The Lattice
"My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice." Son 2:9
These are the words the bride breathes forth out of passionate love. She doesn't even speak His name. She doesn't have to. He's the only person continually upon her lips. Just simply, “My Beloved.”
She sees her Beloved standing behind the wall, looking through the lattice. This means she sees it's Him, though hidden. Her heart's expectancy is what she sees through the lattice. The true believer does the same here on earth, looking through a glass darkly. What is "the lattice" that crisscrosses the image of Christ for us? It is the means of grace. When we read God's Word, sit under the preaching, pray, sing Psalms, hold baptism, and the Lord's Supper. These are called "the lattice" because, while it is a proper look at Christ, it is not as complete as it one day will be. Today, the Lord's Supper is the looking glass in which we see the One whom our soul loves. We mount the chariot of the means to catch fresh views of Him. This sacrament is for a clearer vision, dear one. It's heaven's light sent to cheer and strengthen our sad hearts. When we look at our sins, we have much cause to grieve. But when we take a fresh look at a bleeding Christ, our spiritual needs are at once supplied, and our strength renewed. All else in this world fades from view, and we hear Him say,
"All I have is thine.
My love to strengthen thee,
My mercy to save thee,
My presence to revive thee.
See how I have loved thee with an everlasting love."
The latticework of Holy Supper is given us to fellowship with Christ through. Will you not look through it? It is given to work in us a sweeter love to Christ. In eating that bread and drinking that cup, such a soul will have his repentance deepened, his faith increased, his knowledge enlarged, and his holy living strengthened. He will see more clearly what Christ is to him and what he is to Christ. He will feel his spiritual life watered, the work of grace reestablished, strengthened, and carried forward. May the Bridegroom peer through the lattice of the Bread and Wine this morning, and may you be able to say, "My beloved."