Morning, May 1
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Song of Solomon 5:13
"His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers."
Song of Solomon 5:13
Lo, the flowery month is come! March winds and April showers have done
their work, and the earth is all bedecked with beauty. Come my soul,
put on thine holiday attire and go forth to gather garlands of heavenly
thoughts. Thou knowest whither to betake thyself, for to thee "the beds
of spices" are well known, and thou hast so often smelt the perfume of
"the sweet flowers," that thou wilt go at once to thy well-beloved and
find all loveliness, all joy in him. That cheek once so rudely smitten
with a rod, oft bedewed with tears of sympathy and then defiled with
spittle--that cheek as it smiles with mercy is as fragrant aromatic to
my heart. Thou didst not hide thy face from shame and spitting, O Lord
Jesus, and therefore I will find my dearest delight in praising thee.
Those cheeks were furrowed by the plough of grief, and crimsoned with
red lines of blood from thy thorn-crowned temples; such marks of love
unbounded cannot but charm my soul far more than "pillars of perfume."
If I may not see the whole of his face I would behold his cheeks, for
the least glimpse of him is exceedingly refreshing to my spiritual
sense and yields a variety of delights. In Jesus I find not only
fragrance, but a bed of spices; not one flower, but all manner of sweet
flowers. He is to me my rose and my lily, my heartsease and my cluster
of camphire. When he is with me it is May all the year round, and my
soul goes forth to wash her happy face in the morning-dew of his grace,
and to solace herself with the singing of the birds of his promises.
Precious Lord Jesus, let me in very deed know the blessedness which
dwells in abiding, unbroken fellowship with thee. I am a poor worthless
one, whose cheek thou hast deigned to kiss! O let me kiss thee in
return with the kisses of my lips.