It is not she that makes the advance to God, but God to her; she has nothing to entitle her to such notice, yet He regards her not with mere benevolence, but with love, such as one cherishes to the person of his wife ( Solomon 1:3-6 Jeremiah 31:3 Malachi 1:2 ). spread my skirt over thee--the mode of espousals ( Ruth 3:9 ).