Vineyard Days – Under His Shadow, Part 2

“All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities…

If you would know Jesus, study the vine.”

_~  Andrew Murray _~

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Scripture is full of mystery, yet we are told to ask and be given, to seek and to find, to knock and to have the door of understanding opened up to us. It is not a one-time asking, seeking, and knocking. Instead, persistence is knit into the fabric of the revealing of the mystery. Jesus shared this principle in many of His parables – the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the persistent widow. (Matthew 13; Luke 18)

To know our Bridegroom King begins with Jesus revealing Himself to us through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. This is foundational in coming to know Him to Whom we are betrothed, and why.

In studying the Song of Solomon, I am reminded that the Lord does not do anything out of order. In fact, He is so purposeful with the formation of His Bride, He has spread out His blueprint for us in this book.

Unless we are familiar with how to read a blueprint, what it represents is mysterious as all get out. Even if we have a fair idea of the final result, the construction process is just that. A process. A progressive process. There is an order that includes first things first, then crafting and adding to and building up.

When it comes to holy mysteries, it is true that the secret things belong to the Lord. However, the things revealed belong to us and to our generations forever. The same Word also tells us “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Deut. 29:29; Proverbs 25:2 NASB)

I believe it is the glory of the Bride, too. Both in her development now and in her future outworking.

Remember the potential He sees in her. He holds the blueprint. And early on in her development, He begins to paint for His beloved a word picture. Let’s listen and learn, for that which He has revealed belongs also to us.

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The Bride has been told by the Bridegroom in many descriptive ways how He sees her, who she is to Him, and how desirable she is more than all others.

He has spoken of ornamenting her in gold and silver, revealing His intention to make her conformable to His image and righteousness (right relationship in purpose, thought, and action).

He mentions the jewels that serve as witnesses to His nature and character that has been formed in her, with which she adorns herself (SS 1:10-11; Isaiah 61:10).

He tells her that her cheeks will be soft, at home (comfortable) with being pleasant and suitable for His guiding her about. (SS 1:10) Not as with a ring in her nose, but because He wants to send her out as one who is excellent. She is to discover, seek, and search out wherever He has guided her. She will uncover and rout out the enemy. (Strong’s notations)  She will follow His lead and His desire will be her command.

Where once a stiff neck and set jaw gave hint to the inner digging in of her heels, her responsiveness to Him will cause Him to make (Hebrew accomplish, advance, appoint, bring forth, become, have the charge of…) and bring about within her the effect of looking like Him. Bearing His image, bearing fruit.

The Bridegroom tells her in advance what she and we, the Bride, will look like when He has finished. (Philippians 1:6)

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Her response was in keeping with the still mysterious blueprint. To her ear, His descriptions of what He was doing with her were simply not believable. She held a different view and could easily recite it…”I’m ordinary, simple, and have very little to offer. Righteousness and royalty is beyond me. Besides, my life is too difficult. You just don’t understand.”

One can imagine her sweeping her arm toward the thousands of flowers covering the hillside and valley as she said, “I am only a little rose or autumn crocus of the plain of Sharon, or a [humble] lily of the valleys [that grows in deep and difficult places].” (SS 2:1 AMP)

It seems that for every argument she threw out, though, He counteracted with replies that led her on.

His response was swift: “Like a lily among the thorns, so is My darling among the maidens (daughters {of Jerusalem}).” (SS 2:2 NASB)

Still not convinced, but intrigued with this relationship, she countered with what she thought was an apt description of Him – “an apple tree among the trees of the wood…” (SS 2:3) Not the most attractive tree in the orchard, but one that bore good-tasting fruit. She was hungry for more of this fruit of His love.

So it was that the Bride came to sit down in quiet to dwell, settle, and make a home under His shadow.

“I sat down under His shadow with great delight, 

and His fruit was sweet to my taste.” (SS 2:3b)

Under His shadow,

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.