“. . . my sister, my spouse . . .” Song of Solomon 4:12 (NKJV)
Observe the sweet titles with which the heavenly Solomon with intense affection addresses his bride the church. My sister, one near to me by ties of nature, partaker of the same sympathies. My spouse, nearest and dearest, united to me by the tenderest bands of love. My sweet companion, part of my own self. My sister, by my Incarnation, which makes me bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. My spouse, by heavenly betrothal, in which I have married you to myself in righteousness. My sister, whom I knew of old, and over whom I watched from her earliest infancy. My spouse, taken from among the daughters, embraced by arms of love, and affianced to me forever. See how true it is that our royal Kinsman is not ashamed of us, for he dwells with manifest delight upon this two-fold relationship.
We have the word “my” twice in our version, as if Christ dwelt with rapture on his possession of his Church. “His delights were with the sons of men,” because those sons of men were his own chosen ones. He, the Shepherd, sought the sheep, because they were his sheep. He has gone about “to seek and to save that which was lost,” because that which was lost was his long before it was lost to itself or lost to him. The church is the exclusive portion of her Lord. None else may claim a partnership, or pretend to share her love.
Jesus, your church delights to have it so! Let every believing soul drink solace out of these wells. Soul! Christ is near to you in ties of relationship. Christ is dear to you in bonds of marriage union, and you are dear to him. Behold he grasps both of your hands with both his own, saying, “My sister, my spouse.” Mark the two sacred holdfasts by which your Lord gets such a double hold of you that he neither can nor will ever let you go. Be not, O beloved, slow to return the hallowed flame of his love.
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
