How Can I?

“I have put off my robe-how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet-how can I soil them again? (S of S 5:4)

Out of life’s necessities we erect artificial boundaries. We can only go this far, we think, and there stands our limit…until One mercifully comes along beckoning us to open to Him at that point of boundary.

In this Scripture this sentiment seems respectfully bestowed upon the Shulamite. As her lover comes to her door, Solomon’s maiden says “HOW CAN I put on my coat?” She has spent her day. The putting off of her coat means a cessation of weary duties and errands. “HOW CAN I” dirty my feet now that I have bathed? The evening has brought the washing away of the day’s sweat and grime. Please leave her short-lived cleanness untouched.

Even Martha can be heard to be saying “HOW CAN I”…sit in repose when much is to be done. I even wonder if we can hear it in the heart of Lot’s wife: “HOW CAN I leave my life here? This is the home my children were raised, filled and decorated with cherished memories. This is the town I have prayed for…these are the relationships cultivated, growing deeper roots as each season turned.”

“How can I?” In His mercy, there will be a softening going on at the edges of these long-guarded limits. And it will happen by the One who draws near out of the evening with his “head filled with dew, his locks with the drops of the night” (vs 2). He leaves some of His fragrance by the handles of the door, and we begin to repent. Will we still refrain because of well-established excuses? Or will we soften? If we shall not, won’t we too learn the lesson of such starvation for His fellowship, roaming through the streets to find the true worth of the things we held at bay.

We will be “sick of love” (vs 8). ————————–

What is beautiful to us? Does anything enrapture us?

A few things come to mind, but do they take our heart to a world outside its own? Or do they not rattle our own confines? Are these things truly “the beautiful”?

Asked, “Is Jesus ravishing your heart?” Is that even expected? To ravish means “TO TRANSPORT with emotion, esp. joy and delight.” Rather, unstirred, comfortable, not wishing to be transported, wanting to be just left alone.

But He will ravish. The heart is created place to be filled with delight for Him – that pliable place that has become a heart of flesh (Ez 11:19). How sad to waste the occupancy of the heart in the marathon of life void of such a relationship!

He will ravish our heart (S of Song 4:9). And tasting we will become pliable and “fleshy,” and desire to return again and again.

A B Simpson’s experience overflowed into opening an unexpectant heart…”Do you see the glory of God in the face of Jesus? The glory of God’s compassionate grace, the glory of His conquering love, the glory of His constraining mercy, the glory of His almighty power, the glory of His sanctifying truth, the glory of His satisfying beauty, the glory of His all-comforting tenderness, the glory of His sufficient strength, and the glory of His all-glorious Person.”

This be Jesus, ours. Let us turn in unto Him again, flexible to see what may….—————————

“Look! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills” (S of S 2:8)

We have an agile God! Presently we should look and listen for Him. He’s not restricted by our problems or our efforts. He moves and roams in His own arena. Even to our thoughts and prayers, He is acting out-of-proportion: that’s where He moves!…”immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20).

As Peter’s stormy problems splashed up his legs while walking on the water with Jesus, he found he had a Savior who STILL intended on meeting him, problems and all, and wasn’t getting wet. Jesus would walk on top of them and would raise up Peter in faith to walk where He Himself was walking: over them.

Our efforts are merely overtaken by this great One who moves “like a gazelle or a young stag” (S of S 2:9), moving according to His own realm. “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Rom 9:16).

Like the takeoff of a plane on gray day and soon bursting through the thick cloud cover into that “celestial land” above. Immediately we are brought into a new setup where the sun always shines. There are no obstructions. There is freedom of movement.

Somewhere today His agility is being expressed. In some area of our life or another’s He will express His own free movement. Look for it. There, we will stop as the maiden and say “He…is leaping…and bounding.” There, the glory of His movements unfold to more in us. The One who moves as this is the One whom enraptures our soul. In adoration: “my Lover!” (vs 8).———-