Song of Solomon 7:10

SHULAMITE’S JOYFUL SELF-SURRENDER

Song of Solomon 7:10

I am my beloved’s,
And his desire is towards me.

With her love, Shulamite’s whole self is given to her Beloved. The heart given, all is given. The Believer’s language to Jesus: ‘I am thine; save me.’ ‘They gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us.’ ‘The Bride’s language—

(1) That of joy. The believer’s surrender of himself to Jesus a joyful one. ‘O Lord, I am Thy servant, I am Thy servant; Thou hast loosed my bonds.’ ‘Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.’ The Apostles departed from the Council ‘rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame’ for the name of Jesus.

(2) Certainty. No mere hope or supposition. The matter placed beyond a doubt. Satan’s object, to lead the believer to question the reality of his surrender of himself to Jesus. Such self-surrender to be made certain by frequent repetition. This the third time Shulamite has made the declaration (Chron. Song of Solomon 2:16; Song of Solomon 6:3). So Peter declared a third time his love to Jesus. A matter of such importance not to be left in doubt. Desirable to be constantly renewing our self-dedication to the Lord. Much of our comfort and growth in grace connected with the assurance that we have truly surrendered ourselves to Jesus, and are His. Observe in regard to such—

Self-Surrender.

I. Its OBJECT.

(1) For his sole possession. One shall say: ‘I am the Lord’s.’ ‘Ye are not your own.’

(2) For His pleasure and enjoyment. ‘For Thy pleasure all things are.’ Much more the Church whom He has redeemed to Himself. Christ’s unspeakable condescension that He finds His enjoyment in His Church.

(3) For His service. ‘I am Thy servant.’ Abigail, when consenting to be David’s wife, gave herself to be his handmaid to wash the feet of his servants. Mary’s language that of the believer: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord.’ Eve given to Adam to be an ‘help meet for him.’ Christ’s Church at once His Bride and His servants. Our honour to be made ‘fellow workers with Him’ in the salvation of others.

(4) For His free disposal. ‘Be it unto me according to Thy Word.’ ‘Let Him do with me as seemeth good in His sight.’ ‘Not my will, but Thine be done.’ Such self-surrender the soul of true religion. ‘Religion’ a binding ourselves over to the Lord. No man can serve two masters. Every man and woman either for Christ or for His adversary.

II. Its CHARACTER. Such surrender—

(1) A willing and cheerful one. ‘The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.’ ‘Not by constraint, but willingly.’ Christ’s people willing in the ‘day of His power.’

(2) A whole and entire one. No part kept back. Body, soul, and spirit given up. All we are and all we have. ‘Holiness to the Lord’ written on the bells of the horse-bridle. Every ‘pot’ holiness unto the Lord. ‘Not a hoof left behind’ for the enemy.

(3) A present and eternal one. Made now. Not put off till to-morrow. No deferring till a more convenient season. The surrender required now. Not to make it now is a refusal. Made now, it is made for ever. No taking back the gift. The sacrifice bound with the cords of a divine and undying love to the horns of the altar.

III. The GROUND of it. ‘His desire is towards me.’ The desire that of a husband to the wife of his choice. Similar language used of Eve in regard to her husband (Genesis 3:16). A man’s wife the desire of his eyes (Ezekiel 24:16; Ezekiel 24:18). The desire of Christ towards a sinner that of a Saviour and a Husband. His desire towards us the ground of ours towards Him. We love Him because He first loved us. ‘I am Thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds.’ His desire towards the Church composed of perishing sinners, a desire—

(1) To save and bless it. ‘He loved the Church and gave Himself for it.’ His desire towards sinners brought Him from heaven, and then nailed Him to the Cross for their sake. His desire towards His redeemed such that He can withhold no good thing for them. His care and concern for His Church that of a husband for his wife. Bears with her infirmities, sympathizes with her sorrows, protects her from danger, comforts her in trouble, provides for her wants, prepares for her a home.

(2) To possess it as His own. ‘He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people.’ His desire, that they may both be ‘brought to Him, and kept in Him’ (John 10:16; John 17:11).

(3) To have it with Himself for ever. Is gone to heaven to prepare a place for them, that where He is, there they may be also. Hence His intercessory prayer: ‘Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am’ (John 14:3; John 17:24). Rises from His Throne of glory to meet and welcome the liberated spirit of His faithful servant (Acts 7:55).

Observe the individuality of the desire. ‘His desire is towards me.’ Faith’s triumph, and the soul’s comfort in that little word me. Every sinner that accepts of Jesus as a Saviour warranted to employ the language. True even of the sinner before he accepts the Saviour. His desire also towards the unsaved one; for, did He not come ‘to seek and to save that which was lost?