In this chapter the betrothed bride pictures themselves through the eyes of their beloved, and imagines the words they speak.
“My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.’ ” (v10-11,14)
Have you ever imagined what Jesus would say to you? How He would call upon you? What language He would use? Do you imagine Him pursuing you in the hard-to-reach places (ie. “clefts of the rock”)? God pursues us faithfully and relentlessly. Even when we turn away, and even if run from Him. In fact, He is ever-present with us, and He is everywhere, so it’s impossible for us to remove ourselves from His sight.
My kids were given simple, basic cell phones at a young age. Why? My wife and I do not want them to ever feel like they can’t reach out for us when they need to. They have unique permission to call us any time of day or night. We are here for them, always on call, ever-vigilant, loving them even if/when they’re out of sight. God is the same with us, always staying within calling distance, always ready to respond. He also responds with the love of Jesus – never bitter, never resentful, never implying that we’re bothering Him. He greets us with open arms every time we speak to Him.
Paul asks this question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” And then answers it: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 35,38-39) We cannot separate ourselves from God’s loving pursuit.
I encourage us to consider how God / Jesus would talk to us and pursue us. Imagine the words, the language, the tone, the posture. Remember that He leaves the 99 to pursue the 1 lost sheep. Let’s then spend some time in prayer praising Him.
Father God, our Faithful and Steadfast Lord, You are more than worthy of our praise. Thank you for relentlessly pursuing us. Even if we find ourselves in the deep dark of the earth, or on high on a cliff, You are there. Thank you for embracing us with the open arms of Jesus, who loves us at the great cost of self-sacrifice. We praise You in the name of Jesus, for Your kind and loving words, Your welcoming tone, and Your ever-listening ear. We love You Lord, and we lift our voices to worship You – our hearts rejoice in Your presence, both now and forever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training