Vineyard Days – Selah VI

Before launching into chapter three of the Song of Songs, it’s time to Selah (pause and think).

Her name was Much-Afraid.

The heroine in the beloved classic Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard* was not unlike our friend the Shulamite.

The photo that accompanies this post reminded me of a dream I had many years ago. It also drew to mind Much-Afraid’s journey to the High Places in the Kingdom of Love.

Frequently, the High Places – those splendid mountain peaks of eagles’ realm and where the cares, fears  and struggles in her valley were far removed – were shrouded in clouds by day and thick darkness at night. Much-Afraid was often discouraged and fearful, coming by her name quite naturally.

But, she had been promised a new name that was as far from natural as the heights of those peaks.

It would take a journey. She would not journey alone if she chose to begin the climb. However, for good reason, she was not being picked up and winged to the mountain heights by the Shepherd:

“He looked at her most kindly, but answered quietly, “Much-Afraid, I could do what you wish. I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go. If you will climb to the heights this once with the companions I have chosen for you, even though it may seem a very long and in some places a very difficult journey, I promise you that you will develop hinds’ feet.

Moreover, if I carry you up to the High Places now, with only a tiny seed of Love in your heart, you will not be able to live in the Kingdom of Love. You will have to stay outside on places not so high, still within reach of your enemies…I assure you, however, that never for a moment shall I be beyond your reach or call for help, even when you cannot see me. It is just as though I shall be present with you all the time, even though invisible. And you have my faithful promise that this journey which you are now to make will be the means of developing your hinds’ feet.”

This is the journey of the Shulamite and her Shepherd Lover; the Bridegroom and the Bride.

***

Many have made this journey and developed hinds’ feet. Many others are at the foot of the mountain unsure of whether or not to start the ascent. Still more are in various clefts  in the secrecy of the steep place. And others have been climbing long only to have emerged cliff-side, as unfolded in my dream:

The mountainside looked like what you would expect as you hiked and climbed. The thin, nearly imperceptible trail was bordered by boulders, loose rocks and scrub brush. The only color was grey on black. I was in the lead with a group of six or eight women trailing behind me. (The dream came during a time I was testing my wings at leading a Bible study in my then-workplace in the mid-to-late 90s; secular as it was, I bravely contended for the right to lead a lunchtime study).

We were tired and sore; we’d been hiking for quite a while and the air was getting thin. As the cloud cover lifted a bit, to our great dismay we discovered the trail ended at the tip of a cliff.

It would have been easy to simply give up, turn around, and go back down. Murmuring and reasoning along that line quickly rose up among the ones in behind. I need not relate the types of comments being tossed about; we’ve all become well versed in the litany when confronted by what seems the impossible. To take a step forward meant falling off the ledge into thin air. We knew every step it had required to climb to that height; it would be a long way down.

I was not the most courageous trekker in the troop, but I had a strong sense that we had not come this far for nothing. Getting down ever so carefully on my stomach, I crept toward the edge of the cliff in hopes that I could get a better look from this steep place. In this prostrate position, I peered over the edge and gasped at the sight that met me.

My companions had begun departing single file when I hollered at them, “No! Wait! You won’t believe what’s over the edge!”

After the hard climb, beneath the cliff that was shrouded in thick clouds was a gentle drop of about three feet. One could literally hop off the rim of the cliff and land in the grassy meadow that inclined its way down to the valley below. Wildflowers of every hue brightened the landscape. It reminded me of rolling down the grassy sloped lawn that was part of my childhood yard, so inviting was its downward path.

From my vantage point atop the cliff, the drop became a minor issue. What captivated me was the lively, sparkling river that was flowing through the valley – like watery diamonds twinkling in the sunlight. I wanted to go. I had to go. I made my decision. Plop.

***

Chapter three of the Song of Songs opens with our becoming Bride in the midnight hour of adversity. It is a time of searching and testing the relationship with her Beloved. She will  find Him. But darkness is a time to listen so when speaking in the light, it rings with Agape love, not as a clanging cymbal (Greek wail).

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men; and the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overtake it.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying,
 I am the Light of the world. The one following Me will in no way walk in the darkness,
but will have the light of life.
John 1:4-5; 8:12 LITV

~ Gracefully Free

*Excerpt from Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard; Barbour and Company, Inc.; American edition copyright ©1977 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Shammahs Field LLC/Shammah Ministries is the biblical counseling, life coaching, and spiritual growth ministry entrusted to Wayne & Nancy Bentz. You can learn more about the resources they have to offer at shammahsfield.com and nancybentz.com.