My father passed away in March this year, leaving behind a large collection of books. Amid the stacks of old papers, I discovered a handwritten copy of Reading the Song of Songs, a posthumous work by Pastor Wang Zhen originally transcribed from the correspondence course materials of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. This original manuscript had been carefully preserved by my father and is of inestimable value.
The book's cover has yellowed over time, while the back cover is mottled and marked with oil stains. The pages are bound with string and reinforced with staples, which have rusted, and the corners are creased.
On the cover, the title Reading the Song of Songs (《雅歌读法》) is inscribed in double-hooked, open-point regular script, accompanied by a passage:
"Christ's life, through all kinds of circumstances, refines the genuine feelings of real life, and by God's mighty power overcomes everything. Our study of Reading the Song of Songs is to draw lessons from the Shulammite woman's pure love for the shepherd king. We, too, must place ourselves within the love of the Song of Songs, to reveal the correspondence to the spiritual journey…"
A poem is also included:
Jesus is truly God's grace,
He came to earth to suffer and save sinners.
The chosen people did not recognize the Messiah,
But nailed God's Son to the cross.
The Jews committed a crime beyond measure,
And were driven from Canaan to wander the world.
When Israel is restored with full repentance,
The glorious return of the Lord will be fulfilled.
The inner pages are written on the reverse side of accounting vouchers, each stroke carefully written in blue ink. The meticulous, tiny calligraphy showcases the scribe's skill. The manuscript, spanning roughly seventy to eighty pages, is densely written yet clearly legible. When I later read the officially published edition, I came to appreciate even more the extraordinary value of this handwritten copy.
The author of this manuscript was an elderly deacon in my hometown church and was later ordained as an elder. Before his youth calling to Christ, he had worked as a teacher. According to village records, during the "Destroy the Four Olds" campaign, when clay statues in the village hall were being removed, no one dared to touch them for fear they might harbor spirits and bring disaster. In this tense situation, he prayed with a fellow believer and then stepped forward to remove the statues, successfully completing the task. This act convinced the villagers that his faith was in the true God.
Later, he was publicly paraded and criticized for his belief, being labeled a "British lackey." He replied, "I am not a lackey for the British but a servant of Jesus." Despite persecution, he never abandoned his faith. He frequently organized secret Bible studies and nighttime prayer gatherings, firmly trusting that God would provide a way.
Later, when the church was restored, though already in his seventies, he still received and served people in his home. His body was weak, yet his zeal never waned. He would walk over five li (over two kilometers) to the city every Sunday to worship and preach. In his spare time, he devoted himself to silent Bible reading. At one point, he borrowed a copy of Reading the Song of Songs, which, in those days of scarce resources, felt like a precious treasure. Deeply moved, he found it immensely helpful for both his personal spiritual practice and for edifying the church. Since he had to return the book, he began copying it word for word.
By then, his eyesight was failing, yet he worked tirelessly day and night at his desk. He did not stop at a single copy but produced four or five more, distributing them to congregants in surrounding churches. These manuscripts provided spiritual nourishment to many during difficult times, laying a foundation for faith. My father also received a copy, reading it repeatedly and treasuring it, undoubtedly gaining similar spiritual nourishment from its words.
Today, the elder has long been called home to Christ, yet his handwritten devotional books have endured, bearing witness not only to the devotion and love of his generation in serving the Lord, but also to the labor and dedication etched between the lines. My father has likewise completed his earthly ministry and returned to the embrace of his heavenly Father. I believe that their lifelong service to the Lord has become a blessing from God, testifying to His glory.
This yellowed handwritten book has witnessed the passage of time, conveyed God's great love, and continues to offer insight, guidance, and encouragement to those of us who follow.
(Originally published by the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission, and the author is a Christian contributor.)
- Edited by Katherine Guo and translated by Poppy Chan
