The stirring of my heart
If you have ever been in love, you might understand what I am about to say - no one else captivates your attention quite the same as the one you hold in such closeness in your heart. Even if you have never been "in love" with that special man or woman in your life, you likely understand this statement - where the heart is, there is your focus. Over the past several days, I have felt God directing me to focus on the heart. As most may recognize, to teach, one has to be taught. Therefore, if you are picking up on anything in my blog, you are likely to know God is continually dealing with my heart. In turn, he is dealing with my focus. How about your focus? Is he dealing with yours, too?
Your profile turns all heads, commanding attention. The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—
remind me of you, and I'm spoiled for anyone else! (Song of Solomon 5:7 The Message)
I love this passage because it speaks of what "stirs" God's heart! It is us! When he looks upon us he is "spoiled for anyone else"! No one else captures his attention like us - no one! I wonder if we can say the same about our own hearts?
If you have ever read through the Song of Solomon, you may have been a little uncertain about the meaning of it - kind of a love story plopped right in the middle of the Bible. I know most of our Bible is not written in chronological order, but when it was constructed in the typical 66-book outline from Genesis to Revelation, I think there was a purpose why the Song ended up right where it did. Think about it...
Genesis through Deuteronomy encompasses the creation of mankind, the tenderness of God to care for his creation, and the redemption of a people who would be the delight of his heart. Joshua through 2 Chronicles outlines the struggles of putting down roots in a land which was not their own. Ups and downs are recorded for our learning - lessons on the hardships of disobedience. Then comes Ezra and Nehemiah - hope for rebuilding what was lost. The message of redemption rings true once again. Esther bespeaks the lessons of obedience and submission. Job the testing of faith and the blessings of steadfast commitment. Then we launch into the Psalms - praises and prayers designed to show us how living in the presence of God affects our lives. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes presents practical messages of living uprightly, making right choices, and learning how to control what otherwise might control us.
Then...the Song of Solomon. A book of intense love - the captured thoughts of two so in love, the connection of heart is almost palpable. All along, God has been directing us to this point - the connection of heart, not just mind. The following books from Isaiah through Malachi cement the idea of a life without God being void of substance, bound by the very thing we'd hoped would have given us liberty. They bespeak the message of a heart grown cold. We don't even need to outline the message of the New Testament - the word "new" bespeaks it all. God gives what man cannot - a new heart.
Look again at our passage - The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I'm spoiled for anyone else! God looks upon us and he is stirred with desire. Desire to provide what will make us whole, completing us in every good and perfect way. If you read the rest of the book, you will see times when it seems like the two lovers are never separated, followed by the times when there seems to be a distance between them. Isn't this the way of our walk with Christ? Times when we just cannot get enough of him, followed by times when it seems like we are a little distant from each other?
As I leave you today, I want to leave you with just a couple of thoughts. When God looks upon you, his heart is stirred. When he sees your obedience, his heart is enraptured. When he gazes upon your heart, he sees it as no one else does - perfect! When we pause long enough to take in his image, our image becomes one with his. If we stir up a longing in his heart, just think how much beholding him can stir up ours!
Your profile turns all heads, commanding attention. The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—
remind me of you, and I'm spoiled for anyone else! (Song of Solomon 5:7 The Message)
I love this passage because it speaks of what "stirs" God's heart! It is us! When he looks upon us he is "spoiled for anyone else"! No one else captures his attention like us - no one! I wonder if we can say the same about our own hearts?
If you have ever read through the Song of Solomon, you may have been a little uncertain about the meaning of it - kind of a love story plopped right in the middle of the Bible. I know most of our Bible is not written in chronological order, but when it was constructed in the typical 66-book outline from Genesis to Revelation, I think there was a purpose why the Song ended up right where it did. Think about it...
Genesis through Deuteronomy encompasses the creation of mankind, the tenderness of God to care for his creation, and the redemption of a people who would be the delight of his heart. Joshua through 2 Chronicles outlines the struggles of putting down roots in a land which was not their own. Ups and downs are recorded for our learning - lessons on the hardships of disobedience. Then comes Ezra and Nehemiah - hope for rebuilding what was lost. The message of redemption rings true once again. Esther bespeaks the lessons of obedience and submission. Job the testing of faith and the blessings of steadfast commitment. Then we launch into the Psalms - praises and prayers designed to show us how living in the presence of God affects our lives. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes presents practical messages of living uprightly, making right choices, and learning how to control what otherwise might control us.
Then...the Song of Solomon. A book of intense love - the captured thoughts of two so in love, the connection of heart is almost palpable. All along, God has been directing us to this point - the connection of heart, not just mind. The following books from Isaiah through Malachi cement the idea of a life without God being void of substance, bound by the very thing we'd hoped would have given us liberty. They bespeak the message of a heart grown cold. We don't even need to outline the message of the New Testament - the word "new" bespeaks it all. God gives what man cannot - a new heart.
Look again at our passage - The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I'm spoiled for anyone else! God looks upon us and he is stirred with desire. Desire to provide what will make us whole, completing us in every good and perfect way. If you read the rest of the book, you will see times when it seems like the two lovers are never separated, followed by the times when there seems to be a distance between them. Isn't this the way of our walk with Christ? Times when we just cannot get enough of him, followed by times when it seems like we are a little distant from each other?
As I leave you today, I want to leave you with just a couple of thoughts. When God looks upon you, his heart is stirred. When he sees your obedience, his heart is enraptured. When he gazes upon your heart, he sees it as no one else does - perfect! When we pause long enough to take in his image, our image becomes one with his. If we stir up a longing in his heart, just think how much beholding him can stir up ours!
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