Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 6:1-3
I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine;
he grazes among the lilies.
Song of Solomon 6:3
A love so passionate, so pure, so persistent, so perfect. Where can one find this? Ironically, you cannot find that love, but that love will find you. That love is personified in the person of the Beloved [Christ]. It is truly tragic, and in fact, one must consider it as his/her greatest downfall to undervalue the love that the Lover-Redeemer has for His chosen individual, namely, His bride. To be the beloved (recipient of God’s everlasting love), this must be taken in to the most serious and fearful manner. This is to receive the love that no one can ever exhaust. And this love is respectively divine. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. This reality is sealed before the foundations of the world because it is at the expense of the life of the Beloved [Christ] Himself – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is the reason why we should aim as reverently as possible, to consider it as our highest aim that we may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
This love that we often misunderstand is unconditional and unfailing. While one can know and be really certain that the love of the Beloved [Christ] is never dependent on anything but in Him alone, yet they most act foolishly as if this love can change. That this love is subjected to withdrawal, due to the truth that we have inconsistent love and passion for Him. This is madness at its best! When God has said, I have loved you with an everlasting love, this love has no beginning nor end! Just as it has always been, it is and will always be! And this love has been decided not because we can love Him back, but because He has simply done so! You may have given Him, who has loved you eternally, countless reasons to stop His love, but none of those reasons are strong enough to change His mind about it. He may have foreseen your every downfall, or every backsliding, nevertheless, He has fixed His heart towards you. And just as this is difficult to believe, we must because God is love!
In the continuation of the poem, here we can see exactly this unconditional and unfailing love the Lover-Redeemer has: “Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? (v.1)”. This is plainly the response of the daughters of Jerusalem after being convinced with what the maiden [Church] proclaims from her very heart, that the Beloved [Christ] is altogether desirable. “My beloved has gone down to his garden to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies (vv.2-3)”: The maiden reaffirms and finds confidence and assurance in the love of her Beloved [Christ], and who her Beloved [Christ] is – God is love. In the previous devotions, it was explained that the garden conveys the sexuality of the maiden. Yet the garden here must be taken literally. It is a place where her Beloved does his duty – to graze or feed His flock. But the highlight is shown when the maiden tells that her Beloved [Christ] is doing something else – “and to gather lilies (v.2b)” which means that the Beloved [Christ] is preparing something to show His love for her.
Connecting this in the previous devotionals or Grace Everyday, we see our own folly in the foolishness of the maiden [Church]. Out of her inconsistent passion and love for the Beloved [Christ], she has experienced the gloomy state of the temporary withdrawal of the Beloved [Christ]. This was because of her indolence. Yet, in the attempt of searching for her beloved, she suddenly remembers that her beloved is picking up flowers to give to her. To reach out to her. What an amazing love, it is! A love that no one deserves! And this is exactly the case of every believer! When one undervalues the love of the Lover-Redeemer, when one disregards the all-satisfying and all-fulfilling presence of the Beloved [Christ], we may experience temporary withdrawal from Him. But essentially, this not withdrawal at all. Never forget what the Most High has said – ” In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. Also, keep in heart this repeated verse in this series of devotion – “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
The real believer’s heart is awakened to perceive the wonders of God in the person of our Lover-Redeemer, Jesus Christ! From there, we learn to enthusiastically acclaim, oh taste and see that the LORD is good!
He who does not want know more of Him, knows nothing of Him yet…
Hear this then, dear saint! And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Desire communion with Him, who has loved us eternally! Thirst and long for Him! Be in awe of Him, the darling of Heaven! He is all yours… He is all-perfect, all-holy, all-glorious and all-happy! Be exceedingly joyous in being His beloved. If you have truly seen Him, then He is your exceeding joy.
Nobody loves you like He does…
Christ is all that we have! Christ is all that we need!
Take heart, dear saint!
Reflect
1. Does it bring you shame, or does it humble you to know Christ’s unfailing love?
2. Do you really desire and long to love Him more, as you ought to be?
Remember
Once we refuse to live our lives in intimacy with Christ, everything in Christian life becomes bitter and dull. There will be no enjoyment of the grace that satisfies the weary soul, the mercy that ignites the troubled heart, and the love that makes everything anew. Dwell therefore, in the very heart of the loveliest Being – the Beloved [Christ]!
Read
Deuteronomy 7:6-10; Romans 8:31-39
Pray
Father in heaven, I come before You in the Name of Your Son, humbling myself once more, to ask of this one thing – that I may have a greater vision of Him, who has lovingly given His life for me, who has lovingly secured my eternity in His all-satisfying and all-fulfilling presence, and who has lovingly given me the right standing before You, Father. Please, oh Lord, fix my heart towards Him alone. Please take my heart and seal it to His’. Help me in my inconsistencies for Him, and may I only give to Him what is due to Him – all the glory and honor and praises. I ask this Father, in the Name that You have given to Him – the highest name of all. Amen.
Comments