The Song of Solomon has been
called the book of communion. We have that beautifully set forth in the first
seven verses of the second chapter. The bride and the bridegroom are conversing
together. We delight to speak with those whom we love. One of the wonderful
things about love is that when someone has really filled the vision of your
soul, you do not feel that any time that is taken up communing with him is
wasted. Here then you have the lovers in the country together and she exclaims,
for it is evidently she who speaks in verse one:"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." Generally we apply those words to the blessed
Lord; we speak of Him as the Rose of Sharon. We sing sometimes, "He’s the
Lily of the Valley, He’s the Bright and Morning Star." It is perfectly
right and proper to apply all these delightful figures to Him, for we cannot
find any figure that speaks of that which is beautiful and of good report that
cannot properly be applied to the Lord. But the wonderful thing is that He has
put His own beauty upon His people. And so here the bride is looking up into
the face of the bridegroom saying, "I am the rose [really the narcissus, a
blood-red flower] of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys"—the lily that
thrives in the hidden place, not in the town, not in the heart and bustle of
the city, but out on the cool countryside, in the quiet field. Does it not
speak of the soul’s separation to Christ Himself?

It is when we draw apart from the
things of the world, apart to Himself, that we really thrive and grow in grace
and become beautiful in His sight. I am afraid that many of us do not develop
spiritually as we should because of the fact that we know so little of this
heart-separation to Himself. One of the great griefs that comes to the heart of
many a one who is seeking to lead others on in the ways of Christ is to know
the influence that the world has upon them after they are converted to God. How
often the question comes from young Christians, "Must I give up this and
must I give up that if I am going to live a consistent Christian life?"
And the things that they speak of with such apparent yearning are mere trifles
after all as compared with communion with Him. Must I give up eating sawdust in
order to enjoy a good dinner? Who would talk like that? Must I give up the
pleasures of the world in order that I may have communion with Christ? It is
easy to let them all go if the soul is enraptured with Him; and when you get to
know Him better, when you learn to enjoy communion with Him, you will find
yourself turning the question around. So when the world says, "Won’t you
participate with us in this doubtful pleasure or in this unholy thing?"
your answer will be, "Must I give up so much to come down to that level?
Must I give up communion with Him? Must I give up the enjoyment of His Word?
Must I give up fellowship with His people in order to go in the ways of the
world?" Dear Christian, do not think of it as giving up anything to
go apart with Him and enjoy His blessed fellowship.