What the Brook Sings

A Spring Sonnet

Shall I compare you to the singing brook?

You are more favored and more exquisite.

Spring waters rip the banks I overlook

and summer’s heat can lessen jolly wit.

Sometimes, sweet singing turns to babbling quick

and clarity is lost in foolishness.

Or, quality has ended by a stick,

where pools have gathered dumb in quietness.

But your still smaller voice will resonate

and not be muddled by the season’s tolls

to sing with me beyond and celebrate

resounding melodies on Heaven’s rolls.

So long as you hear what the brook sings of.

So long as you know it is my true love.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:
continue ye in my love.
John 15:9


What the Brook Sings

Because of belief in our Creator’s love to us, there is a marriage of the Spirit. We are His if we have the Spirit. We belong to Jesus if we have faith.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Romans 8:16

Another version states that the Spirit testifies with our spirit. By faith, we obtain the Spirit of sonship even though we fall miserably short of God’s glory. We can cry out to our Father who hears us and helps us live according to the Spirit.

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4

Would it be no surprise that since God decreed marriage is honorable in all, Jesus’ first miracle was performed at a wedding? Or, that the first miracle involved changing something into something else (water into wine)? Or, that there would be a marriage of the Lamb in the end? No, it’s no surprise that marriage is important to God.

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matthew 19:6

A man leaves his mother and father and cleaves to his wife in the marriage covenant relationship. A vow is kept even in sickness, poorer conditions or worse circumstances than when unmarried and the two become one. It’s best to agree in faith, being equally yoked. It’s better to agree to not break faith with each other. Like two oxen pulling a cart together, they help each other trudge mud puddles and step over dips in the road. As a husband and wife give their heart to each other so we give our heart to Jesus. And Jesus tells us His yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30).  

God told the prophet Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute, to prove a point. Hosea kept taking her back and loving her even though she cheated on him a lot. The arrangement showed the love relationship God chose to have with His people—that He would keep loving them and that repentance brings blessing.  

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1 Corinthians 7:4

You’ve probably sung the old hymn “I Surrender All”. This hymn talks of giving all to Jesus. The marriage illustration applies to our faith in our risen Savior. It’s God’s Spirit that we must surrender to and not our sinful nature.

All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Besides, look at this verse:

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John 3:29

When Jesus came to be baptized, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Bridegroom. The husband of the bride is the bridegroom. And who is the bride? We are, the Church, which is all believers across time. We wait for the bridegroom who will return for His bride, the Church. Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
Ephesians 5:25

Can you hear the brook sing of God’s love to us? We submit to Christ’s authority because of what He has done for us on the cross. His atoning death provides forgiveness of sins.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7

Will you be at the great wedding foretold in Revelation? You are invited. I have loved ones already saving me a seat. Plan now to attend. Make your reservation. Don’t throw the invitation out!

God married human characteristics with the human birth of Christ, His Son becoming His creation. We are graciously made co-heirs with Christ, the Son of God, if we truly have the Spirit of sonship. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call, we will be changed. Creation will become immortal, imperishable and incorruptible bearing the likeness of its Creator for eternity.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:12

Celebrate marriage as you rely on prayer. He who gave Himself for us remains faithful. When you trek to the brook in the woods, pull up a rock, sit down and pray for faithfulness.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:9

Support marriage and its peace.