing, creation is filled with joy.
The exercise of faith and hope in these two verses is beautiful and instructive. In reply to His description of the millennial day of glory, and of the place she has in His heart, (ver. 10- 5,) she thus expresses her faith, “My beloved is mine and I am his.” And her hope “until the day break, and the shadows flee away.” There is no question on her mind as to the day of glory being near. She only waits for its dawn, and she further knows, that before the brightness of that morning, every shadow must flee away. “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” 2 Sam. 23:44And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2 Samuel 23:4).
But, “until” the dawn of that happy day, she prays her beloved to abide with her. She earnestly desires that she may have His gracious presence, and the comfort and sustainment of His love, “until” He appear Himself in glory. She clings to the person of her Beloved. Happy fruit of a well-grounded faith and a “blessed hope.”
“Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.” She is still in the wilderness. Her trials are many. Like a country that is intersected with mountains and valleys, the pathway is difficult. She longs for her Beloved to come in power and glory, with the swiftness of the roe or the hart, on the mountains of division. What are the mountains and the valleys to the swift gazelle? They are as nothing. What are all the difficulties of Israel’s full restoration to the Lord? They are as nothing. One gleam of His coming glory will strike terror into the hearts of their enemies, and prepare the way for the ransomed of the Lord to return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa. 35:1010And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10).) Then, “every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall he revealed and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isa. 40:4, 54Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:4‑5).) But, “until” that long looked for moment arrive, she prays to be maintained in the enjoyment of His love, and encompassed with His favor as with a shield. Blessed combination! Happy fruits of grace! Faith laying hold on the word — hope, looking out for the first streak of day — prayer, for the present enjoyment of His gracious presence. She is pressing on, and would press through everything, that she may be actually with Himself.
Consider this, Ο my soul, meditate on these things. Is this thy condition? Having faith in the word of the Lord, art thou looking, longing, and waiting for His return? And is it thy constant prayer to be maintained in His presence “until He come? “The hour immediately before the break of day, is said to be the coldest and darkest hour of the night. So will it be with the remnant of Israel in the latter day. “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the day of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer. 30:77Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7).) But the first breath of morning will bring deliverance to the waiting, praying remnant, and destruction to their proud oppressors. “This know also,” says the apostle, writing for the Church, “that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Happy they, who are holding fast by the word, — following the Lord, and waiting for His coming. The last hour of the night may indeed be cold and dark, but heed it not, Ο my soul, weather it, watch, pray — the morning will soon break — abide in thy watchtower. Happy they, who with diligent, sleepless eye, catch the first twinkle of the Morning Star!
“But ye beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20, 2120But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20‑21).