You have raised a banner to gather those who fear You. Now they can stand up against the enemy. Answer us and save us by Your power so the people You love (Your beloved) will be rescued. (Verses 3-4)
I am my Beloved's and His desire is for me. Song of Solomon 7:10
Set me as a seal upon Your heart -- as a seal upon Your arm, for love is as strong as death.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Remember running races in elementary school? The teacher picked a captain and let the captain choose the team. The fastest feet were chosen first and I, speed challenged, was picked dead last. Here is what I have to say about that: I would've done the same thing if ever I had been selected as the captain (I never was). I mean, who doesn't love to win, even if it hurts the feelings of the slow or chubby. Contests are all about the prize. Not about who gets left out. Right?
Have you ever noticed, though, how diverse are those whom God picks for His team? It's not all about our personal arsenal of abs and pecs, our swiftness or slowness, or our leadership abilities. His team is made up of the best and worst of us. The addicts and alcoholics as well as the MIT grads and doctors. The well-bred and the down-and-outers. God is already so mighty He doesn't need our prowess to conquer. He owns everything, so we don't have anything to give to Him. He doesn't need us for anything. Our God chooses to love His people. His beloved children. Nothing we can do can change His mind about us once we belong to Him. God swore an oath to us who know His Son. He keeps His word.
But that doesn't mean we aren't in battle with the enemy whose aim it is to destroy us. Satan draws us into conflict at every turn. Confused, we run this way and that, caught like a mouse in a maze. Looking for the way out, we often get deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies until we fear we won't ever find the exit. Then suddenly a banner is raised. High above the walls of our prison. We see it wave in the breeze signaling the egress. Our hearts flutter and adrenalin rushes. "The way out!" we cry. Staying close to the middle of the maze's walkway, we keep our eyes fixed on the banner of our salvation. We go where it goes, running to gather beneath it at our escape. Victory is ours, then, as long as we huddle near the One Who has led us to safety. Our King has gotten us out of deep trouble. No temptation has overtaken you but that which is common to all. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10.
Why does God bother? In His global, even universal, work day, how is it that He could or would find time to mess with our mazes? I have heard over and over again from well meaning people that they don't trouble God with stuff that isn't cancer or some other very traumatic prayer because, after all, God is busy. What is missing from that scenario is the knowledge that God is crazy about us! Absolutely smitten with His beloved children! Will just not let things go too far before He swoops in to redeem us from the trial. The Lord has set His seal on us. The Holy Spirit. The first fruit of things to come. We are His! Warts and all. Our Father has decided to love us with an everlasting love. Craves our reciprocation of it. If you think He will ever let the enemy permanently get the better of His children, think again. The love of Christ for us is as strong as death. His.
Do you see the banner waving over your puzzling path today? It's in the hands of your Father as He leads you out of the hell you created or one that you walked unknowingly into. He waves it to let you know you don't have to go more deeply into your pain if you will simply turn and run to safety. Oh, your God will come and get you, never fear. Even if you like your sin and want to stay a while longer, one day your God will declare He has had enough of the evil plan against you. With banner high, your God will storm the gates of your hell, entering it Himself, and drag you back to Him. Covered in the mire of your mess, He will clean you up, set you right, and fill your heart with a new song. Not because you deserve it. Anything but. No. Our rescue is the rescue of hero and princess. Beloved and oppressed. It is the story of romance so pure we cannot imagine our Beloved's desire to see us with Him. The One who loves us sets the banner in the ground to commemorate our victory and establish the boundaries across which no one may enter. It covers us, leads us, and declares to the enemy Whose we are.
His banner over me is love. Song of Solomon 2:4
I am my Beloved's and His desire is for me. Song of Solomon 7:10
Set me as a seal upon Your heart -- as a seal upon Your arm, for love is as strong as death.
Song of Solomon 8:6
Remember running races in elementary school? The teacher picked a captain and let the captain choose the team. The fastest feet were chosen first and I, speed challenged, was picked dead last. Here is what I have to say about that: I would've done the same thing if ever I had been selected as the captain (I never was). I mean, who doesn't love to win, even if it hurts the feelings of the slow or chubby. Contests are all about the prize. Not about who gets left out. Right?
Have you ever noticed, though, how diverse are those whom God picks for His team? It's not all about our personal arsenal of abs and pecs, our swiftness or slowness, or our leadership abilities. His team is made up of the best and worst of us. The addicts and alcoholics as well as the MIT grads and doctors. The well-bred and the down-and-outers. God is already so mighty He doesn't need our prowess to conquer. He owns everything, so we don't have anything to give to Him. He doesn't need us for anything. Our God chooses to love His people. His beloved children. Nothing we can do can change His mind about us once we belong to Him. God swore an oath to us who know His Son. He keeps His word.
But that doesn't mean we aren't in battle with the enemy whose aim it is to destroy us. Satan draws us into conflict at every turn. Confused, we run this way and that, caught like a mouse in a maze. Looking for the way out, we often get deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies until we fear we won't ever find the exit. Then suddenly a banner is raised. High above the walls of our prison. We see it wave in the breeze signaling the egress. Our hearts flutter and adrenalin rushes. "The way out!" we cry. Staying close to the middle of the maze's walkway, we keep our eyes fixed on the banner of our salvation. We go where it goes, running to gather beneath it at our escape. Victory is ours, then, as long as we huddle near the One Who has led us to safety. Our King has gotten us out of deep trouble. No temptation has overtaken you but that which is common to all. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10.
Why does God bother? In His global, even universal, work day, how is it that He could or would find time to mess with our mazes? I have heard over and over again from well meaning people that they don't trouble God with stuff that isn't cancer or some other very traumatic prayer because, after all, God is busy. What is missing from that scenario is the knowledge that God is crazy about us! Absolutely smitten with His beloved children! Will just not let things go too far before He swoops in to redeem us from the trial. The Lord has set His seal on us. The Holy Spirit. The first fruit of things to come. We are His! Warts and all. Our Father has decided to love us with an everlasting love. Craves our reciprocation of it. If you think He will ever let the enemy permanently get the better of His children, think again. The love of Christ for us is as strong as death. His.
Do you see the banner waving over your puzzling path today? It's in the hands of your Father as He leads you out of the hell you created or one that you walked unknowingly into. He waves it to let you know you don't have to go more deeply into your pain if you will simply turn and run to safety. Oh, your God will come and get you, never fear. Even if you like your sin and want to stay a while longer, one day your God will declare He has had enough of the evil plan against you. With banner high, your God will storm the gates of your hell, entering it Himself, and drag you back to Him. Covered in the mire of your mess, He will clean you up, set you right, and fill your heart with a new song. Not because you deserve it. Anything but. No. Our rescue is the rescue of hero and princess. Beloved and oppressed. It is the story of romance so pure we cannot imagine our Beloved's desire to see us with Him. The One who loves us sets the banner in the ground to commemorate our victory and establish the boundaries across which no one may enter. It covers us, leads us, and declares to the enemy Whose we are.
His banner over me is love. Song of Solomon 2:4
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