This is My Beloved and this is my Friend

He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved and this is my Friend. (Song of Solomon 5:16)

Why is thy Beloved more than another beloved? (v. 9). That was the question asked of one who was so unworthy of her Beloved that she had grieved Him until He had to withdraw himself from her. She sought Him, but she could not find Him. She called Him, but He gave her no answer. It could not be otherwise, for her thoughts were moving round herself so that there was no room for Him.

But now she forgets herself in thinking of Him and showing Him to others. She cannot find words beautiful enough to show Him worthily. He is altogether lovely, she says. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend. And instantly she is with Him in spirit. She knows where He is. There is no more separation.

There is nothing that can surprise our Lord in our unworthiness; He knows us through and through. But it must surprise Him sometimes that we ever stay even for one minute in the dark and cold, when we have such a Beloved and such a Friend that we have only to think of Him (instead of ourselves) to find ourselves with Him, embraced by His warm love on every side.

From "Whispers of His Power" by Amy Carmichael