Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 2– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“You are altogether beautiful, my love.” 

—Song of Solomon 4:7

The Lord’s admiration of his Church is very wonderful, and his description of her beauty is very glowing. She is not merely beautiful but “altogether beautiful.” He views her in himself, washed in his sin-atoning blood and clothed in his righteousness, and he considers her to be full of beauty. No wonder that such is the case since it is but his own perfect excellence that he admires; for the holiness, glory, and perfection of his Church are his own glorious garments on the back of his well-loved spouse. In the same way, believers have a righteous beauty which has been given to them by their husband, Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, the Church isn’t barely lovely, she is superlatively so. Her Lord calls her, “fairest among women.” She has a real worth and excellence that can’t be rivaled by all the nobility and royalty of the world. If Jesus could exchange his elect bride for all the queens and empresses of earth or even for the angels in heaven, he would not, for he puts her first and foremost– “fairest among women.” Like the moon, she far outshines the stars.

He isn’t ashamed of his opinion either, for he invites all men to hear it. He says openly, “Behold, you are beautiful, my love.” And one day from the throne of his glory he will avow the truth of it before the entire universe. He will say, “Come, you who are blessed of my Father” (Matt. 25:34)– you who are altogether lovely. [M&E]