The Soul’s Cry After Her Resting Place…

The following is an excerpt from Jessie Penn-Louis’ beautiful and life changing book Thy Hidden One’s: The Life of a Believer as Illustrated in the Song of Solomon. The exposition here is of the same verse.

His left hand is under my head,

And his right hand embraces me.

The first is from 2:6 and the second from 8:3.  The “progress” seen is paradoxical. 

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love” (2:4). 

As the Well-Beloved fills her vision and becomes all in all to her, she finds herself brought in by Him to the banqueting house, where in an overpowering revelation of His love He gives her a foretaste of the union which she seeks. The spiritual manifestation of Christ in the heart is love. It has now pleased God to “reveal His Son” in her (Galatians 1:16). She had already had glimpses of this when she had fellowship with Him at His table, but now she has a revelation of Himself, and sees that wherever He may lead her henceforth, though it be along the way of the cross, it will be under the banner of love. The soul is not able to bear the full answer to all its desires. It cries to know all that oneness with the Risen Lord means to redeemed sinners, but it does not understand that it needs to be prepared and strengthened to endure it. 

“Stay me . . . for I am sick [with] love” (2:5), cries the surrendered one in the banqueting house. 

The revelation of Christ in His glory makes even an apostle fall at His feet as dead! (Revelation 1:17). The soul asks for some support, for it all seems too much; but she remembers that He is holding her even while He reveals Himself to her, and she needs no other stay. “Underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). “His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me” (2:6), she exclaims.

The Soul’s Cry After Her Resting Place 

His left hand should be under my head, and His right hand should embrace me” (8:3). 

However foolish and ignorant she may be, there is no question as to the integrity of her heart; her will is ever kept immovably set to obey. “I only desire to be taught,” she says. “That He may have His way and be satisfied is all I want. Oh for the rest and the upholding of the Everlasting Arms!” Ah, she thought she knew how to keep step, but she sees she is as helpless as ever. She must needs be carried. Now she knows what is meant by being a “little one,” and understands the Master’s words that the greatest in His Kingdom is as a little child (Matthew 18:4). She is maturing in truth, for she is progressing from “the cross to the cradle”! Her growth in the stature of Christ will be manifested in the child-spirit which evermore lies down in the Father’s bosom.