Shulamite Some Thoughts Unashamed on the Canticles C. Doug Blair, Waterloo, ON, 2015
Christ Captivated
Song of Solomon 4: 12A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Here is Jehovah looking upon Israel; Christ looking upon His Church, His Bride. There is not a word of censure, even though the Bride has been tardy in response to His approaches, "A Garden enclosed": A productive place of the Saviour's special tending, feeding, pruning, watering, protecting and study. It is fenced against the trespass and tramplings of an indifferent world. It is sheltered from winds of adversity and fear, capable of scattering precious seed. The time is not yet come for the presentation of ripened produce to a watching world. "My sister": Made siblings by faith in a common household, accountable to a common Father. Sharing a mutual trust in His sovereignty, equity and power. "My spouse": Betrothed and entitled to the everlasting benefits and confidence of covenant. Proclaimed
and evidenced before the entire world. Witnessed by the Word of promise and Spirit of comfort. Intimate, safe and adhering. Growing in familiarity. Reproducing with joy and diligent care. Dispensing together the fruits of their partnered venture. "A spring shut up": There are delights and refreshments not yet disclosed. Building up in the secret places of prayer, meditation, intercession and carefully measured suffering. The surface shows little to the passing eye. Until the surge comes. "A fountain sealed": And the surge WILL come. The pressures of love, joy, praise and adoration will find their outlet. Kept pure and unsullied in the depths, these waters will bring streams in the desert and bracing life unprecedented. The landscape will be changed. The Living Water will come. (Photo from the film The Gospel of John)
Shulamite and the Rose of Sharon
4. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. (Song of Solomon 1) Bible commentators are somewhat awkward in approaching this book. F.B. Meyer deleted it in his Bible Commentary, stating that he did not feel comfortable or authoritative. So much said about romance, anatomy and rapture! This is unfortunate. God the Son is shown as the relentless suitor of the Shulamite Beauty (Israel) and of her little sister (the Gentiles, together forming the Church). The verse above says something marvelously accurate. I, the individual, sense the Lord's wooing and drawing as a very personal, intimate treasure. It seems like my own precious story. I can anticipate the prizes of grace. "My Beloved is mine." I will rehearse and celebrate forever my pathway to salvation and servant-hood.
But the remainder of the verse is in the plural number. We will run after thee. I sense kinship in a community both visual and mystical. We delight in each other's victories. We travail in each other's pain and challenge. We anticipate an even greater corporate gathering with that matchless Groom. It would be good to examine Psalm 45 as well. The transition in self-awareness has us saying "I am my Beloved's". Without any sense of pride we hear ourselves being called the upright. It is all the doing of our Suitor. The rock bottom attachment of agape love holds more sustaining power than any pounding duty, ceremony (wine) or iconic delight.
Wedded to You
I was having real difficulty getting to sleep. Mind racing. Numerous topics of anxiety. Money. Job stress. Health issues in the family. Future and career for the children. It seemed as if I had to go over all of them before I would allow myself to sleep. Finally at about 3 A.M. I conked out. I am usually a solid sleeper with few dreams. It was unusual therefore that I would be pulled out of sleep at about 5:15 A.M. In my spirit I heard the words,"I am wedded to you". I awoke. Not at all groggy, and began to contemplate what I had just heard. I felt remarkably refreshed. Often I have joked with male friends about trying to get my head and heart around the concept of being part of the "Bride" of Christ. Women have little trouble warming up to the image of the perfect husband. Men often opt out with the concept of a team coach or military Captain who is with them in the fray. But no,we are Bride material! Looking at my own wife, I know that I know we are knit as one. She could do nothing which would turn my affections away seriously. She is my closest experience of unconditional love. I will always put things in the best possible light concerning her. "Love thinketh no evil." Recently some reading from the book of Job impressed me with the standing of man and wife before God. In the dialogue between God and Satan the enemy had been allowed to attack everything of Job's (children, servants, flocks, herds, beasts of burden, crops) but not his life. His wife lived because apparently God did see the two of them as an inseparable unit! Now let us take this privileged position of spouse and apply it to the Bride of Christ. Joint heirs. Inseparable. Mutually submissive. Growing unity of thought and purpose. Yeah, I certainly want to be in on that!
And now perhaps I can read the comments of the old Scottish divines a little more comfortably. They were always seeing themselves in the context of the Beloved in the Song of Solomon or as Ruth in that delightful tale of marriage. Imagine hardy Scottish Covenanters heading to the wilds and resisting the King's dragoons to the death for the sake of truth and presbytery. Brides, or rather part of the Bride! Grace now seems a little clearer. Many teachers have often told me that there is no effort on my part which would make God love me more: neither is there any error or stumbling which would make Him love me less. He is ravished by his Bride. I leave you with the beautiful thought expressed by Naomi to Ruth in chapter three of that book: 18 Naomi said, "Sit back and relax, my dear daughter, until we find out how things turn out; that man isn't going to fool around. Mark my words, he's going to get everything wrapped up today." (The Message)
Ruth Rejoicing
Your fairness is undoubted Your workers bless your grace And I am here, a widow Bereft of child and place. And gleaning in your barley So mercifully allowed And finding much to gather From one so well endowed. Naomi says you’re special With ties to all our men
And Jewish law invests in you The means for me to smile again. Enjoying lands once family-owned A baby at my breast. As Kinsman you redeem it all And Ruth is doubly blessed. I come now in the even-time When you are deep in sleep And settle quiet at your bed And lay down at your feet. Oh see me gentle Boaz And do the works of law And beckon elders at the gate To heed that custom levirate. Such wonder that this Gentile maid Should leap from sad despair And trust a farmer’s word and bond And thrive within his care. https://justhappeneduponthis.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/more-than-a-conqueror/
Truth and Divine Love Rejected by the World
O love, of pure and heavenly birth! O simple truth, scarce known on earth! Whom men resist with stubborn will; And, more perverse and daring still, Smother and quench, with reasonings vain, While error and deception reign. Whence comes it, that, your power the same As His on high from whence you came, Ye rarely find a listening ear, Or heart that makes you welcome here?— Because ye bring reproach and pain, Where’er ye visit, in your train. The world is proud, and cannot bear The scorn and calumny ye share; The praise of men the mark they mean, They fly the place where ye are seen; Pure love, with scandal in the rear,
Suits not the vain; it costs too dear. Then, let the price be what it may, Though poor, I am prepared to pay; Come shame, come sorrow; spite of tears, Weakness, and heart–oppressing fears; One soul, as least, shall not repine, To give you room; come, reign in mine! Madame Guyon (translated by William Cowper)
This Man Receives Sinners
Luke 15: 1.Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2.And the Pharisees and scribes murmered saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. That’s just it. The Lord has come to minister to those who have a real sense of their deficit. If they attempt to bluff and claim self-righteousness, then He moves on. He says that the Physician has come to minister to the sick, and to those who will acknowledge that they are sick. Consider how Jesus dealt with the woman who came to the well in mid-day heat as recorded in John 4. Presumably she chose that time to avoid numbers of other women. She had had many husbands and was the subject of much gossip. Presently she was living common-law. All this Jesus knew by the gift of knowledge. When he stated these facts to her, there did not seem to be condemnation in his countenance or a roadblock to the interview. He was there to dispense “living water” regardless. He was there for her alone. There is a famous painting of this incident showing the Lord seated by a small well-lid at the base of a flight of stairs. His head appears cocked to hear the sound of one approaching from above. It is this
woman of shame. He is there for her. He knows that she is coming. The woman is so impressed with his willingness to bless that she accepts what he is there to offer. She runs off to tell neighbours that she has found the “promised One”. A revival ensues in the community. Many come and listen to His teaching for themselves. He does receive sinners. They sense that he holds a certain optimism for their redemption. If you can come to some quiet place, and lay yourself bare for His healing, and welcome Him to make His presence known, you will not be disappointed. You will find Him friendly, and more than a match for your sin. A new life awaits. John 6: 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Note: Brethren, we are the sick, sorry and poor ones. There is no other way to enter in. And we mustn’t be surprised when someone else’s entrance looks entirely different.
The Lover Ponders
Can you not get it? I am ravished by you. Saw your potential when I first took hold. Passed by many others, you know; and that is my prerogative. When you consider Ruth and the story of her gentle courtship out in the fields of Boaz. That was my heart for you. When you turn a look toward my garden of spices in the Canticles, do you not yearn for more of my delights? When you wince at the waywardness of Hosea's wife, you sense a little of what challenges me in holding on. No I will not make light of my covenant...not ever. When you see Mary of Bethany pouring the fragrance upon Jesus' feet and crying out her loyalty, you are coming near to my hope for you. When you admire the stamina of Lydia at the riverside, praying yet again for the revelation of Grace that does in fact come through Paul, you see the champion that I envision in you. When you accompany John and behold the Bride, the Heavenly City, descending from Heaven, you begin to appreciate how intensely I treasure this thing called marriage.
Now would you please rest in the assurance of my fidelity? Not going away, Beloved. Not ever deaf to your cries; nor to the abuse you sometimes suffer for my namesake. Believe me, my Love, this thing of ours can only get better.