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Day 46: Thriving Under the Sun (SoS 1:6b)

 “Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.” Song of Solomon 1:6

In those times, dark skin was a sign of labor in the field which was alien to noble women. They spent hours each day on beauty routines that kept their skin fair. The Bride says she is dark because the sun has tanned her. That indicates that, unlike the daughters of Jerusalem, she had gone through hardships and labor they probably do not know.

Throughout the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon referred to life on earth as living under the sun. The sun though has its benefits, can be hot and uncomfortable. Solomon throughout the book was saying that living in this world burns us in different ways. Though individual events may not be unique, they affect us in different ways.

But what does it mean to us to be exposed to the sun?

Psalm 92:13 tells us that the righteous are planted in the courts of God. We are the righteous and the church is the court of God. Even though our citizenship is in heaven,  we will remain in this world till our Bridegroom King comes to whisk us away. As plants are exposed to the heat and harshness of the sun, we also are exposed to the world's troubles.

In the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, Jesus says about some of the seeds the sower planted in verses 5 & 6:

“Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.”

In explanation He said in verses 20-21:

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

In much the same way as this seed, when we are not well rooted, we begin to wither from the afflictions and challenges of life. In the Bride's words, we begin to tan, to darken.

In this parable, it was not the sower, seed, sun, or environment that determined the outcome of each plant, but the soil. In the same way, we must be deeply rooted in the right soil to flourish and be fruitful regardless of the challenges that we face.

Paul prays for the Ephesian Church in Ephesians 3:17:

“I pray that Christ will make his home in you, as you believe in him. Then you will know God's love very well. You will be like trees that have roots which go down deep into God's love. That will make you strong.”  (Easy English Bible)

No matter what we know about God, it is conviction about His love for us that keeps us nourished, fresh, strong, and fruitful through every affliction in life. So the deeper our roots go in God's love, the more we will be able to thrive no matter the troubles we go through in this world. Crumbling under the weight of the tribulations of this world, or going through life sour and grumpy is an indication that we are not strong in God's love for us.

Our anchor in every season of life, good or bad, must be God's love. We must never doubt or walk away from His love. We must not let our circumstances define us. We must always be assured of God's love for us. It is the soil that ensures we are not moved, withered, or darkened.

At this point, I probably sound like a broken record but it cannot be overemphasized that we must have an ever-deepening revelation of God's love. It's what keeps our love for and intimacy with Jesus our Beloved going.

PRAY WITH ME:
Thank you, Lord, because, despite all I go through, I know you love me. I know you see me and you see the future that I do not see. Remind me in tough seasons of life of this truth and keep me rooted in your love. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:
  • Whatever you may be going through, find comfort in Jesus' words in John 16:33:
“...These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
  • Choose to consciously rejoice in God's love for you and the finished works of Christ no matter what afflictions or persecutions you go through.

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