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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Sunday, April 13, 2008
MORNING:
"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."
-- Song of Solomon 1:13
Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its
preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving,
disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is
he compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop
of it, he is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a
whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me
not be slow to avail myself of him. Our well-beloved is compared to a
"bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one
thing needful, but in "him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily," everything needful is in him. Take Jesus in his different
characters, and you will see a marvellous variety-Prophet, Priest,
King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider him in his life, death,
resurrection, ascension, second advent; view him in his virtue,
gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth,
righteousness-everywhere he is a bundle of preciousness. He is a
"bundle of myrrh" for preservation-not loose myrrh to be dropped on the
floor or trodden on, but myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket.
We must value him as our best treasure; we must prize his words and his
ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of him and knowledge of him
as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us.
Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality. The emblem
suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before
the foundation of the world, he was set apart for his people; and he
gives forth his perfume only to those who understand how to enter into
communion with him, to have close dealings with him. Oh! blessed people
whom the Lord hath admitted into his secrets, and for whom he sets
himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle
of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."
EVENING:
"And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-
offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement
for him."
-- Leviticus 1:4
Our Lord's being made "sin for us" is set forth here by the very
significant transfer of sin to the bullock, which was made by the
elders of the people. The laying of the hand was not a mere touch of
contact, for in some other places of Scripture the original word has
the meaning of leaning heavily, as in the expression, "thy wrath lieth
hard upon me" (Psalm 88:7). Surely this is the very essence and nature
of faith, which doth not only bring us into contact with the great
Substitute, but teaches us to lean upon him with all the burden of our
guilt. Jehovah made to meet upon the head of the Substitute all the
offences of his covenant people, but each one of the chosen is brought
personally to ratify this solemn covenant act, when by grace he is
enabled by faith to lay his hand upon the head of the "Lamb slain from
before the foundation of the world." Believer, do you remember that
rapturous day when you first realized pardon through Jesus the
sin-bearer? Can you not make glad confession, and join with the writer
in saying, "My soul recalls her day of deliverance with delight. Laden
with guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I
laid my hand upon him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and
confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon him; and
now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed
to me, but laid on him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller,
Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness,
'Set that to my account.'" Blessed discovery! Eternal solace of a
grateful heart!
"My numerous sins transferr'd to him,
Shall never more be found,
Lost in his blood's atoning stream,
Where every crime is drown'd!"
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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