March 28, 2011

Song of Solomon 2
Do you ever feel constrained by this world to pursue its goals and desires, and yet at the same time do you feel unworthy yet drawn away by the Spirit of our Good Shepherd to let go of the things of this world to pursue Him? (1-3)The Shulamite laments that she is just one of the simple flowers on the Plain of Sharon which is famous for its spring flowers. But she remembers how her beloved shepherd spoke of her. She was a flower among thorns, not among other flowers. Thorns bring to mind the curse of Genesis 3:17, 18 where the ground is cursed because of the sin of Adam. Our Great Shepherd tells us that He has made us flowers among cursed of this earth. We are that valuable in His sight. When we learn to delight in Him as He does in us, He becomes to us sweet as a tree ripened apple as we sit in His shade in cool fall evening enjoying His presence.
(4-7)Her shepherd’s banqueting house was the simple outdoors in the shade of a tree. As she thinks of Solomon’s house with its ornate ceiling coverings, wall coverings and banners, she declares that her shepherd’s only banner was his love. Exhausted with the emotional tension of trying to avoid the advances of Solomon, she rallies her strength by calling for raisin cakes (known for their energizing effects on the body) and apples from her shepherd’s tree. She further strengthens herself by recalling His passionate embrace, and she adjures the court ladies to not encourage her to submit to Solomon’s advances. We are constantly wooed and seduced by the attractions of this world. It riches and pleasures are constantly beckoning us through our five senses and our pride. Our Shepherd simply tells us of His love for us. He promises and at times gives us His embrace. As our enemy seeks to seduce us through the entrapments of the world, we must constantly call to mind our commitment to Him and His promise that He will receive us to Himself.
(8-9)The temptation to despair and give into the approach of Solomon was great. The obstacles that were in the way of her shepherd ever being able to come and deliver her from the harem seemed like a mountain too steep and rugged to transverse. Yet she envisioned her simple shepherd as a mountain goat or stag that was surefooted upon the mountain. He could leap over the obstacles. He would come to her to rescue and receiver her to Himself. She could envision him looking in through the window lattice to call her to Himself. This world seeks us with false promises and entrapments of ease and pleasure. At times the obstacles that seem to separate us from our God seem to be insurmountable mountains. We may be tempted to despair and give into following the ways of the world. At such times we need to envision our great Shepherd as One who is able to leap all obstacles. He is indeed at the window and the door looking in upon us desiring fellowship with us.
(10-15)The Shulamite recalls a time when her shepherd lover called her out to enjoy the beauties of his field with him. Our Shepherd also is constantly calling us out to enjoy Him and delight in His creations with Him. He longs to see our face and hear our voice. Do we hide from Him strengthening the world’s grip upon our souls? Or, do we passionately turn to Him letting Him delight in us, and we delight in Him. But the world will not let us go. In the midst of his entreaty the Shulamite’s brothers call her back to work at the vineyard. There is work to be done. The little foxes are destroying the vines. She must catch them. There is not time to spend with the Shepherd. The cares and riches of this world are constantly dragging upon us. According to them there is no time to spend with our Shepherd. Yes, work needs to be done, but why does it always call at the same time that the Shepherd calls?
(16-17)The Shulamite declares her love for her beloved in the frustration of the demands of her brothers. The mountains of separation once again seem insurmountable. Her hearts cry is for Him to come and be with her until the morning when work again calls. She dreams of his presence. Do we dream of the presence of our Great Shepherd? In the midst of our spiritual night do we long for His embrace? In the valleys of the mountains of separation, do we long for Him to leap over the mountains and meet us here? Is his glory more important that the cares of this world? I am convinced He is. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john