Scripture
My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.
— Song of Solomon 5:4 (ESV)
Devotional
Knocking was not enough, for my heart was too full of sleep, too cold and ungrateful to arise and open the door, but the touch of his effectual grace has made my soul bestir itself. Oh, the longsuffering of my Beloved, to tarry when he found himself shut out, and me asleep upon the bed of sloth! Oh, the greatness of his patience, to knock and knock again, and to add his voice to his knockings, beseeching me to open to him! How could I have refused him! Base heart, blush and be confounded! But what greatest kindness of all is this, that he becomes his own porter and unbars the door himself. Thrice blessed is the hand which condescends to lift the latch and turn the key. Now I see that nothing but my Lord’s own power can save such a naughty mass of wickedness as I am; ordinances fail, even the gospel has no effect upon me, till his hand is stretched out. Now, also, I perceive that his hand is good where all else is unsuccessful, he can open when nothing else will. Blessed be his name, I feel his gracious presence even now. Well may my bowels move for him, when I think of all that he has suffered for me, and of my ungenerous return. I have allowed my affections to wander. I have set up rivals. I have grieved him. Sweetest and dearest of all beloveds, I have treated thee as an unfaithful wife treats her husband. Oh, my cruel sins, my cruel self. What can I do? Tears are a poor show of my repentance, my whole heart boils with indignation at myself. Wretch that I am, to treat my Lord, my All in All, my exceeding great joy, as though he were a stranger. Jesus, thou forgivest freely, but this is not enough, prevent my unfaithfulness in the future. Kiss away these tears, and then purge my heart and bind it with sevenfold cords to thyself, never to wander more.
Reflection
Knocking was not enough. Sleep was too heavy, the heart too cold. Then His hand reached the latch—effectual grace doing what ordinances and even gospel words could not until He stretched out His power. Longsuffering Beloved: shut out, still patient; refused, still knocking; then becoming His own porter. That is the gospel in a doorway. Do not celebrate how hard you finally opened. Blush that He had to. Then ask Him not only to forgive the unfaithfulness, but to bind the wandering heart with sevenfold cords to Himself.
Goad
What rival affection has kept the door shut tonight—and will you let His hand, not your sluggish will, be the one that finally opens it?
Tie-In
Morning called you happy as a people saved by the Lord. Evening admits how often the saved still sleep while the Beloved waits. Happiness is His gift; wakeful love is His work in you.
Closing
Spurgeon’s classic text with a brief reflection to help today’s reader.
If these words have stirred something, sit with it.
NewGrapes Ministries. Making disciples, not pew-fillers. Soli Deo Gloria.