It is on my heart to address a few words to my brethren in the Lord (especially those who are passing through great trial) on three aspects of love, love to the saints, presented to us in God's Word.
The first is that presented in 1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16). "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." This precious truth is prefaced by that statement, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us," showing that it is God's love that is contemplated here. If we were living in a country where wild beasts prowled about night and day, one would desire, or would rejoice in having, a dwelling place where one would be quite secure from the attacks of all such animals. Now is it not a marvel that although we who are surrounded by enemies and whom the devil as a roaring lion seeks to devour, have such a dwelling place, yet so few of us dwell there?
There is quite a difference between visiting a friend's house now and then, and dwelling there. Every child of God has "known and believed the love that God hath to us"; but the point here is, does he dwell there? Do you, my brother? Have you retired from all cares, worries, and possible dangers, by making His love your abode? If not, why not?
Is there some dark cloud looming up on your horizon that brings a depression over your soul?
Do you not know that He who regards a sparrow's fall has said, "There shall not a hair of your head perish"? And further. Your horizon is not God's horizon. Your horizon is the point where your gaze meets the surface; He can see beyond that, for He gazes from a loftier altitude.
"Perfect love casts out fear." How can I fear if I am abiding in God's overshadowing, all-enveloping love? "There is no fear in love"; "He that feareth is not made perfect in love." He has not realized that God is love, and all His dealings with us proceed from a heart that retains no wrath; that yearns over us with an unceasing, unquenchable affection, and whose only object is our being brought more into fellowship with Him—our being brought to dwell in love.
There is another aspect of love—the love of Christ—which we have unfolded very sweetly in Solomon's Song. Do you wish to find rest for your weary heart? Do you wish for repose, peace, and refreshment? Oh then come and lie on the bed which he has made.
"King Solomon made himself a bed {margin of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem." S. of Sol. 3:9,109King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. 10He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 3:9‑10). The cedar wood showed durability, the pillars of silver typified redemption (He "loved the church, and gave Himself for it"); the bottom thereof of gold signified that all rests on the divine counsels; the cover of purple showed royalty which, as being partner of his throne, we share in; but the midst thereof was paved with something which cannot be typical—that immeasurable, unsearchable thing, love—"the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge."
How sweet to find all our repose on the bosom of Jesus; when wearied with service, to retire apart into a desert place with Him (Mark 6:30, 3130And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. (Mark 6:30‑31)). The Lord would have us find our all in Himself; He would have us rest, satisfied, on the bed of His love, realizing that every need of the heart is met.
And the other aspect of His love to which I refer is one which, though enjoyed and realized now, reaches beyond this wilderness scene into that day of supreme bliss, the marriage supper of the Lamb. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." S. of Sol. 2:44He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. (Song of Solomon 2:4). The banqueting house, or house of wine, sets forth joy; and our supreme joy in being there is, to know that it is His love which brought us there. "His banner over me was love." It floats above my head, rejoicing over me as a trophy of that love. And it is His joy to have me feasting there in the full enjoyment of that position.
In the first chapter we read, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine." Better than all the joy of salvation is it, to know that He saved me because He loved me. And in that day of perfected bliss, when all the saints shall be gathered at the marriage supper of the Lamb, I suppose that we shall not be so much occupied with being there, as with the love that brought us there and now waves its banner over us. In Ephesians 2 we are very sweetly told that God's purpose in saving us is "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus."