Morning, April 13, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh.” — Song of Solomon 1:13

Myrrh may well be chosen as the symbol of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is he compared to “a pouch of myrrh?” First, for quantity. He is not a drop of it, he is a chest full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me be quick to avail myself of him. Our well-beloved is compared to a “pouch” again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one required thing, but in “Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form;” everything necessary is in him. Take Jesus in his different qualities, and you will see a marvelous variety—Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider him in his life, death, resurrection, ascension, second return; view him in his virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness—everywhere he is a priceless bundle. He is a “pouch of myrrh” for preservation—not loose myrrh to be dropped on the floor or trodden on, but myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a chest. We must value him as our best treasure; we must prize his words and his orders; and we must keep our thoughts of him and knowledge of him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a “bundle of myrrh” for uniqueness; the symbol suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before the foundation of the world, he was set apart for his people; and he gives forth his perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with him, to have close dealings with him. Oh! We are blessed people whom the Lord has admitted into his confidences, and for whom he sets himself apart. Oh!

Choice and happy who are therefore made to say, “My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh.”