Song of Solomon 1:4

I read the heart of the loving bride in these words: "Draw me, we will run after you." Her desire to be near the Person of the Lord is so great that she feels something like distance — near and dear though she is. So her heart breathes out, "Draw me" — oh, draw me nearer, closer, my Lord, to you! There is growth in grace compared with verse 2 — a growing understanding of Him... The most blessed communion with the Lord goes perfectly with the most earnest longing to be nearer Him.

His love is precious and His name is excellent. This creates not only the longing to be sure of His love, but also the desire for His company... She is loved into loving and drawn into running. And, so drawn, the Bridegroom leads her into the secret place of His presence — the chambers of the King. In due time the bride will worship the King at His table, and a little later she will rest with infinite delight in His banqueting house. But first she must be a learner in the chambers of the King. In that secret place she forgets herself, rejoices in the Bridegroom, and remembers His love. There the King is loved with a pure love — they love Him uprightly.

He who is most drawn by the love of Christ, runs the fastest. It was a case of, "Draw me, we will run after You."

"We will run," but note the last two words — "after you." Not after our own ideas, or even after the best of men on earth, but "after you." As the beautiful sixteenth Psalm says, "I have set the LORD always before me." Not sometimes, but "always." What a path ours on earth would be if this were so! It would be separate from everything that is not Christ. And when we pray "draw me," we should be ready to add, like the bride and her companions, "we will run after you."

The world is running after many things today. All too often Christians run after this or that instead of Christ. No wonder their joy runs low and their light burns dim, and you see them restless and uneasy in soul.

Weaned from everything else, attracted to Himself, we speak among our brothers and sisters of Him and His glories alone. How precious to influence others in this way, so that they run with answering affection after our precious Lord!

Now we have the result, the happy fruit, of the drawing and the running. The prayer expressed conscious weakness and dependence, combined with holy diligence. They have run well and reached the goal, and now they are crowned with joy and gladness. But never forget, my soul: it is grace that draws, grace that runs, and grace that crowns. It all flows from the shoreless ocean of the Saviour's love. "We will remember your love more than wine." Now she uses the word "remember" — she knew His love before. But she is enjoying it with increased interest. Like air, she is surrounded by it; she is in it.

Why should Christ be called "the King" here? It is prophetic of His relationship with Israel after their restoration. As to His right or title, He is always that. Is He ever called the King of the church? Not in Scripture. He is a King and worthy of all homage. But Scripture speaks of Him as Head of His body, the church, and as King of the Jews.

In its first application it is a prophecy of Christ, the Messiah of Israel, winning to Himself the heart of the faithful remnant in Israel... The Lord's love to Israel, His earthly bride, is only a shadow or reflection of His deeper love to His heavenly bride. Once we realize this, we find immense profit in applying these beautiful figures to ourselves.