One common piece of advice that elderly couples often give to newlyweds is to highlight the importance of communication. A special evidence of a long and blessed marriage is open and free communion between husband and wife.

Charles Spurgeon, when speaking of marriage, noted that he enjoyed seeing a couple so joined in heart that one spouse could finish the sentences of the other spouse! When a couple does this, it reveals how intimately familiar they are with one another.

Husbands and wives who communicate with each other hold no grudges, keep no secrets, hide no frustrations, and conceal no sorrows. They speak openly and freely about all matters. They never let the sun go down upon their wrath. When there is a difference of opinion, the two will discuss the matter instead of shunning one another in harmful silence.

They never hide their struggles from each other. The wife shares her fears with her husband so he can know them, pray for her about them, and help her conquer them. The husband shares his temptations with his wife so she can keep him accountable and pray for him in claiming victory over sin.

Is this open communication given to us as a pattern in the eternal marriage of Christ and His Bride? Indeed, it is! The Song of Solomon speaks often of the communion, the sweet fellowship, and the verbal communication between the groom and the bride.

In the opening chapter of the Song of Solomon, the bride inquires of her groom where he feeds his flock, and “where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon” (Song of Solomon 1:7). From the first, she desires fellowship with her beloved. In response, the groom tells her to “go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock” (Song of Solomon 1:8) and she will find him by following the footprints of the sheep.

In chapter 2, the bride gives utterance to her longing for the “voice of my beloved” (verse 8). He responds by saying, “let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice” (verse 14).

How then does the Heavenly Bride, the Church, hear the voice of her beloved Redeemer? And how does Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom, hear the voice of His Bride?

The Bible: the Voice of the Groom

The Word of God is the Heavenly Groom’s message His Bride, the Church. The Bible reveals what the Bridegroom has done for her—how He has redeemed her, and what He desires her to become.

When we read the Bible, we should remember that we are hearing the voice of our Beloved One! We should read it with the same delight, the same attention, and the same care that a bride would eagerly read a letter from her husband. Christ desires to speak to us daily, and His words should be as precious as gold to us. How can we hear the voice of our Heavenly Bridegroom if we do not read the Bible?

Prayer: the Voice of the Bride

We also, as the Bride of Christ, have an open avenue of communication with our Beloved. As He speaks to us in His Word, so we speak to Him in prayer. In a strong, loving marriage, a wife shares her struggles, her fears, her concerns, and her needs with her husband.

We also should willingly and freely share the burdens and cares of our hearts with our Heavenly Bridegroom. Even though He already knows all that is in our hearts, He still longs to hear our voice, to receive our petitions, and to share our sorrows. Christ Jesus is our faithful Bridegroom. We should always seek to maintain and cultivate open, honest, and intimate communication with Him.