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"Awake, O north wind, And come…" (Song of Solomon 4:16).

 

 

Our last devotion, "The lame take the prey," illustrated how God can give us peace and even joy during the tough times in our lives. There is another side to this coin. God also obtains joy from us in many of our adverse circumstances.

 

[The Lord says] "You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace. How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices!" (Song of Solomon 4:9-10).

 

This is a beautiful picture of how the Lord Jesus feels about believers represented by this maiden. The maiden has ravished the heart of God with one look of her eyes! This is a passionate statement of how Jesus feels about this person. The necklace refers to unbridled obedience, and the eyes indicate the deep heart love that this maiden has for her King. (Reference: Song of Songs, Watchman Nee, Christian Literature Crusade, Ft. Washington, PA, 1965)

 

Then He goes on to say more. He calls her a garden, sealed up just for Him. Gardens are not commercial ventures as are farms and ranches. Gardens are for personal enjoyment.

 

[The Lord says.] "A garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed. Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates With pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, With all the chief spices-- A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon" (Song of Solomon 4:12-15).

 

Why does Jesus feel this way about this maiden, this believer?

 

She was in passionate pursuit of Him. Her eyes were fixed on Him, she obeyed Him without reserve. "By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him " (Song of Solomon 3:1).

 

Second, through the many trials she had experienced, the only thing that mattered now was to be in His presence. Even the adversities were welcome because they only worked to enhance their relationship.

 

[The maiden says] Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits. " (Song of Solomon 4:16).

 

The north wind represents adverse, cold, stormy circumstances. The south wind represents more pleasant, warm and mild circumstances. "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

 

This believer regarded the companionship and close relationship with the Lord Jesus more valuable than her own comfort. She was in effect saying, "I will go through whatever I need to go through, as long as we stay this intimate and close. Let the north wind bring in trouble, or let the south wind bring in comfort, as long as we stay like this."

 

This kind of believer ravishes the heart of Jesus!

 

 

 

Larry Chkoreff, June, 2000