Daily Devotionals

Mornings and Evenings with Jesus

Devotional: September 24th

I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded. - Song of Solomon 6:11.

THERE are three kinds of trees spoken of here. There are, first, nuts: indeed, it is called “a garden of nuts.” These trees abounded here, and formed rows, shady walks, and yielded fruit. Nuts are a very common and yet a very agreeable fruit, and very nutritious. Some, however, question whether hazel-nuts are here intended, or those of the almond kind. However this may be, here are also vines; and of these there are many species. There is nothing remarkable in the appearance of a vine. It is noticed for weakness; its tendrils always require support and to be sustained, and there they lean and flourish. But it is famous for fruit; and, indeed, but for this it would be good for little, for there is nothing valuable that can be made out of its wood; and, as Ezekiel says, were it not for its fertility it would be only fit for the fire. But nothing can equal its luxuriousness and fertility. And then we have pomegranates, concerning which we may observe, there is nothing of stateliness in its growth, but its blossoms are large, and the apples are exceedingly beautiful, and of a reddish colour without and within; and we may see how these trees were valued by the frequency of the reference to them in this song, and by Moses calling the land of Canaan “a land of vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates.”

The high priests’ long robe was to have attached to it, alternately, a golden bell and a pomegranate. Thus Moses said, “Beneath, upon the hem of it, thou shalt make the pomegranate of blue, and of purple and scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.” And on the network which covered the two pillars of the temple, Jachin and Boaz, there were no less than two hundred thousand flowers of pomegranate courses. But, without making a comparison between Christians and these trees and vines and pomegranates, though they may all have their appropriate significancy, we find, however these trees may differ from each other, that all of them are actually growing in the same garden, having been placed there by the same Owner; and, however distinguished from each other, they stand in the very same state, and are in the same relation to him and to each other.

We learn from hence that we should not look for every kind of fruit from the same individual,-that we are not to go to the nutbush for grapes, or to the vine for the pomegranate. We cannot expect to find all these fruits upon the same tree: it is enough if each bear according to his kind. And we should not envy any, or wish to fill their places or to enjoy their opportunities, but use and improve our own talents; and those who have only one, and use and improve it, God will regard them as approvingly as if they had five. For “the Lord looketh to the heart;” and, where this is towards him, he accepts us according to what we have, and not according to what we have not.

Only we should remember the commendation he bestowed on Mary,-“She hath done what she could,”-and be concerned to gain the approving sentence which he pronounced upon one of the churches:- “Thou hast laboured, and hast not failed. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first.”

“Honour and shame from no condition rise:

Act well thy part, there all true honour lies.”

Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not he taken away from her. - Luke 10:42.

AND what was said of this pious woman will apply to all Christians. All other things, however good in themselves, and whatever “part” or portion we have in them, are transient, and perish with their using. What is all history but a relation of the revolutions to which all worldly things are liable; of the rich despoiled of their wealth; of nobles stripped of their honours; of princes dethroned, exiled, imprisoned, and put to death? If these instances are too peculiar, and too remote and national to produce impression, let us look nearer home.

What is honour, but a noisy breath? What is popularity? It hangs on the wavering tongue of the multitude, who are now crying “Hosanna,” and now “Crucify him, crucify him;” the people one moment called Paul a murderer, and not worthy to live, because a viper had settled upon his hand; and then the next moment they would have adored him as a god, because he had shaken it off into the fire, and had got no hurt. And what are riches? They are called in the Scriptures not only “the mammon of unrighteousness,” but “uncertain riches.” Riches, says Solomon, “make to themselves wings, and fly away;” not like an owl, towards the wood; but like an eagle, towards heaven, to carry thither the tidings how they have been received, used, and improved. Job Orton, in a note to one of his sermons, says, that a friend of his having received by legacy a sum of money to distribute in the way of charity, in a single year after he had come into possession of it, he was applied to for a share of it by no less than twenty-three individuals who had rode in their own carriages. And here is another thing to be taken into account too.

Allowing that these things were possessed by us, and could be perpetuated in our possession to the end of life, they can be possessed no longer. We have only a life interest in them. Shall we therefore set our heart upon that which, is not, and that from which we are so soon to be removed? This, therefore, is a reason why we should choose that “good part which shall not be taken away” from us. He that makes this his treasure has seized a blessedness which is independent of external accidents- independent of the revolutions of states, of the ravages of death, and of the universal conflagration.

When the earth and all the works therein shall be burnt up, at the last day, he will be able to stand upon the ashes of the universe and say, I have lost nothing. “I look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Oh, here all is sure and certain. Is the Christian pardoned? He is pardoned for ever; if his sins are sought for they shall not be found. Is he accepted in the Beloved? then he may exult and say with an Apostle, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Has he a “building of God?” it is a “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Has he an inheritance? it is “an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” Does he “return and come to Zion?” “it is with songs of everlasting joy upon his head.” He is inspired with everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, and may say and sing with Doddridge-

“Engage this roving, treacherous heart

To fix on Mary’s better part,

To scorn the trifles of a day

For joys which none can take away.”

“Then let the wildest storms arise,

Let tempests mingle earth and skies,

No fatal shipwreck shall I fear,

But all my treasures with me bear.”