March 31, 2011

Song of Songs 5
Finally, the time of separation is at an end. The shepherd has gathered his myrrh and his spices, his dowry, he is ready to bring his bride to himself. He comes for a bride who has kept herself for him alone. Yesterday we saw that the Shulamite in this drama was a type of the bride of Christ who was to keep herself for His delight alone. In the first verse of today’s reading, we see Him coming with that pure, fierce, passionate and undying love for His bride. His friends encourage Him to go and finalize their love.
But as He arrives, the Shulamite is cast into one more turbulent dream sequence. In the dream, He arrives at the door and knocks seeking entrance. But she is slow at inviting Him in. He withdraws His presence. Frantic at having missed Him she runs into the streets looking for Him. The world’s watchmen abuse her and send her home. The world asks for a description of her beloved. She faithfully accounts His beauty, and she concludes, “Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!“ She calls Him her ‘friend.’ Once again, as highly charged sexually this passage is, it also delivers a strong friendship relationship.
I am reminded that Jesus told his disciples:
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Yet, Jesus tells His church in Rev. 3:20 that He stands at the door and knocks. He seeks to have fellowship, friendship with His bride. But we keep Him locked outside. Maybe part of the reason the world has a hard time understanding the Gospel from our lips is because we have denied Him entrance into our lives. We keep Him at an arm’s length. When our friendship with Him is deep an rich, perhaps we have a better footing to declare the beauty of His presence. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john