Bibledoorajar thinks of the passages of life with the King

     The King has brought our country girl a very long way. In the beginning he never told her what she must attain to, but conditions can be seen all along in their relationship. He first sought to bring her into union with him, totally accepting her just as she was. He spent hours admiring her and complimenting her. As she matured, she dropped certain unacceptable behaviors and began to accept traits of the king in her life. At the end of this process, and with marriage accomplished, she began to bear fruit. In this instance it was a concern for her younger sister. The king had not demanded this particular fruit, but was pleased to discuss the matter with her. He spoke of how important it is to do all possible to save the sister for the greatest of all graces---love. This made the country girl realize more fully that she herself had matured and was walking in this great grace. So she said to Solomon, "Then was I in his eyes as one who found peace." She had found peace through her relationship with Solomon because she had learned the importance of love. She assured Solomon that she had been true to him and wanted to settle any doubt in his heart. He could trust her to the utmost.
     In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul enumerates the graces of the Spirit. These are heavenly characteristics that come first to our mind as we abide with Him and then move into the operation of our personal conduct. These attributes become the basis for our social and practical behavior. The Bible calls them fruits because they issue forth from the life we spend with Christ. They are a welcome addition to life because they smell so sweet. All those around, including the owner of the fruit, feel the advantage of the fruit. During the recent tragedies of tornado, floods, etc., these graces are what victims speak as characterizing those who came to help. It gave them an advantage; it gave them hope that there could be love and concern in the midst of chaos.
     Some say that all the graces are just aspects of the greatest--love. I think this is true, but the Bible does seem to say that some may walk in greatness of a particular grace. For instance, I am thinking of Moses. The Bible says he was the meekest of men. He would have had to be to contend with the foibles of God people, Israel! And the King knew that and patiently weaved the trait into his life.  God is good. Together, with all our various graces, the body of Christ is indeed a sweet smelling savor in the world. Praise God!

Bibledoorajar joins the bride in concen for others

"God forgave my sin in Jesus' name,

I've been born again in Jesus' name.

And in Jesus' name I come to you

To share His love as He told me to.

All power is giv'n in Jesus' name,

In earth and heav'n in Jesus' name.

And in Jesus' name I come to you

To share His pow'r as He told me to.

He said, Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give. Go in my Name, and because you believe, Others will know that I live."

Carol Owens, Freely, Freely

The bride is so secure and happy in her committed relationship with the king, that her thoughts now turn to others who have yet to experience such true love. She particularly thinks of her younger sister. She wants her to mature and for her love to be preserved for the one who will have a right to it. She wants her sister to experience total purity and reliability in marriage just as she has. The bride can speak this way, not out of anything she has done, but from the place of exaltation the king has given her. So she asks her lover, "what must we do about my sister?" The king speaks: She must be protected at all costs. Place her under lock and key if necessary! The husband is saying that her family must do all they can do to preserve her for a peaceful future. 

When Christians come to know their secure place with their king and experience the wonders of being His, it is only natural that we think of those we know who have yet to experience such love. We must do everything we can to preserve them for their future relationship with the king. We have been given great power to share the good news with them. The news that He lives and that we have so much to tell them about Him. John wrote in 3 John 1:4 that nothing gave him more joy than to realize that his "children" were living according to the truth. That's our great task. To make sure others are exposed to just how wonderful He is and to what heights He can exalt us. He has freely given us the power to do it. Press On!

Bibledoorajar Sees the Country Girl Pursue Covenant with the King

      Our country girl has capitalized on a great promise. The promise was that she could live a much different life than the one she received when she was birthed by her mother. Her birth mother gave her life, but the king gave her a rebirth as it were and became the source for much greater blessings. From him, she received strength and life to assist her in her future. She asked for a seal on this love and speaks of how so great a love should not be quenched. This love flashes as the "very flame of Yah." The country girl speaks of "Yah" which is God's covenant name. It is as if she knows in her heart that the love she shares with the King has divine significance. Like God's love, it has come like lightening and is something that cannot be bought even if a man "would give all the substance of his house" for it. The country girl seems to be reminding the king that God "engraved Israel upon the palm of his hand" to help the nation know that she was not forsaken or forgotten. This is the kind of assurance the country girl has asked of the king. This assurance has a "forever" quality to it. Indeed, Paul writes in Eph. 1:13 that God has set His seal on us by giving us the Holy Spirit and the result of this covenant seal is security. "The beloved is mine and I am his." We are possessed by His Holy Spirit. Oh, how great is the love of God that pursues us and comes upon us like lightening and such great power as to be irresistible. To be marked with a mark has always been important to God. Jews leaving Egypt marked their doorposts and lintel with blood. On seeing the blood God would redeem them and as he said to them in Ezekiel 16:8 he "swore an oath to you and entered into covenant with you, and you became Mine..." The first five books of the Bible are details of the terms of this covenant. We know that the Jews were not faithful to God, were scattered among other nations and missed their Messiah who shed His blood for them in a New Covenant. I praise God that He went on to make this great love available to us. Let's pursue His Spirit and walk in Him, gladly showing the mark that says we are the Bride of Christ. Jesus will help us and answer our requests because He wants to glorify the God of covenant. Use His name, it gets the Father's attention! The country girl was right. Being sealed in Him is the most secure place that we can be. No one can hinder us unless we let go of the covenant and let them.

Bibledoorajar settles the question

     Someone who faithfully reads this lesson commented that the lesson last week was shorter than usual. I had not even noticed the length. I was so caught up in the perfectness of the "seal moment" that I guess I did not want to take away from the greatness of it. Just think, virgins and daughters of Jerusalem and companions of all stripes and service had all been keeping company with the king but this one, this beloved, was the one who wanted the king to seal their love in its pristine and perfect state. How she longed to establish once and for all that her love for the king was complete. Would he not believe her, now as her love had matured, and seal her heart and hand? She tells him that her love for him is as strong as death from which we know there is no turning back. Her passion for him flashes like flashes of fire; no amount of water can quench her love, not even torrents of rain can drown it. He is her "darling" exuding a freshness and an exuberance for the life they will share together. Leaning on him, she is so safe, so secure that she knows she will no longer be looked down upon.
     I have heard it taught that the Jews sang a song called the "LEKHA DODI" which means Come, My Beloved. With this song they would welcome the Sabbath. One verse goes, "Remember and observe, in one utterance announce to us the One and only God, God is One and God's name is One. This same phenomenon has happened to our country girl. Her shepherd and the king are one. His name is Solomon. She knows that now with all her heart, thus the request for the seal. As the Jews were to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, so we Christians remember the first day of the week and keep it holy. There we remember that our gentle shepherd is also our king who loves us and like our Jewish antecedents we say:

One thing God has spoken;

two things have I heard:

that might belongs to God.  (Psalms 62:12)

The country girl's beloved had many voices but he was one. So it is with our king. He is our One, our beloved and we list to his many voices. Hear him? He's calling.

Bibledoorajar has sought the "seal"

     I have not been to a church wedding in a while, but it is easy to recall the exchange of rings. This outward sign of a vow to seal the couples love for each other and only for each other is often emphasized by the minister as like unto that of the relationship the church has with its' Christ. Indeed, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1 21-22 that it is God Himself who sets believers in firm union with the Christ, putting his seal on us in our hearts as a guarantee of our future.
     In our story the country girl has been under a strong period of instruction with the king. Now it is time to return to Jerusalem. One is struck by the harmony the couple now shows. Our country girl asks the king to seal the relationship on her heart and hand. She desires his pledge to be confirmed and that all the treasures that they have come to share will be protected and secure. She returns still leaning on the king but from a much greater position of trust in his approval of her.
     The church must all work together," O daughters of Jerusalem", to do all things possible to see that our individual positions with our king remain firm. This will assure a happiness of divine proportions. For as Paul said, "however many promises God has made, they all find their 'yes' in connection with Him ( 2 Cor. 1 20). We are returning to the heavenly Jerusalem with a sealed secret relationship that the world cannot understand. Jesus was right. Our treasure is laid up in heaven. Hallelujah!

Bibledoorajar Accepts Two Relationships

"Oh that you were as my brother,...."

Song 8:3

     It is unusual at first thought to think that our bride would desire that her husband be as a brother to her. But she is desperately looking for ways to increase her declarations of love to him and for opportunities to learn more from him. She could do in public with a brother whom she would have come to know so freely over the years what she could not do with a king who demands a certain decorum.  She could give a brother a hug in public and take him home whereas people would wonder what the king was doing in her mother's home. Thus, the bride could explore him as a brother in a freer and more full way, sharing wisdom and pomegranate wine with him.

     In grammar school I greatly admired one older brother in particular. He was so caring and observant of his little sister. I longed for my brother to watch out for me and care for me in the same way. I needed someone who would teach me and show me the right way to go.  Then I would know better how to maneuver in school.

      In Hebrews 2 Jesus is depicted as our elder brother. He is more than willing to be our leader. He set Himself apart to God so that we might be helped to do the same. He became human so that he would not be ashamed to be a brother to us. He knows our nature and knows what we need to know pertaining to God. His maturity is a treasure trove for us. Paul said in the book of Colossians that "in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." So, yes, Jesus, my brother, come along side of me and help me in any way you can. If I am being "stupid" and "making a fool of myself" love me enough to point it out. I do not want to embarrass the King! Such kindly feedback as we sip our wine will be intoxicating. Thanks bro for all You do.

Bibledoorajar loves the country girl's adoration of the King

     Our country girl is beginning to see her true destiny and to be able to walk more fully in it. She sees the special fruits that have been laid up at "our doors" probably by her countrymen for her husband and his bride. She wants to give him of her best in the place where the mandrakes (see Gen. 20:14-16) give off a wonderful fragrance. Therefore, it is easy to say she is planning this time of great romance--a time to enter more deeply into what she now so admires in her husband. He is so wise and she wants to show him off again to her mother, but more so, she wants to lie in his arms and be instructed by him.

     Jesus promised that if we loved Him, that we would certainly come to know Him and that He would come and abide in our lives (John 14:23). But He did not say that this would be a "you have arrived" time. No, He made it clear that it would be a tender time of instruction and change, a time to learn how to live together. His abiding in our lives gives us great revelations about how wonderful the Godhead is and just how great is their preparations for the Bride who is mysteriously in Christ. Think about this, we have within us, glory that cab come only from God. We live in a different place where the mandrake fragrances are intense and we cannot help but feel the peace and protection from all that would harm. We are whispering directly into His ear and He into ours. Daily the Spirit shares with us the power found in the name of the King if only we believe. Today, I think I will relax with Him and reread some of His love letters, 1, 2 and 3 John. Have a great week and feel the love.