Him whom my soul loveth...

Today I watched a dear young sister in the Lord take a benevolent and wise young man as her forever husband. It was beautiful, Christ was exalted! I am so grateful to God for the past couple of weddings I have had the privilege to take part in and witness the abundant mercy of our great God to faithfully knit two hearts as one in a glorious display of His own redemption toward man. Sitting in the bride's room this afternoon, I had the privilege of reading this devotional from Charles Spurgeon to the glowing bride and the other bridesmaids. It was a joy to hear as each one echoed with firm "mm'hmm"s and "yes" as we all reflected on Christ, our own true Husband, who is coming for us one day. Until that day comes, may we eagerly seek to be fashioned like Him and wedded to Him in purity and submission.

“I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go.”
Song of Solomon 3:4

Does Christ receive us when we come to him, notwithstanding all our past sinfulness? Does he never chide us for having tried all other refuges first? And is there none on earth like him? Is he the best of all the good, the fairest of all the fair? Oh, then let us praise him! Daughters of Jerusalem, extol him with timbrel and harp! Down with your idols, up with the Lord Jesus. Now let the standards of pomp and pride be trampled under foot, but let the cross of Jesus, which the world frowns and scoffs at, be lifted on high. O for a throne of ivory for our King Solomon! Let him be set on high forever, and let my soul sit at his footstool, and kiss his feet, and wash them with my tears. Oh, how precious is Christ! How can it be that I have thought so little of him? How is it I can go abroad for joy or comfort when he is so full, so rich, so satisfying. Fellow believer, make a covenant with thine heart that thou wilt never depart from him, and ask thy Lord to ratify it. Bid him set thee as a signet upon his finger, and as a bracelet upon his arm. Ask him to bind thee about him, as the bride decketh herself with ornaments, and as the bridegroom putteth on his jewels. I would live in Christ’s heart; in the clefts of that rock my soul would eternally abide. The sparrow hath made a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God; and so too would I make my nest, my home, in thee, and never from thee may the soul of thy turtle dove go forth again, but may I nestle close to thee, O Jesus, my true and only rest.

“When my precious Lord I find,
All my ardent passions glow;
Him with cords of love I bind,
Hold and will not let him go.”