March 6

This is my friend. - Song of Solomon 5:16.

LORD Brooks was so charmed with that wise and accomplished person Sir Philip Sidney, that when he died he would have no other inscription upon his tomb than this: “Here lies the friend of Sir Philip Sidney;” and shall not we say, Oh may my tomb but as truthfully declare, “Here lies a friend of Jesus.” This will be infinitely more important than if it were adorned by the trophies of victory, the ensigns of power, or the emblems of affection. Let us endeavour to ascertain as clearly as we can that he is our friend, so that we may also say, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” Then whatever be our circumstances, we may fully rely upon his presence and aid. And to encourage and comfort us he says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” If other friends forsake, and other helpers fail, he is the same. “When my father and mother forsake me,” said the Psalmist, “then the Lord will take me up.” He is the “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” “He fainteth not, neither is weary.” “He is a very present help in trouble.” And then let us often think of going home to this dear friend, and of being for ever with the Lord.

The Apostle said, “Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.” It will also be “far better” for us; “far better” for us to be in “the land flowing with milk and honey,” than to be in the wilderness with the serpents, and entangled with the thorns and briers. It will be “far better” to be delivered from the burden of the flesh, and to be presented “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

We need not be afraid of going to him. His presence will be with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and at the end we shall find him waiting to receive us to himself, that we may behold his glory, that we may see him as he is and be for ever with him.