TEXT: "_My beloved is mine, and I am his._"--Sol. Song 2:16.
"_I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine._"--Sol. Song 6:3.
"_I am my beloved's and his desire is toward me._"--Sol. Song 7:10.
These three texts should be read together, and the significant change
found in each text as the thought unfolds should be studied carefully.
They remind one of three mountain peaks one rising higher than the
other until the third is lifted into the very heavens. Indeed, if one
should live in the spirit of this third text he would enjoy what Paul
has described as a life in the heavenly places, and his picture of
Christ would be surpassingly beautiful. At the same time the three
texts give us a complete picture of a true Christian life. The first
text may be regeneration, the second text consecration, and the third
text sanctification.
The Jews counted this Book, the Song of Solomon, as exceedingly sacred.
They hid it away until the child had come to maturity before he was
allowed to read it, and it was to them the holy of holies of the Old
Testament Scripture. These texts are also like the division of the
ancient tabernacle. There was first of all the outer court where the
altar of sacrifice was to be found--and this must be constantly kept in
mind, for no one can say "my beloved is mine" until he has passed the
altar of sacrifice. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are
adopted into the membership of the family of God.
The second division was the holy place, where was found the laver.
Here the priests made themselves clean, and they could not minister in
the presence of Jehovah until they had been made clean from all earthly
defilement. This second text gives us the same thought, for here the
writer changes the order exactly and says, "I am my beloved," instead
of saying, "My beloved is mine." This is consecration and the
consecration of a clean life. God will not accept or use that which is
unclean, and it is only as we come to the place where we allow him to
have full control of our lives that we realize we are his.
The third division of the tabernacle was the holy of holies, where the
high priest made his way once a year that he might stand in the
presence of Jehovah. In this third text, where the writer says, "I am
my beloved's, and his desire is towards me," we have come to the place
in our experience where if his desire for us controls our living we are
in the holy of holies indeed; where we can see him and enjoy his
presence.
I
"_My beloved is mine._" This is regeneration. A minister once
preaching to his congregation said, "Let every one say Jesus," and from
all over the congregation there came the music of his name. "Now,"
said the minister, "Let all those who can, say 'my Jesus,'" and the
response was not so hearty. A line ran through the congregation
separating husband from wife and parents from children. It is only by
faith in Christ and by the operation of the grace of God that we can
experience this first text. Two things are true concerning this point.
First: He wants to make better all that we have. Whatever may be our
natural characteristics, he can make all that we have more beautiful.
One day in Colorado I wanted to make a journey to the summit of Pike's
Peak, only to find that throughout the entire day the train was
chartered. I was turning away in despair when a railroad man said,
"Why do you not go up at three o'clock to-morrow morning, for then," he
said, "you can see the sun rise, and the sight is beautiful." So the
next morning we started. Just as I was going on the train a railroad
man said, "When you come to the sharp turn in the way as you go up,
look over in the Cripple Creek district and you will see a sight never
to be forgotten." We climbed higher and higher, leaving the darkness
at the foot of the mountain, until at last we came to the place
indicated and I looked away, only to be intensely disappointed. The
sight was almost commonplace. As we pursued the journey upward finally
we came to another place, where I heard some one give an exclamation of
delight. As I looked in the same direction there was a marvelous
transformation. I could see before me a mountain which looked like a
white-robed priest and another like a choir of angels and still another
like a golden ladder reaching up into the skies, and all because the
sun had risen upon the same scenery which a moment ago was
uninteresting. If Christ could only thus take possession of our lives
and become our Savior the transformation would be quite as great.
Second: He is ours to exercise in our behalf all that he is as Prophet,
Priest and King. His office of Prophet relates to the past, his office
of King to the future when he shall be crowned King of kings and Lord
of lords, but his office as Priest is now being fulfilled and he is my
great High Priest to intercede for me with God and make explanation for
all my weakness.
Adelaide Proctor has given us the story of a young girl who was in a
convent in France, whose special work it was to attend the portal and
keep the altar clean. The war swept over France, the battle raged near
the convent, many of the soldiers were killed and a number injured.
These were borne into the hospital that they might be nursed back to
strength, and one of them was given to this young girl. Her nursing
was successful, but he tempted her to leave the convent. They made
their way to Paris, where she lost everything that makes life worth
living. Then, just a wreck of her former self, she came back again to
die within the sound of the convent bell. She touched the portal and
instantly it was opened, not by a girl such as she had been but by a
woman such as she might have been--true and noble. She bore her in her
arms to her old cell, nursed her back again to a semblance of her old
strength, and then she slipped into her old place to answer the portal
and keep the altar clean, and not a nun in all the convent ever knew
that she had sinned. This is Christ's ministry in our behalf at this
time. Making up for my weakness, answering for my defects, he is my
High Priest.