Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 24– Evening

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

“I sleep, but my heart is awake.”

—Song of Solomon 5:2

Paradoxes abound in Christian experience, and here is one of them; the woman was asleep, and yet she was awake. Only those who have known the intimacy of loving one’s spouse can understand this riddle.

There are two points in this evening’s text that are worthy of notice: one, a mournful sleepiness; and, two, a hopeful wakefulness.

She says, “I sleep.” Through sin that dwells in us, we may become lax in holy duties, slothful in religious exercises, dull in spiritual joys, and altogether careless. This is a shameful state for one in whom the lifegiving Spirit dwells. And it is dangerous to the highest degree. Even wise maidens sometimes slumber, but it is high time for all to shake off the bands of sloth. It is to be feared that many believers lose their strength as Samson lost his locks, while sleeping on the lap of fleshly security. With a perishing world around us, to sleep is cruel. With eternity so near at hand, it is madness. Yet none of us is so much awake as he should be; a few thunder-claps would do us all good, and it may be, unless we soon stir ourselves to action, we will have them in the form of war, or disease, or personal griefs and losses. O that we may leave forever the couch of fleshly ease and go forth with flaming torches to meet the coming Bridegroom!

The woman also says, “My heart is awake.” This is a happy sign. Life is not extinct, though sadly smothered. When our renewed heart struggles against our natural heaviness, we should be grateful to sovereign grace for keeping at least a little vitality within the body of this death. Jesus will hear our hearts, will help our hearts, will visit our hearts; for the voice of the wakeful heart is really the voice of the One we love saying, “Open to me.” Holy zeal will surely unbar the door and will be with him! [M&E]