Six months have passed since we left off the mini-study of Molid (Mo-leed) in the five Flawless posts. Though it’s been a lengthy selah already, welcome to Vineyard Days-Selah IX before we continue on.
No matter how I do or do not plan my writing focus and time, Holy Spirit seems to delight in proving the efficacy1 of a present word at the proper time. His timing is flawless, like His word:
“Every word of God is flawless;
(Heb. tried and purified, fuse and refine)
He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.”
Proverbs 30:5 – NIV84 & NASB
Though I have much to say, I dare not take lightly the speaking forth of His word. Lord knows, much of the ‘wait time’ is spent trying, purifying, fusing, and refining not only His word, but His word in me.
While I may not cower and flee as I used to, I’m no dummy. Choosing to trust the Lord also has meant learning to trust Him – first with my life and then with what He chooses to do, say, or bring forth. I’ve learned over many years (sometimes the hard way and sometimes with less difficulty) that trusting and taking refuge in Him shields me. When I remember I am shielded by Him, I’m better at receiving others.
Which translated means: not hiding behind Him and taking potshots at others, because we’re all still in the refinery; nor treating Him like a genie in a bottle and claiming shazam, I am! Truth be told, I’m still working out my salvation with fear and trembling because of it being Him working in me.2 He’s powerful. Which is why I don’t take anything lightly these days. Justice and righteousness is being extracted and clarified within.
If we don’t want to face the fact that this life is a journey and we are partially responsible and more fully accountable for where we end up, that’s our choice. However, when we tire of being tired and disillusioned with life in this fallen world, He will still be there knocking, asking if He can come in.
***
There are days it seems the Shulamite is a rare breed. Frankly, that’s nothing new, for all of scripture records the history of multitudes and remnants.
Jesus himself taught, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” 3
If there is one foundational truth most central to being transformed, it is the renewing (restoring) of our mind to the eternality of Elohiym and His word.
We all regard Him with flawed filters wherever our Molid-ness has not yet been overcome. Like the Daughters of Jerusalem (regardless of gender) who struggle with being judgmental, jaded, or jealous. Remember that His call to “Come away with Me” is issued when we are in the midst of the multitude.
How we view earthly relationships impacts how we see God. Likewise, how we view Him impacts how we see others. The Shulamite (the becoming Bride) is one who makes the choice to exchange her cloudy-vision cataracts for His purified seven times clarity.
And the words of the Lord are flawless (pure words),
like silver refined in a furnace of clay 4,
(as silver tried in a furnace on the earth)
purified (refined) seven times.
Psalm 12:6 – NIV & NASB
***
The return to Vineyard Days brings us to the middle of chapter four of the Song of Songs. Just as there are markers to which we should be able to testify in our spiritual development, it is here that the Beloved encounters another round of revelation of who she is and what her Bridegroom Lover is about.
Please join me next time as He beckons her, and us, to “Come with Me from…”
In the meantime, I encourage you to read Three Yieldings from two years ago. It is again a present word perfectly timed for our moving forward in the Song.
~ Gracefully Free
1 effectiveness, worth, value, efficiency, usefulness
2 Philippians 2:12-13
3 Matthew 7:13-14 NASB
4 like silver refined in a furnace of clay denotes to effect thoroughly in the sense of completing in a crucible on earth
Photo credit: Photo by Monica Silva on Unsplash
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