The Believer’s Walk as Revealed in the Song of Solomon – Chapter 2

• This book was written by Solomon to recount his love relationship and marriage to a lovely young Shulamite maiden. It is also a portrait of God’s relationship with Israel. The Song of Solomon is cherished as a guide and an inspiration for the Bride of Christ, the Church, and her relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and seeks to lead the believer toward a closer and more OBEDIENT walk with the Lord. The Song of Solomon became one of the five scrolls of the third part of the Hebrew Bible, each of which was read publicly at one of the annual Jewish Feasts. This one was assigned to be read at the PASSOVER. Passover also marks the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land.

The DISCIPLINE of the Lord Is Not Forced OBEDIENCE

Climbing the Mountain of Faith

¹I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys.

• The bridegroom calls Himself “The Rose Of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys”. The rose is considered to be the zenith among all flowers. The lily has always been a symbol of purity. In the lowlands of humanity where the swamps of human degradation abound, there is a spotless lily, Christ the Lord.

²As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

• The bride is called “The Lily among Thorns”. And so the church should be, so very different from the world and so pure that she resembles a lily among thorns.

³As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

• The bride compares her beloved to “The Apple Tree among the Trees of the Forest”. The apple tree “viewed” as the king of fruits is here described as sweet, fragrant and suitable for shade.

• The fruit was used figuratively to show how precious we are to God. The bride described “THE TASTE OF HIS FRUIT AS SWEET”.

⁴He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.

• The king takes his maiden “To the Banqueting Table”. At a banqueting table no ordinary or common foods are served. A banquet is a feast of the choicest foods.

• When we enter into close fellowship with the Lord we will no longer be restricted to a common prayer and study life, but we will find delicacies in THE WORD served in grand abundance (Prov.15:15).

⁶His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me.

• The bride describes the bridegroom’s all encompassing care and protection as “His Left Hand Is Under My Head, And His Right Hand Doth Embrace Me”, Deu.33:27.

⁷I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

• The maiden charges the daughters of Jerusalem “That Ye Stir Not Up, Nor Awake My Love, Till He Please”. Solomon’s maiden was insisting that the other women not disturb this precious time of intimacy. We too, must insist that the cares of this world not disturb and destroy our time alone with the Lord.

v.8 begins a transition in our story. Of course there is more to Christianity than just building a love relationship with the Lord. However, our relationship must be established FIRST in order to hear His call to go further. From henceforth, the bride is called out of her protective place to follow Him and to serve Him in the power of the resurrection.

⁸The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

• The bride hears “The Voice of Her Beloved! Leaping upon the Mountains, Skipping Upon the Hills” portrays Christ the bridegroom coming in majesty and power.

⁹My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. ¹⁰My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. ¹¹For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; ¹²The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; ¹³The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

• Where did the bridegroom stand? “Behind Our Wall”. What did he call to her? “Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One, And Come Away”.

What time of year did he tell her it was? “Springtime”. Springtime has always been symbolic of the resurrection. The Lord calls to His people to rise up and come away from the self-life and enter into the springtime of His resurrection power.

¹⁴O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

• The bridegroom’s request of the maiden “Let Me See Thou Countenance, Let Me Hear Thy Voice”. Solomon speaks of a day when he went to call his Shulamite bride to come to the palace. For some reason, although she heard his voice, she did not respond. Some Christians assume that if they feed in the Lord’s green pastures (read their Bibles and go to church) and dine at His banqueting table (read books, listen to tapes and watch Christian television), then the will of God has been done in their life, Ecc.12:12.

• The bride speaks of a wall between them v9 and the bridegroom is twice forced to call for her response, vv.10, 13. We can become like Peter on the mount of transfiguration who wanted to build a tabernacle and stay in the presence of God, while human need was crying out at the bottom of the mountain, Luke 9:38. Many Christians are still seated at the banqueting table delighting in the banner of Hid love when there is much work to be done for the Lord, and the call has come to go to work in the field, Mt.9:37-38.

¹⁵Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

• While remaining in her place of comfort the maiden discovered “Her Vines Have Tender Grapes and the Little Foxes were spoiling them”.

• The little foxes hide under the leaves of the vine and when all is quiet they eat the tender fruit and slip away unnoticed. The maiden’s observance recorded here is direct instruction for the believer. It is the little things that spoil our vine and keep us from responding to the Lord’s greater call. These little areas may hide from everyone’s eyes, except the Bridegroom’s.

• Foxes are very fond of tender young grapes. If they are permitted to remain in the vineyard, they will eat away at the tender fruit of our relationship with Jesus, and our spiritual growth will be hindered, Gal.5:9; I Cor.5:7.

¹⁶My beloved is mine and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

• Here the bride reveals that she is confident in her position and that she knows just where to find the bridegroom. This points to an overconfident attitude. An attitude that often yields to a common deception; that we can respond when WE choose and not as HE chooses.

¹⁷Until the day break and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

• She asks her beloved to “Flee Away until the Day Break”. The maiden didn’t respond to Solomon but thought that she could call to him later. Poor foolish bride! And poor foolish Christian if we think we can determine the time of our response.

• The Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man (Ps.103:9). You’re have heard it said, “It’s never too late to serve God.” that’s partly true. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” but THE OPPORTUNITIES are not (Ro.11:29).

http://youtu.be/CvIxwc90BEI

 

(To be continued…)

He Has Made Me Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction

Bill Yount

I sense the Spirit saying, “The earth is now ripe for picking! It’s coming into its ‘fullness’ for harvest.” Lands and whole regions of the earth are pulling on God’s Word for the revealing of the Kingdom. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Earth here literally means land and ground, that which is under one’s feet.

Creation stands on tiptoes straining to see what’s coming next. —Romans 8:19 The Message (paraphrased)

About a year ago, a man called me from another state and asked me to pray for his investment in gas wells in Pennsylvania. He wanted to give more to missions. He happened to mention one of the counties in Pennsylvania where I was born and raised and lived for twenty-seven years. When I told him this, he said that since I was born there, he sensed I had authority to pray over that region for God’s blessing to be released. This seemed to witness to my spirit, so I began to pray for that land to be blessed.

As I prayed, I was led to use a Biblical prayer and song for wells: “Spring up, O well!” (Numbers 21:17), and I told him to sing this over the land. He would call me every so often and tell me that gas wells were increasing and springing up many places in those counties. Within the past year as I visited home, I noticed gas wells in the farm lands near our home where I had never seen them before.

I Didn’t Realize that My Prayers Were About to Bless the Land of My Birth!

Two weeks ago, I received a phone call from my mother. She said every neighbor in the hollow where her home is has been contacted to sign natural gas leases. They were told the hollow could be one of the richest natural gas fields in the county. I am amazed, because only God knows the troubles that hollow has seen through the years. Strife, family feuds and injustice convinced me that the ground in that hollow had become cursed when many water wells and springs became stopped up with mud, unable to be used, because of a lack of rain. Everyone in the hollow knows it is only the mercy of God that this same ground could now yield forth such blessings.

I believe the Lord is highlighting this Scripture for many this hour: “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52). I believe we are to bless the place or land where we have seen trouble and sorrow. Especially the place where we were born. I believe we have a God-given birthright as Believers that gives us great authority to restore the land of our birth to a place of blessing. I believe in the days to come, it will be said of our place of birth, “This man [or woman] was born there” (Psalm 87:4).

Our afflictions and losses are being redeemed and now turning to our gain. Having won Christ through them, we have authority over our birthplace for fruit and blessings to spring up physically and spiritually. What has been working against us, in the land of our affliction, is now going to work for us! The Lord is saying to many this hour, “Don’t sell your birthright!”

Did you ever wonder why the richest oil deposits on earth are located in the most afflicted nations of the earth? It seems where there is much affliction and trouble on the earth, there is also much potential of spiritual and natural treasures there.

I believe creation itself is now beginning to play a significant role in fulfilling God’s purposes in the earth. Joshua prophesied to the sun to stand still to help him win the battle! Ezekiel preached to the four winds to bring God’s breath to dead bones! Jeremiah prophesied to the earth, “Earth, earth hear the word of the Lord!”

Prophesying and singing over the land for natural gas wells to spring up is but one more example of God’s provision through blessed land. God spoke and the world was framed by the Word of His power! I believe God wants to speak, preach and prophesy not only to the people on the earth through us, but also to His creation itself – this hour – as He is longing to restore all things unto Himself!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com

Easter’s Message for the Entire World

James Robison

I realize that Easter is considered a “religious holiday.” I appreciate the fact that Christians come together inside their churches to celebrate in various manners. But the reality is the Easter message is as much for the non-believer as the believer; perhaps even more so.

The concept of a supernatural Savior conquering the anguish of this world offers so much for so many. It’s a message that needs to be heard outside of the church walls.

For the one who’s experiencing loneliness, Easter offers a message of comfort.

For the one who’s battling addiction, Easter offers a message of liberty.

For the one who’s suffering in pain, Easter offers a message of healing.

For the one who’s weak and weary, Easter offers a message of strength and rest.

For the single mother struggling to cope, the promise of Easter gives hope.

For children without a home, the promise of Easter gives joy.

For the marriage that’s crumbling day by day, the promise of Easter gives restoration.

For the family that’s mourning the loss of a loved one, the promise of Easter gives peace.

What the world lacks, Easter can provide: mercy, forgiveness, grace and love. Like a little child scouring the yard for hidden eggs, we can find the true gifts of Easter if we will just look for them. They may be found in a prayer, in a passage of scripture or in another person who has experienced the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

If you or someone you know has had enough of what this world too often offers in all of its cruelty, hatred, selfishness and pain, try something different this weekend. Jesus was beaten, killed and buried in a tomb. Easter commemorates the power that released him from the death and the grave.

Discover someone who has the power to lift you out of any pit on this earth. He is still alive today and ready to reveal His resurrection power to all who will believe in Him and receive His life. Find out what treasures await you when you experience the true celebration of Easter.

Crossing Over: The Door is Called “Awakening”

Recently in prayer I had a picture of a person walking in the wilderness. I saw a door open up and heard, “Cross over.” The person turned with excitement to the door, but the wilderness in his heart pulled him back to Egypt. I shared this vision the same day at the School of Awakening and Revival (S.O.A.R.) in Albany, Oregon. One of the students shared that he heard the Lord speak to her three times, “The door is called Awakening, the door is called Awakening, the door is called Awakening.”

Father has opened a door in the Spirit called Awakening. This is an invitation for us individually as well as a nation. We must step through the door. The door of Awakening will lead us into our personal promised land, and for our nation it will lead us into a great harvest with America turning back to God.

Many of you have heard the expression, “You can take the person out of Egypt, but you can’t take the Egypt out of the person.” I heard the word “sabotage” when I saw the man turn away from the door of Awakening back to the wilderness. There are certain mechanisms in each one of our hearts that, if not broken and removed, will cause us to self-sabotage.

The bridge from the wilderness to the promises of God is Grace. When we focus on our weakness and our own inadequacies, we keep ourselves entrapped in the things that bind us. Grace is not about us, it’s all about Him, how much He loves me, and how He sees me. Our nation doesn’t deserve a thing, but thank God for His amazing grace.

It is the goodness of God that will lead us to repentance. We need to turn our faces to Jesus in this hour more than ever. Let the Lord remove the things that cause us to sabotage ourselves keeping us in Egypt. The Scriptures are clear that the old has passed away – I have been made new, given a new heart and a new spirit.

Often I will share a simple truth with a person and hear as a response, “I know that.” Kind of like, “Jesus loves you.” We all know that, but do we really? Our foundations will be tested in the next few years – pressure reveals what we really believe to be true. We need to take the simple words He says like, “I love you,” and “You are My beloved,” and use them to cross over the bridge called Grace into a full manifestation of the Promises of God.

Ivan Roman
Director, School of Awakening and Revival
A Friend of God Ministries
Email: ivan@afriendofgod.org

About Ivan Roman: Ivan Roman has a passion to see the Body of Christ walk in intimate friendship with God. Ivan moves in a prophetic and healing anointing that flows out from a heart of love. He has traveled the nations seeing signs, wonders and miracles almost daily. After one year of traveling, Ivan attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry under the leadership of Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. Ivan currently travels around North America and the nations; he also oversees the Jesus Revolution ministry here in Albany, Oregon that began in August of 2007. Recently Ivan has joined with Denny Cline, Pastor of Jesus Pursuit Church, in a mandate to join the generations in releasing the next generation of leaders. Ivan and his wife Erica have three children.