2025-01-21A
THE GROOM’S ADMIRATION OF HIS BRIDE CONTINUES
THE GROOM: Until the evening wind blows and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. (4:6).
When the evening wind begins to blow, it is a sign that the day is over. Then night begins to fall and shadows cast during the day are swallowed up in darkness. Then it is no longer possible to walk around visiting the mountain where the myrrh plants grow and the hill where incense is offered. The Bridegroom will make full use of the daylight. He can never get enough of these delicious scents. He inhales them with satisfaction.
When He lived among us on earth, He also walked through His Father’s garden from daybreak to sunset, doing what He was led to do. Of this He had said:
I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ( John 9:4 ).
Let every worker in His vineyard take note of this and redeem the time by self-sacrifice, for in many parts of the world the night has already fallen so far that the mountain of myrrh can no longer be visited and incense of praise can no longer be openly offered to the Almighty without facing severe persecution (Col 4:5).
We can also approach this text from another angle and see how our Bridegroom, while we are awake, walks through our thoughts and enjoys the fragrance of myrrh and frankincense. Therefore, we should contemplate the good:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—think about these things. (Phil 4:8).
When we drift off into sleep, our thoughts take a rest and He can no longer enjoy them. Then He sits down beside us, watching over us all through the night until we awaken to a new day.
And now we get to verse 7:
THE GROOM: Everything is beautiful about you, my friend, and there is no lack in you.
What He has already spelled out in verse after verse when He spoke of her eyes, hair, nose, lips, cheeks, teeth, etc., He sums up here in one sentence: “ There is no lack in you ”. But how can He say this? We, as one of His beloved Brides know only too well how many freckles there are on our nose and cheeks, how many spots on our teeth, how many wrinkles around our necks and sometimes it feels as if these spiritual uglinesses are only getting worse instead of better! How can He, the God of all truth, say such beautiful things about me while He knows my weaknesses better than I do? Love is indeed blind, but … sooo blind?
My neighbour will laugh at me if I tell him what the Son of God thinks of me and answer with a: “John, does He know about the day they broke into your house and stole your Comrades medals and you …. ? And did He see you the day your wife forgot the plug in the zink and the water ran down the street from your front door and you … ?
There is, as far as I can see, only one possible answer to this intriguing question and that is that He looks at me through the perfect, complete work that He did on the cross for me, His Bride. He washed me spotlessly clean from the guilt of sin by His atoning blood that He shed for me and in Him I rose from the grave as a perfect new being. On that basis, based on that legal fact, He can say to me in all honesty and truth: “There is no lack in you.” You are as perfect as I am. Who then can bring condemnation against me? Not even I, myself:
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (Rom 8:33).
In addition to all this, there is the fruit that the Holy Spirit cultivates in me and that will one day count for me at the judgment (assessment) seat of the Lamb:
… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; (Mat 6:20) .
Therefore, throughout this entire Song of Songs, the Bridegroom can only say beautiful things to and about his Bride, encouraging her to become in practice what she already is legally. Now we can breathe more freely and accept his praise wholeheartedly!
As the Bride basks in the sunshine of her Groom’s love, she is so much more open to the Holy Spirit to convict her of the stains on her tabard and also open to allowing Him to remove them, regardless of the price it will cost her.
With this question now answered, we move on to the next verse:
THE GROOM: 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Come from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of leopards.
In the land of Israel there were several mountains, the most important of which are mentioned here. The tops of these were of course not very suitable for growing crops and planting gardens. On the lower slopes, all kinds of ornamental trees, especially cedars, were planted, the wood of which was used for the construction of buildings such as the temple, palaces, etc. Both the tops and slopes of the mountains were not ideal, or as sought-after, residential areas as is the case today. The summit of Lebanon, for example, was often covered with snow. It would also have been very windy there; exposed to inclement weather.
(Note: When here discussing the mountains of Israel, we exclude God’s “Holy Mountain” though it is mentioned 23 times in the Word, because it does not fit within the context of this text and is such a lofty subject that it warrants a separate discussion.)
From this verse it also appears that mountains in that country were the dwelling places of lions and leopards; perhaps because from there they could better spy on the game down below. Elsewhere in the world, such predators are of course also found all over the plains.
Now let us explore the spiritual importance and meaning of mountains. Eden, the first abode of man, was not a mountain but a garden through which five rivers meandered, watering the plants. The ark came to rest on Mount Ararat and from there man and animals spread downwards. Sinai is very important because the Lord descended on it in a cloud and there gave Moses his Ten Commandments, representing his entire will for man. Moriah is the mountain on which Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac, symbolic of the Heavenly Father’s much later sin offering of his Son. The Mount of Olives is from where Jesus ascended to heaven and on which He will descend at His second coming.
Then there are other mountains whose names are not given (although we can guess them) such as the mountain near Galilee where Jesus met with his disciples and gave them the commission to evangelize all humanity. Another unknown mountain is the one on which Jesus met with Moses and Elijah and where He was glorified by being transfigured. Peter was so moved by this that he wanted to build them huts and live there forever. However, this was not to be because below, at the foot of the mountain, a father was waiting for Jesus to cast the devil out of his son. Jesus also had to first complete his task on the cross and Peter and the other disciples had to carry the message of Salvation while suffering great hardships and, at the cost of their lives, before they could enter into glory.
What do we make of all this? Certainly, first of all, that we can expect special mountaintop experiences with God, but that they are exceptional and for a specific purpose. (Here we think, for example, of Paul who was caught up to the third heaven, Paradise, where he heard unspeakable words (2Cor 12:2-4). We must not crave to dwell there. Our place is down here in the gardens: our own and others’. We are God’s servants to cultivate and guard the entire world garden for Him (Gen 2:15).
But there are also hidden dangers on the mountains: for example, the mighty, proud lion, king of the animal kingdom. Pride in what we achieve or experience by God’s grace is more dangerous than a lion. It can make us roar as if we created or spiritually equipped ourselves. After Paul had an exceptional spiritual experience, the Lord had to allow an angel of Satan to harass him at times. Against him he was powerless. This was so that he would remain humble and live moment by moment in deep dependence on God to protect him from this demon. (2 Cor 12:7).
Then there is also the leopard, well camouflaged in the shadows of the trees, equipped with claws that enable it to ambush its prey even from an overhanging branch. Demonic leopards are just as cunning, therefore, when you climb to the top of the mountain, make sure you do so by the hand of your Bridegroom and when He says to you: Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lairs of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards , obey Him immediately; take his outstretched hand and let him lead you back to the gardens, the lilies, the flocks of sheep below.
And when He uplifts you in your secular service so that you will bear testimony for Him amongst leaders of society, take care and follow the example of Daniel, who, three times a day, set aside his demanding work as commander under King Darius, and first went to his upper chamber to seek the face of his greater King.
And when he had learned that the document was signed, Daniel went to his house. And his windows were open in his roof room toward Jerusalem; and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. ((Dan 6:10).
Mountaintops can be bitterly cold and windy; so too can high places be bitterly lonely without the presence of God, therefore:
… would you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; … (Jeremiah 45:5).
IF YOU ARE DESTINED TO BE UP THERE, LET HIM LEAD YOU THERE BY HIS HAND.
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