Scripture Text: Song of Solomon 5:7-8
The watchmen found me
as they went about in the city;
they beat me, they bruised me,
they took away my veil,
those watchmen of the walls.
Song of Solomon 5:7
In the continuation of what was communicated to us regarding the own folly of the maiden, the goal is to clearly perceive the message of experiencing the melancholy of inconsistent love for the Lover-Redeemer, Christ. Due to the maiden’s complacency, we see the picture of this gloomy experience, the withdrawal of the presence of the Beloved [Christ]. There is regret and sorrow when a true believer realizes the foolishness of taking for granted the call of the Lord Jesus Christ for intimacy. This failure also speaks of one’s own shortcoming to his/her blessed duty to give to the One who has loved us eternally everything—for from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. There is a reason why the Lover-Redeemer is being constantly mentioned: It is to remind us that the Beloved [Christ], who has pledged Himself to love us eternally, has paid the price to redeem us from the curse of the law, and is now our rightful owner—namely our new master. Just as lords demand what is due to them, so is the Lord of lords! Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
In the progress of this beautiful poem, here we see the tragedy of having a divided heart for the Beloved [Christ] that inevitably results to inconsistent love and passion for Him. As the maiden [Church] continues in her part in the poem, let us not fail in apprehending what needs to be understood in light of our reality: “The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love (vv. 7-8).” This portion must not be taken literally. It would be inappropriate for the watchmen to beat, bruise, and take away the veil of the wife of the King. What we must understand is that the maiden is trying to convey to everyone the agony of her own folly. The melancholy of inconsistent love for Christ was made clearer in this passage as it speaks of the dreadful loss of the blessedness, joy, and satisfaction that we can find in His presence, and intimacy with the Lover-Redeemer.
Yes, dear saint! We must know first, then remember, or never forget the dreadful loss of possessing a divided heart for Christ. It dishonors Him greatly, it takes His all-encompassing and all-satisfying love for granted, it doesn’t indulge in the blessedness and completeness that can be found in Him alone, and it scorns His very person and heart for you—who He is and who He must be to us. He must be treasured as most, or He is not treasured at all! We must take then as our greatest failure when we give way to our own indolence, and take it as our greatest downfall when we are not able to give what is due to Him - to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
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! The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
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. Do you still take lightly the desire of Christ to be intimate with you?
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
Psalm 42:1-11, 27:1-14
Pray
Father, I come before You as Your child, humbly asking of Your forgiveness and patience for all my shortcomings. Forgive me if I am taking for granted the blessedness that I have in Your Son, for neglecting Your all-encompassing and all-satisfying love fully revealed in Him, and the completeness and peace that I can have in communion with Him. Please incline my heart to this one desire, that I may truly seek Him as my more than enough portion, and truly treasure Him as supreme in my life. Please make me see that in Him, I already have what I truly need here and hereafter. This I pray, in His Name, Amen.
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