***
The Shulamite had some un-learning to do. But that did not deter her Shepherd Lover.
In fact, this is where He excelled and took such delight for He had the patience of Job and His very nature was hope. This Man with a plan possessed great confidence in the final outcome. And it was that outcome that He was determined to develop and call forth from his full of potential Bride.
Though this processing seemed to be all about her, it was as much about the result He was after.
Have we come to grips yet with the truth that God cannot have the result of the process without the process?
His own plan required that He suffer through the process, which in turn meant His own Son must suffer. And when all is said and done, God’s Son will join himself to a Bride that has willingly submitted to the process, in order that they may truly be one. (Jesus’ prayer – John 17)
This is where our beliefs and attitudes show up for what they are – good, bad, or indifferent.
Remember terroir – the soil and the situation in which wine is made. The Lord wants to impart truth within us even while He recognizes it will take time for it to work its way upward. Vineyards don’t emerge fully grown and flourishing overnight. Therefore, He faithfully orders the circumstances of our lives so that over time truth is released and works its way up and into our understanding.
Like our Shulamite, we have some un-learning to do in this cultivation process. Jesus knew man’s tendency to intellectualize and humanize what He taught. Which is why He often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (give audience, understand).
The Shulamite’s circumstances had created a longing within her to which she was responding. Things began to happen; activity was occurring. What had changed? Let’s learn with her…
***
Shepherd Lover had heard two utterances from her lips that turned His heart and desire toward her:
“Draw me.” (SS 1:4) and “Tell me.” (SS 1:7)
The first was an expression of the hunger of her heart, demonstrated by her determination to respond to Him through obedience. The second was the expression of her willingness to change her ways.
You see, she had come face to face with the most important rock in the pile.
As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33)
Could He or couldn’t He satisfy this hunger with something more substantive? She wanted to find out…
***
Remember, there are a lot of other rocks in the pile. Our soil has been filled with them, as was hers. But what purpose have they served?
Meet me at the rock pile next time,
Gracefully Free
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 www.shammahsfield.com.
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