daily-devotionals

Reading: “I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me.”Song of Solomon 8:2.

The church is seen here in great liveliness, and faith inhe person of her Lord; indeed, so much so, that we do not find anything like this holy familiarity used by the church towards her Lord, in any other part of the Bible. It is the well-known office of Jesus, to lead His people, and to draw them to Himself. God the Father has given Him for this blessed purpose, as “a leader and commander to the people” (Isaiah 55:4). And Jesus Himself declared, that ”he would draw all to himself” (John 12:32). But here, it is the church leading Christ.

Should we not hope that it should be so in our experience? Is not Jesus led by His people, when He is constrained, as the disciples constrained Him at Emmaus, to remain with them, until He makes Himself known to them in breaking of bread? Have you not been compelled, at times, to say, as they did, that your heart hath burned within you when Jesus made Himself known, in the word of His grace; or when He hath manifested Himself in the tokens of His love, in softening your heart when hardened, in warming it when frozen, comforting it when cast down; and you have held Him by faith and prayer. What would you call these things, but leading Christ, and bringing Christ into your mother’s house, where Jesus manifests Himself to His beloved?

Was this not what Jacob did when he led the Lord, and constrained Him not to depart from him, until He had blessed him (Genesis 32:26)? Precious, Jesus, is it not like this that Your people have power with You, and prevail with You to stay with them and allow Yourself to be led by them, in all those instances where their furtherance in grace, and the promotion of Your glory will be accomplished by it? Oh then, dear Lord, give me Your blessed Spirit, that I may lead my Lord, by faith and prayer into such rich enjoyments as the Lord intends for me.

Taken from The Poor Man’s Evening and Morning Portions by Rev. Robert Hawker, Works, Vol. 8; 1830. Edited by Aaron Dunlop for thinkgospel.com ©2014.