(Living seed Vol 13 No. 1 July 2006)
“As the lily among thorns, so is My love among the daughters”. (Son 2:2)
Thank you, dear Lord, for this. You know where I dwell. You have been here before, so you are familiar with the feelings of my infirmities. Yes, the lily is a tender plant but here trapped and entangled among thorns. I dwell among wild and offensive thorns. It is such a contradiction to walk among thorns. The daughters of this world among whom the Church must grow her tender beauty are wild thorns. Piercing and tearing apart. Merciless and vulgar. The daughters of this world are loud and imposing. Yet, it is in their midst Your bride must grow your own very nature -the lily of the valleys. Lord, this is touching. In the midst of thorns and thistles, I must grow to become like Thee in character and in tender love. What a picture!
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrins, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the nations. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated of all men for My name’s sake, but the one who endure to the end shall be kept safe. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another; for truly I say to you, In no way shall you have finished the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he is like his master, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?” Mt.10:16-25
The conflict is real. My joy this day is that You know where I dwell. You have been here before. You have gone through these same hostilities before. You did not desire to take me out of this till Your character has been grown fully in me. Thorns indeed. Thorns in the flesh and thorns in the eyes. You left the children of Israel in the midst of these thorns so they will always remember to walk in your ways. If I will walk with You, though in the midst of thorns, none will harm me. If I will deviate from the narrow path, they line up my path to immediately pierce my feet, so I may know that I am missing my path unto righteousness. Thank You dear Lord for these thorns all around me. It is such that in their midst, I may break forth as the rose you are producing in me as well. Whereas the daughters of this world have their own way of attraction, they are real thorns in life. They are deceptive. I must live in direct contrast to them. I must be the lily -the fresh and beautiful. The one that is ever tender and soothing. O Lord, grant me this understanding in all my pilgrimage down here in Jesus name.
The Brides response
“As the apple among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste”. (Son 2:3).
“He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love”. (Son 2:4)
“Feed me with raisin cakes, comfort me with apples, for I am sick with love”. (Son 2:5) )
“His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me.” (Son 2:6)
Lord, grant me a tender heart that appreciates You more than ever. I have just been longing in these days to worship You and to be lost in Your presence. It is just to behold You in the beauty of Your holiness that my heart yearns for in these days. No one compares with You in all the world. As the apple tree stands out tall and towering among all the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. Your glory is above all the earth. You are above all else and none else comes near you in stature. O Lord, You are fairer than ten thousands of men to my soul. All the treasure of this world will be nothing more than trash to me compared with the treasure of knowing You and possessing You as my very own. This is what must engage all my powers and affection henceforth.
“I sat down under His shadow with great delight”
What a place to rest daily. What a place to abide. I sat down… I have come to the place of rest where I can sit down. But the exciting aspect is that I sat down under His shadow with great delight. It is not with a frown, as if I am being compelled. It is with relish and with utmost satisfaction. It is the best place to be in the noonday. It is the best shelter for a man on pilgrimage like me. It is the place of renewal. lt is the place where I can draw fresh strength. Actually it is the place where I not only refuel, but where I change my engine oil, for better lubrication and smooth running.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the
shadow of the Almighty.” (Psa 91:1).
“Even the young shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly
fall; but those who wait on Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall
walk and not faint.” (Isa 40:30-31)
O Lord, I have seen the bane of running and getting weary. It is useless to run around where there is no fresh oil. It is very dry and boring. When the oil has lost its viscosity because of overuse and excessive high temperatures, it becomes watery. It does not absorb any friction again. There is overheating within the systems. Movement is now bone to bone, iron to iron. Much noise, but little achievement. I have seen much sweat, but little or no result. I must not knock this engine before I come to sit down for renewal. It will be a disservice to my generation to knock this engine at this early stage of the journey into the promises. I must come in to sit down. Draw me away O Lord. I have heard You speak so clearly. Help me to come up thither and be there.
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