Spurgeon Morning and Evening February 1 PM

Biblical Context

The passage from which our key verse, 2 Samuel 1:26, is drawn, marks one of the most poignant moments in the Old Testament: David’s lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan. After receiving news of their demise in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, David, though having been relentlessly persecuted by Saul, expresses profound grief. This lament, often referred to as ‘The Song of the Bow’ (2 Samuel 1:17-27), is a testament to David’s character, his respect for God’s anointed, and, most notably for our devotional, his deep, covenantal friendship with Jonathan. Jonathan, Saul’s son, was David’s closest friend, having sworn a covenant of loyalty with him (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:12-17). Their bond was extraordinary, transcending political rivalries and familial loyalties. Jonathan consistently protected David, even at the risk of his own life and kingship. David’s words, “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women,” are not merely hyperbolic praise but an authentic expression of the unique, selfless, and steadfast love Jonathan showed him, a love that would serve as a powerful metaphor for the love of Christ in Spurgeon’s hands.

Key Word Study

Let us focus on the word “love” in 2 Samuel 1:26, “Thy love to me was wonderful.” The Hebrew word used here is אַהֲבָה (pronounced ahavah). This term is a foundational concept throughout the Old Testament, denoting a deep, strong affection, often with connotations of loyalty, devotion, and commitment. It is used to describe God’s love for humanity, human love for God, love between family members, and the profound bond of friendship, as seen between David and Jonathan.

Ahavah implies more than just an emotion; it often suggests an active, demonstrated affection involving choice and dedication. In the context of David and Jonathan, their ahavah was evident in Jonathan’s self-sacrificial actions – he willingly relinquished his claim to the throne and endangered his life to protect David. This deep, covenantal love is what David praises as “wonderful,” setting a high standard for human affection. Spurgeon masterfully takes this earthly, yet sublime, example of ahavah and elevates it to point us towards the infinitely greater, divine agape (unconditional love) of Jesus Christ, showing how Christ’s love fulfills and infinitely surpasses even the most wonderful human love.

The Wonderful Love of Jesus: A Personal Testimony

Our source text, rooted in David’s lament for Jonathan, swiftly pivots from human affection to the divine, inviting us to reflect on the “wonderful love, not of Jonathan, but of Jesus.” This is not a theoretical exercise but an invitation to speak from personal experience, to share what we have “tasted and handled-of the love of Christ.” It’s a call to move beyond secondhand accounts and into the vibrant reality of a direct encounter with divine love.

When We Were Wandering Strangers

Spurgeon vividly recounts the initial manifestation of Christ’s love: “Thy love to me, O Jesus, was wonderful when I was a stranger wandering far from Thee, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” This speaks to our pre-conversion state, a time when we were alienated from God, enslaved by our own sinful inclinations. Yet, even in our rebellion, His love was at work, actively restraining us. “Thy love restrained me from committing the sin which is unto death, and withheld me from self-destruction.” This highlights the preemptive, preserving aspect of divine love, preventing us from crossing irreversible lines and from succumbing to the ultimate despair of self-destruction. It’s a love that guards us even when we are unaware, holding us back from spiritual and physical ruin.

Justice and Grace: The Axe Held Back

The imagery of the axe is powerful: “Thy love held back the axe when Justice said, ‘Cut it down! why cumbereth it the ground?'” This echoes the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), where the owner commands it to be cut down, but the vinedresser pleads for another year, offering to fertilize it. Justice demands immediate judgment for unfruitfulness, but love intervenes, granting a reprieve, offering a chance for repentance and transformation. It’s a profound illustration of God’s patience and mercy, His willingness to extend grace even when we deserve condemnation.

Drawn, Stripped, and Convicted

Before restoration comes conviction. “Thy love drew me into the wilderness, stripped me there, and made me feel the guilt of my sin, and the burden of mine iniquity.” This ‘wilderness’ experience is often painful, a necessary stripping away of self-sufficiency and false comforts. It’s a place where God, in His love, confronts us with our true spiritual condition, allowing us to feel the profound weight of our sin. This conviction, though difficult, is a loving act, designed to lead us to repentance and reliance on Him, not to crush us but to prepare us for healing.

The Sweet Invitation to Rest

Following the wilderness of conviction, Christ’s love speaks comfortingly: “Thy love spake thus comfortably to me when, I was sore dismayed-‘Come unto Me, and I will give thee rest.'” This directly references Jesus’ tender invitation in Matthew 11:28. When the burden of sin and the dismay of a stripped soul become unbearable, His love doesn’t scold but offers profound, soul-deep rest. It’s a gentle call to lay down our heavy loads and find solace in His presence, a testament to the restorative power of His wonderful love.

A Moment of Cleansing and Transformation

Spurgeon marvels at the instantaneous, transformative power of Christ’s love: “Oh, how matchless Thy love when, in a moment, Thou didst wash my sins away, and make my polluted soul, which was crimson with the blood of my nativity, and black with the grime of my transgressions, to be white as the driven snow, and pure as the finest wool.” This imagery draws from Isaiah 1:18, describing the miraculous cleansing that occurs at conversion. From deep-seated, inherited sin (crimson with nativity’s blood) to accumulated personal transgressions (black with grime), Christ’s love purifies completely, making the soul brilliantly white and utterly pure. It’s a testimony to the radical, justifying power of the Cross.

Whispers of Assurance and Intimacy

The intimacy of Christ’s love is further revealed in His personal assurances: “How Thou didst commend Thy love when Thou didst whisper in my ears, ‘I am thine and thou art Mine.'” This echoes the language of covenant and belonging, particularly found in passages like Song of Solomon 2:16. It’s a deeply personal declaration, affirming ownership and mutual affection. Such whispers solidify our identity in Him, confirming that we are not just forgiven, but cherished, loved, and eternally bound to Him.

The Father’s Love and the Spirit’s Declaration

Spurgeon extends this revelation of love to the entire Godhead: “Kind were those accents when Thou saidst, ‘The Father Himself loveth you.'” This references Jesus’ words in John 16:27, revealing the Father’s personal, direct love for believers, a love not mediated through Christ but flowing freely to those united with Him. And even sweeter, “sweet the moments, passing sweet, when Thou declaredst to me ‘the love of the Spirit.'” The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the one who pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), bringing comfort, guidance, and deep communion. To experience the declared love of the Spirit is to experience the indwelling presence of God in its most intimate form.

Chambers of Fellowship and Divine Revelation

The experience of God’s manifest presence is likened to sacred spaces: “Never shall my soul forget those chambers of fellowship where Thou has unveiled Thyself to me.” These are moments of profound spiritual encounter, where the believer enters into deep communion with Christ. Drawing a parallel to Moses, “Had Moses his cleft in the rock, where he saw the train, the back parts of his God?” referencing Exodus 33:22-23, Spurgeon asserts that believers too have had their own moments of divine unveiling: “We, too, have had our clefts in the rock, where we have seen the full splendours of the Godhead in the person of Christ.” Through Christ, we gain a revelation of God’s glory, not just a glimpse of His ‘back parts’, but the full effulgence of His being revealed in the Son, a privilege surpassing even that of Moses.

Remembering Blessed Spots

Just as David had cherished memories of specific places, “Did David remember the tracks of the wild goat, the land of Jordan and the Hermonites?” (referencing Psalm 42:6, where David recalls God from the land of Jordan and the Hermonites), so too do believers cherish spiritual landmarks: “We, too, can remember spots to memory dear, equal to these in blessedness.” These are not geographical locations but moments in time where God’s presence was undeniably felt, where His love was tangibly experienced, etched into the soul as precious, blessed memories. They serve as anchors of faith and comfort in times of trial, reminding us of His enduring faithfulness.

A Fresh Draught of Wonderful Love

Spurgeon concludes with a heartfelt plea, a desire to constantly refresh this experience: “Precious Lord Jesus, give us a fresh draught of Thy wondrous love to begin the month with. Amen.” It’s a recognition that while past experiences are valuable, the soul continually yearns for a renewed sense of God’s presence and love. This prayer is an invitation to start anew, to seek a fresh filling, ensuring that the wonderful love of Christ remains a vibrant, current reality in our lives, empowering us for the journey ahead.