He speaks life into her, offering His hand as His love begins to renew her mind. He invites her to arise and come with Him. Fear stops her. Have you ever doubted God's love for you?
The [Woman]: “One night my lover was missing from my bed. I got up to look for him but couldn’t find him. I went out into the streets of the city and the roads to seek him, but I searched in vain. Songs 3:1-2 TLB
Again she seems to be dreaming of their love. The separation she felt was daunting and the darkness lurked as she searched for Him at no avail. The thought of going on without Him was more than she could bear.
Wouldn't it be great, if the day we said yes to Jesus, faith was fully flourished? There I go again, trying to rush the journey!
Oswald Chambers wrote, "It's easy for us to imagine that we will suddenly come to a point in our lives where we are fully prepared, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished. In fact it is a process that must be steadily maintained."
The police stopped me, and I said to them, ‘Have you seen him anywhere, this one I love so much?’ It was only a little while afterwards that I found him and held him and would not let him go until I had brought him into my childhood home, into my mother’s old bedroom. Songs 3:3-4 TLB
In her longing, she enters the world to look for Him— but He is not of the world. When God seems absent, the world is always waiting. As she makes the choice to move past them, she finds Him waiting there for her. She pulls Him close and would not let go. She wants to be with Him forever!
Pay close attention in the deafening times of silence when the enemy of your soul tries to entice you with the shiny new things of this world. My tendency is to gravitate toward control or retreat. It only takes a moment to be deceived. I know it can be difficult to reach for His hand in the dark, but just because we don't see something, does not mean He is not doing something. He may be invisible, but rest assured He is at work. Surely He knows what it takes to dig deeply into our need for Him.
I adjure you, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and deer of the park, not to awake my lover. Let him sleep.” Songs 3:5 TLB
Perhaps another reminder is needed—love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. A manipulated love does not take root.
The Young Women of Jerusalem: “Who is this sweeping in from the deserts like a cloud of smoke along the ground, smelling of myrrh and frankincense and every other spice that can be bought? Look, it is the chariot of Solomon with sixty of the mightiest men of his army surrounding it. They are all skilled swordsmen and experienced bodyguards. Each one has his sword upon his thigh to defend his king against any onslaught in the night. For King Solomon made himself a chariot from the wood of Lebanon. Its posts are silver, its canopy gold, the seat is purple; and the back is inlaid with these words: ‘With love from the girls of Jerusalem!’”. Songs 3:6-10 TLB
When the storms of life kick up and thoughts of abandon ring loudly, God so graciously brings forth the truth of His love. Jesus ascends from the wilderness, fragrant with anointing oils from His burial. His sacrifice purifies and His protection is fierce. His mercy seat is forever in place—sprinkled with crimson; His amazing Grace—and covered by the Spirit of God.
He literally and willingly gave His life and defeated death for His bride's hand in marriage. His love for her cannot be shaken; not even by her fear or unbelief. But she must willingly choose Him.
As I write this, I am faced with yet another difficult medical decision; which usually brings pings of worry and fear—but more painfully doubt, and areas of unbelief are exposed. If you find yourself in a similar place, I pray these words speak directly to your soul—"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love." Romans 8:38 NLT
The [Woman]: “Go out and see King Solomon, O young women of Zion; see the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, his day of gladness.” Songs 3:11 TLB
Don't miss the invitation to come and see what He has done. Lay your cares at His feet and sit in the overwhelming joy of His love. It is in this moment that He collects your tears in a bottle. And, then in that moment, every thought that is not from Him will simply fall away.
Comments