Section 739
II. The church in these words takes notice also of the love and affection of Christ towards her
And his desire is towards me. The words may be rendered, thus, because or seeing his desire is towards me; so Junius reads them; and then they may be considered as a reason of the former expression of her faith in Christ, acknowledgment of his grace, and profession of his name; for Christ's love manifested to us, is a considerable evidence of our interest in him, and in his everlasting love; this will make us free and ready to acknowledge that we have nothing but what we have received from him; it is this which fills us with love to him, constrains us to obey him, encourages us to make a profession of him, and to maintain it, notwithstanding all discouragements thrown in our way, or opposition made against us. But let us consider a little the import of this phrase, and what is intended by it: it seems to be very much like, and perhaps the allusion is unto those words, in Genesis 3:16, "and thy desire shall be to thy husband;" but here the husband's desire is towards his wife; so that what was inflicted by way of punishment upon the woman, being inverted, is a blessing of grace unto the church. The phrase may be expressive,
1st, Of Christ's love and affection to his church: his desire was towards her, 1. From everlasting; for having loved her, he desired her of his Father for his spouse and bride, which was granted him; for God gave him his heart's desire in this thing, and did not withhold the request of his lips from him. 2. His desire was towards her in time, that he might procure everlasting salvation for her; as an instance of his love, he undertook it; in the fullness of time assumed her nature, in order to effect it; was straitened in his mind, and as it were uneasy until it was accomplished; so great was his desire after it: hence he expressed himself thus to his disciples, at his eating the last passover, "With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer," (Luke 22:15), the chief reason was, because the time was at hand, the hour was now come, so much desired by him, when he should give the strongest evidence of his love to his church, in laying down his life for her. 3. His desire is towards his people, even before conversion, though dead in trespasses and sins; that they may be quickened, called by grace, and brought to the knowledge of himself; and, notwithstanding all their backslidings and revoltings from him, still his desire is after them, to do them good; neither will he turn away from them, but rests in his love towards them. 4. His desire is continually after his peoples company, grace and beauty; they are the excellent in the earth; in whom is all his delight; he is well pleased with that beauty which he himself has put upon them, and his desire is after it; "so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty," (Psalm 45:11), he is ravished with those graces which he has implanted in them; he is exceedingly delighted with their looks and words; and therefore says (Song of Solomon 2:14), "let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely:" nay, he has signified his desire that his church and people may be the place of his residence and habitation, and that for ever; "for the Lord hath chosen Zion, he hath desired it for his habitation," (Psalm 132:13, 14). Hence, 5. He will not be satisfied until he has the whole church with him in glory; this was the joy that was set before him in his sufferings; what he is now making preparation for in heaven, and what he is continually pleading for, as being exceedingly desirous of, saying (John 17:24), "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, may be with me, where I am, that they may behold nay glory." Thus Christ's desire is towards his church.
2dly, This phrase may be expressive of that power which the church has over Christ, so that she can have any thing of him, when she pleases; he is so kind and indulgent an husband, that he will not deny his spouse any thing that may be for her good and his glory. The strength of faith in prayer is very great; an instance of this we have in Jacob, who had power with God, and prevailed: and it is upon this score that God said to Moses, let me alone; knowing what interest Moses had in him, and how prevalent his petitions w ere with him; so that speaking after the manner of men, he could scarcely deny him any thing; "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," (James 5:16).
3dly, The import of this expression may be, that Christ was her husband; "I am my beloved's, and his desire is towards me;" that is, he is my husband, I am his, and he is mine: so the wife is called "the desire of the eyes," (Ezekiel 24:16, 18), and this was a very great blessing that she was favored with, and an unspeakable comfort, that she could claim her interest in Christ, under this sweet and endearing character and relation. Or,
4thly, It may be expressive of the whole care and concern of Christ for her, as her husband;[4208] who as such bears and sympathizes with her under all her weaknesses and infirmities; protects from all dangers and enemies; and provides every thing for her, as food and raiment, grace and glory, all things necessary for her, both for time and eternity; whatever may conduce to her comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter as a loving husband, he has given himself for her, rescued her from slavery and thraldom, procured an inheritance for her; and is now preparing that for her, and her for that, and will ere long put her into the possession of it. All which manifestly make appear, how much his desire has been and is towards her; which she having had some knowledge and experience of, ventures to invite him, as in the following words, saying.