Friday, December 13

SOMEONE LOVES: THE BRIDEGROOM TO COME

Song of Solomon

     The song of Solomon's heart was written to his wife by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  It gives one very clear call to the bride of Christ—to move out of her unsatisfied existence into the complete oneness with Christ Himself.  No matter where you are in your spiritual walk, Christ speaks…

     To the new Christian He says, "Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats beside the shepherds' tents." (1:1) He gently instructs her to put herself and her family under a pastor's care in a Bible-believing church to be fed the Word of God. The focus is not entertainment or dinners, but Jesus only.

     To the Christian desiring to grow in the Lord, He calls out to her to, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." (2:10) Here we notice that there is no loving embrace between them anymore, but a "lattice" wall of separation.  I believe He speaks of the many little hindrances that can often be built between the Lord and His bride.  Though she can still look through the wall of holes to catch a quick glimpse of Him, the speaking voice of Christ is to "rise up and come away.”  Leave the worldliness and the chasing after temporal hopes.  Stop trying to "do good" (or look good), and start believing what God will do in you.  Stop living like an unbeliever, sinning "little sins.”  Stop hoping and trusting in other people and other things.  Rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and believe that Christ died and rose from the dead…for a pure bride, a victorious bride!

     To the elder Christian, He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one…" (5:2) Sadly, she had become consumed in self once again.  Spiritual pride had set in, and she hardly noticed that He was not with her anymore.  Content to dream of past experiences of Him, the bride was too comfortable to uncover herself and open the door of her heart.  Self-satisfied, and in need of nothing, she has closed the door and locked Him out of her heart.  His speaking voice calls, "Open for me…"  Let His words have an effect in you—Today is the day of salvation!  Let Christ come into your heart and conform you into His image, from glory to glory.  Don't stay under cover, hiding your sin because of spiritual pride.  Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…Heb. 3:7-15.

     In every unsatisfied existence, the night must come.  Because Christ can never meet her in her sin, she must come out to Him.  He doesn't pester her with His presence or beg her or manipulate the situation to win her.  He leaves and allows her to have a night-time experience where her desire for Him escalates. Why?  Because He wants her love for Him to be real.  It is in the night that He, who is Love, shines so radiantly.

~ Ruth Ann Ward