December 3, Morning
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"There is no spot in thee." — Song of Songs 4:7 · KJV
Having pronounced His Church positively full of beauty, our Lord confirms His praise with a precious negative: "There is no spot in thee." As if the thought struck the Bridegroom that the carping world would insinuate He had mentioned only her comely parts and purposely left out the features that were deformed or defiled, He sums it all up by declaring her wholly and entirely fair, and utterly free of stain. A spot may soon be removed, and is the very least thing that can disfigure beauty; but even from this little blemish the believer is delivered in his Lord's sight. Had He said there is no hideous scar, no horrible deformity, no deadly ulcer, we might have marveled even then; but when He testifies that she is free of the slightest spot, all these other forms of defilement are included, and the wonder deepens. Had He but promised to remove all spots by and by, we would have had eternal reason for joy; but when He speaks of it as already done, who can restrain the most intense emotions of satisfaction and delight? O my soul, here is marrow and fatness for you; eat your fill, and be satisfied with royal dainties. Christ Jesus has no quarrel with His spouse. She often wanders from Him and grieves His Holy Spirit, but He does not let her faults affect His love. He sometimes chides, but always in the tenderest manner, with the kindest intentions; it is "my love" even then. There is no remembrance of our follies; He does not cherish ill thoughts of us, but pardons and loves as well after the offense as before it. It is well for us it is so; for if Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we are, how could He commune with us? Many a time a believer will put himself out of humor with the Lord over some slight turn in providence; but our precious Husband knows our silly hearts too well to take any offense at our ill manners.