_Come with Me from Lebanon, My spouse, with Me from Lebanon._ THE INVITATIONS OF CHRIST The whole idea is that the Shulamite Virgin who is sought as a bride lives in high, craggy, cavernous regions--amid inhospitable scenes--and close to the mountain haunts of beasts of prey. Such words as Amana, S... [ Continue Reading ]
_How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! _ CHRIST’S ESTIMATE OF HIS PEOPLE I_._ Christ first praises His people’s love. Dost thou love God, my hearer? Dost thou love Jesus? Hearken, then, to what the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
_A garden inclosed is My sister, My spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed._ THE LORD’S OWN VIEW OF HIS CHURCH AND PEOPLE I. The nearness of kin of the Church to Christ, and Christ to the Church. He calls her in the text, “My sister, My spouse.” As if He could not express His near and dear rel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees Of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices._ FRAGRANCE Of all man’s sources of enjoyment, none display more clearly the bountifuln... [ Continue Reading ]
_A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon._ THE CHURCH A GARDEN Again and again the Church is represented as a garden, all up and down the Word of God, and it is a figure specially suggestive at this season of the year, when the parks and the orchards have put forth... [ Continue Reading ]
_Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out._ GRACE FOR COMMUNION The loved one in the text desired the company of her Lord, and felt that an inactive condition was not altogether suitable for His coming. Her prayer is first about her garde... [ Continue Reading ]