Sweet Notes from

Chapter 2 verse 14. "O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear they voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." Having stepped from her winter house, the young Bride of the Song of Solomon is now, no doubt, feeling unaccustomed to her new surroundings before her Beloved. Hence the reassuring words that fall from the Beloved's lips in this verse 14 of the second chapter of the Song.

The believer, too, needs such a reassuring word when he has first been called out of his "winter house" of sin and rebellion against his God, and the Lord of all grace is quick to grant us such a word in season. We are told –

(1) That our position is now one of absolute security in Christ; "O my dove," He says, "that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs …" As Solomon looked at the doves nestling with their young in the cliff face of the mountains of Bether, so, he told his young Bride, she was as "secure" as that in his presence. And the words of our Heavenly Solomon tell us of our security in no less affectionate terms. Well may we sing "Rock of Ages, cleft for me," for the Rock was smitten for us just as surely as it was smitten for Israel at Meribah and the water of life flowed as freely for us as it did to quench the thirst of Moses and his followers.

The justice of God dug deeply into the side of His blessed Son on the Cross, but in that wound, the Elect's city of Refuge was established and they abide there in the presence of their Great High Priest. But how practical this security that the Lord has given to His Church, for He has given them such a blessed truth that they might "persevere unto the end," and "show forth the praises of him who has called the out of darkness into this marvellous light." If our position is one of absolute security, then –

(2) our security should lead to absolute service. "O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear Thy voice …" Having brought his young spouse to himself, Solomon now desires to see her from day to day and to hear her voice speaking to him. So with us. And how we should render unto the God of our salvation the service of praise and thanksgiving. Why? –

(3) Because, our service affords Him absolute satisfaction. "For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely," says the Lord.