Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 4:12-15
A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
Song of Solomon 4:12
Do you still find it difficult to believe that the Beloved [Christ] delights in us? Or to put it more real, is it still hard to stand in the truth that we, the Bride of Christ [Church], is the center of His affection and enjoyment? Do remember then, that our God Himself has shown it in the history of the Sacred Writings: But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye…” Yes, dear saint! The call to take heart amidst our inconsistent Christian life is well-rooted or deeply anchored in the reality that we are taken by His heart! We are at the very center of His heart! We are the apple of His eye! And this must create more confidence towards Him, our Lover-Redeemer!
The way we must view our life hidden in the Beloved [Christ] must be on how He, who has loved us eternally, views it. Don’t forget that our Christian life is the work of our God! It showcases His steadfast love, overflowing goodness, unending mercies, immeasurable grace, namely His excellencies! That’s why it is true that, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ! The totality of our Christian life, our born-againness, displays the grandeur of His person fully revealed in His Son, our Lover-Redeemer! But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. We can take heart always because we live in God’s immeasurable grace. And when we say we are living in His grace, then we are living in a blessed reality that we have in the Beloved [Christ]. It is to live in what He simply says! So, in the continuation of our passage, we know that with every word of adornment from Solomon to his bride, it reflects how Christ the Beloved exults and rejoices in adoring the Church, and this must build our hearts!
vv.12-15 continues to show the deep admiration of the Beloved [Christ] to His bride’s [Church] beauty. He moves in into a more intimate commendation of the bride’s beauty, by praising her purity kept for her Beloved. While it literally communicates her virginity protected for her husband, there is also an implied meaning of her total devotion for her Beloved. She has lived her life entirely for Him: Her affections is set towards Him alone, her mind is captivated by Him alone, her heart is consumed by Him alone! Purity indeed it is! Free from other competing loyalties for the Beloved [Christ].
v.12 – Garden mentioned in poems is an ancient near east concept of conveying woman’s sexuality. A garden and spring locked communicates that she is only reserved for her owner – her Beloved [Christ].
v.15 – Again, the garden's poetic communication is mentioned as if it is extending the meaning that the Beloved [Christ] not only recognizes the purity of His bride [Church], but also sees His bride as refreshing as a garden spring.
While it was emphasized that the Beloved [Christ] exults or rejoices greatly in the purity of His bride [Church], don’t be immediately discouraged by the fact that we have not achieved this state of pureness in our Christian life. Remember, the blessed assurance (our reality) that we have is because of God’s grace! Just as the whole universe speaks of God’s work or the works of His hands, so is our Christian life! It speaks of God’s grace in Christ! The fullness of His grace is in the Son! His works are pleasing to Him – it was good. Therefore, don’t you ever forget this great work that He has accomplished - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In His view, that must be our view, we are holy and blameless because we are the bride of the Beloved [Christ]. We are one with Him! God sees us in Christ! His Holiness [the Beloved] covers us! Therefore, know this for sure – and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
To be loved by the Beloved [Christ] indeed is the highest blessedness. Not only that, it is also the first step to holiness, and the only way to glory. This is the reason why we must never stop acclaiming with the psalmist that the Lover-Redeemer’s heart is the loveliest place to be. We say therefore to our hearts, because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
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! Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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. How does the love of Christ affect your life?
2. Do you take confidence in Christ’s all-satisfying and all-encompassing love?
3. Do you desire and long to love Him more, as you ought to be?
Remember
Let it never be forgotten that Jesus Christ is the love song of God. He is the love of God manifested in us. And in Him, we have received the worth and state that we don’t deserve – to be in the center of the heart of the Beloved, our blessedness.
Read
Romans 8:1-11; Titus 2:11-14
Pray
Father in Heaven, I come before You in the Name of Your Son, to humbly offer You my body as a living sacrifice. I ask in Your grace and mercy that You enable me to live wholly only for Him, who has loved me eternally, and has redeemed me to be in union with Him forever. Incline my heart and affection to Him alone. Set my eyes in His infinite beauties and excellencies, that I may truly learn to leave the worthless things that I cherish above Him. Please build my heart, Father, in the finish work of Your Son, that I may truly live a set-apart life for Him alone. This I pray, in His Name. Amen.
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