January 7, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"My sister, my spouse." — Song of Songs 4:12 · KJV

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, sharing the same sympathies; "my spouse" — nearest and dearest, united to me by the tenderest bonds 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 espoused 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 betrothed to me for ever. See how true it is that our royal Kinsman is not ashamed of us, for He dwells with manifest delight on this twofold relationship. We have the word "my" twice, 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 went 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 draw comfort from 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 your hands with both His own, saying, "My sister, my spouse." Mark the two sacred handholds by which your Lord gets such a double hold of you that He neither can nor will ever let you go. Be not slow, O beloved, to return the hallowed flame of His love.