Series 33

Study 8 I AM HIS, AND HE IS MINE

THE SONG OF SOLOMON
by Francis Dixon
Key-verse: “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3)

These nine words in the Song of Songs 6:3 sum up the message and theme of the whole book. They constitute the personal testimony of the bride, and therefore of the Church and of every individual believer. Every real Christian can say, “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine.” In this beautiful and inspired love story the Lord Jesus is presented as the Divine lover and the Church as His bride. He is spoken of over and over again as the Lover, and the one glorious truth which is emphasised in our key-verse is the truth of our union with Christ and His union with us. Notice, concerning this union, that:-

  1. (1) It is a Present experience – “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine.” This is something that is true now of every believer.
  2. (2) It is a Personal experience – “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine.” There are four pronouns here, and how precious they are!
  3. (3) It is a Permanent experience – “I am…He is…” This is sure and certain; it is an eternal union.

Let us approach and explore this glorious truth in the easiest, simplest and most natural way; and as the bride uses the pronoun ‘I’, in giving her testimony and in speaking of her bridegroom, let us do the same.

 

1. I BELONG TO HIM

When we realise who the Lord Jesus is and we meditate upon the glory of His Person, and when, in addition to this, we remember the extent and sufficiency of His work, how incredible it is that, sinful though we are, we belong to Him! In what sense, and why is it really true, that I belong to Him?

  1. (1) I am His by Election. That is, I belong to Him because He chose me for Himself – look up the following references which present this glorious truth – Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:2; and compare John 15:16.
  2. (2) I am His by Donation. That is, I belong to Him because the Father gave me to the Lord Jesus. This truth is brought out in John 6:37, and is mentioned seven times in John chapter 17 – compare also John 18:9.
  3. (3) I am His by Creation. That is, I belong to Him because He made me. This truth is brought out in Ezekiel 18:4 and Colossians 1:16 (notice the last five words in this verse).
  4. (4) I am His by Redemption. That is, I belong to Him because He bought me; He paid the price of my redemption. This truth is brought before us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 1 Peter 1:18-19.
  5. (5) I am His by Presentation. That is, by my giving myself to Him in response to His love and grace – look up Proverbs 23:26 and Romans 12:1.

These are the cords of love by which our Bridegroom has drawn us to Himself and has made us His own. We are His by election, by donation, by creation, by redemption and by presentation – as the hymn puts it – “In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine” – look up Jeremiah 31:3.

How wonderful that I am His! But is it not even more wonderful that He is mine? – for the bride not only says, “I am my lover’s”, but she goes on to say, “…and my lover is mine.”

 

2. HE BELONGS TO ME

In any true marriage the bridegroom and the bride give themselves to each other, unreservedly and for ever; and in this holy relationship of the saved sinner and the Saviour it is the same. It is not only true that I am His, but it is also gloriously true that He is mine; therefore I can be sure about three things:-

  1. (1) He is mine – then how Safe I am! If I am His and He is mine, I must be absolutely secure for time and for eternity. This is an indissoluble union. No man, devil or angel can interfere with it or break it – look up John 10:28-29, and compare Colossians 3:3 and Romans 8:35-39. Just as an earthly bridegroom willingly and gladly assumes the responsibility for the safe keeping of his bride, so does our Heavenly Bridegroom guarantee our protection for time and for eternity.
  2. (2) He is mine – then how Rich I am! Think how rich the Lord Jesus is – and He is mine! In an earthly marriage the bridegroom endows his bride with all his wealth; and in this spiritual union between Christ and the believer, the same thing is gloriously true – look up Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:9-10, and compare Romans 8:16-17.
  3. (3) He is mine – then how Blest I am! The point to notice here is that the Lord has not only given us His gifts, but He has given us Himself. We have His pardon (Mark 2:5); His gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23); His joy (John 15:11); His peace (John 14:27); and His love (John 13:1); but above all, and best of all, we have Him – Himself! “I am my Lover’s and my Lover is mine!” His blessings are wonderful, but we have the Blesser.

This is a transforming truth. It is a blessed thing to know and to experience this union with the Lord Himself and to be able to live in the enjoyment of it – “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine!”