Skip to main content

Day 25: Pursuit in Company (SoS 1:4b)

"Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you." Song of Songs 1:4

The Bride saying "we will run after you" in this verse beckons a question, who are these people she's purposing to run with?

We have a great example in the Psalms of what it means to love and pursue Jesus. In many of these Psalms is a common theme: a longing for God and His presence. More specifically, longing to appear in His tabernacle.

In Psalm 139, David penned in my opinion the most beautiful description of God's omniscience and omnipresence. Yet, we have portions like Psalm 84:2 which say:

"My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

They longed for God's presence in His house but the Psalmists did not stop there, they also expressed a longing to worship God in His tabernacle with other worshippers. Psalm 42:4 says:

"When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast."

To them, God, His presence, and His presence among His people were non-negotiable factors. It was essential for their faith and their very existence.

Paul in Hebrews 10:25 the Amplified Version instructs:

"not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching."
According to this scripture, a church is for worship and instruction. It's where we together with other believers adore our Beloved Jesus and learn about the principles of His Kingdom. It's where we find support and encouragement to walk the Christian faith.

Paul again says in 2Timothy 2:22:

"Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (AMP)

In essence, one of the crucial ways to overcome the lusts that war in our bodies is to run after Jesus with other believers. Man was not designed to do life alone, no Christian can thrive outside the local church. The lack of a Christian community within and outside the church is why many believers are unstable in their walk with the Lord. The revelation of Jesus is personal, but the true pursuit of Him is in the company of other believers.

PRAY WITH ME:
Lord, open my heart to truly understand and appreciate the benefits of the local church. Let me know the ways I can thrive in intimacy with you in the company of other believers. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:
  • Many go to church but do not belong to a church. Do you belong in a community of believers in and outside the church that keeps you grounded and helps you grow in your walk with the Lord? If you do not, ask the Lord to lead you to one.
  • Think about ways you can both benefit from and be beneficial to your community of believers. 

Comments

Post a Comment

What do you think about today's lesson? Please share something you learnt.

Popular posts from this blog

Day 53: The Unforced Rhythms of Grace (SoS 1:7a)

“ Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions? Song of Songs 1:7 Aft er the Bride's experience of being overworked, she didn't seek her Beloved in His chambers, nor did she seek Him in a place of leisure. Rather, she sought Him at His workplace. When we find ourselves in a spiritual crisis, especially when we're overworked or burnt out by activities, we must realize that oftentimes, the problem is not how much or what we're doing but how we are doing it. There is only so much the human flesh and mind can handle when it comes to physical work talk less spiritual. Paul did express in 1 Corinthians 15:58 in the Amplified version that we are to labor in our work for the Lord to the point of exhaustion . I believe it's why Paul in praying for the Ephesian church prayed for them to be strengthened with might by God's Spirit in their inner man . Thin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 149: Virtues of the Maturing Bride 6 (SoS 4:4)

Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men. (Song of Songs 4:4) In Lesson 63, we examined the meaning of the neck as used in the scriptures. We spoke about how the neck represents our will. We also spoke about how a stiff neck in scripture often refers to a stubborn, proud, and unyielding heart before God. However, it is beautified by our submission to Jesus. In SoS 1:10, the Bride's neck was beautified because of her submission to Christ. In this verse, her neck is said to be like a tower. Let's look at that. There isn't any record of a tower of David in the scriptures but Nehemiah 3:25 gives a hint. It mentions a '...tower which projects from the king’s upper house...' Towers are long upright structures built to withstand assaults. They are also often higher than other structures so watchmen were posted there as part of the defense of a city. The Bride's neck like a tower allu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 28: The Cycle of the Intimate (SoS 1:4b)

  " Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you." Song of Songs 1:4 Mark 6:7-12 documents Jesus sending His disciples out two by two on a missionary journey. He gave them authority and power over evil spirits as He gave them the task of proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. They did as He instructed. They preached repentance, anointed and healed many who were sick, and cast out demons. When they returned they reported all they had done and taught; the miracles, the signs, the souls saved. You can imagine how ecstatic they were to do the very things they had seen Jesus do. How exciting it was to command a demon to come out and it obeyed. I can imagine how proud Jesus was. For Him, it was a small glimpse into a future when we will do the same things in His name. In answer to their report in verses 31 and 32 of Mark 6, Jesus said: ".....
Post a Comment
Read more