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Day 82: Lily Among Thorns (SoS 2:2)

 “Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.”

Song of Songs 2:2

Right after the Bride makes her humble statement, the Beloved speaks of her in his own terms. She says she's a Rose of Sharon and a Lily of the Valleys: just another beautiful flower growing in a fertile field. He says she's a lily among thorns.

The lily as we said in the previous lesson signifies humble beauty. It also signifies innocence, purity, and rebirth. Let's see what thorns mean.

Thorns unlike flowers are not attractive. They are prickly, painful, and have no enticing fragrance.

  • The first mention of thorns in the Bible was after Adam sinned. God cursed the ground and said in Genesis 3:18, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you”.
  • The Bible speaks about the enemies of Israel being thorns in Ezekiel 28:24.
  • In Matthew 13:22, Jesus used thorns to represent the cares of this world that choke the word of God in our hearts.
  • A crown of thorns was put on the head of our Savior at His crucifixion in John 19:5.
  • Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7 described his infirmity as a thorn in the flesh.

Thorns therefore from all we've said represent sin, persecution, fear, anxieties, sickness, difficulties, works of the flesh... It points to everything grievous, painful, and uncomfortable on this earth. Ultimately, it's the picture of the unredeemed world.

According to Jesus in John 17:14&16 (The Passion Translation) says:

“I have given them your message and that is why the unbelieving world hates them. For their allegiance is no longer to this world because I am not of this world. For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do. ”

You will agree with me that being a dedicated Christian living by the standard of God's word attracts ridicule and persecution. It's because the world hates those who do not conform to its ways just like it hates God. So, to publicly identify with Christ is to become a lily among thorns.

God loves all men. He paid the price for all with His blood. But just like He loved and favored Israel above all the other nations around them and set them apart for His goodness and purpose, so it is with every believer.

In Deuteronomy 33:29, Moses said about Israel:

“Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord...”

Zephaniah 3:17 says:

“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

The Contemporary English Version says “...He celebrates and sings because of you...”

I love this scripture. It is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible because I had a literal experience of it growing up. My Dad traveled a lot and was mostly around on weekends alone. Whenever my father was around, he would sing and dance when I greeted him every morning. He did the same for all of his children. In fact, he had a special song for each one. No matter what you did the day before, it didn't matter to him at that moment. He'd probably still scold you, but first, he celebrated you not for your good behavior but for being his child. 

Just like my father, God does not need us to be perfect to delight His heart, we only have to say yes to Jesus. Luke 15:10 says:

“...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Lilies bring joy and admiration, whereas thorns do not. Much more when you see them blooming in difficult places. As a million thorns are not worth a lily petal, we are worth more than the whole world.

Talking to Israel in Isaiah 43:4, the Lord mentions nations He had given up for their sakes and says He will give many more if need be. Jesus loves every man on earth, so much that He sacrificed His life for all, but He loves His Bride above all.

No matter how imperfect you think you are, you bring joy to the Father's heart. God's ways are disregarded by the unredeemed, so every desire to obey and know Him more, every act of obedience, every expression of love to Him, and even our repentance when we miss the way delight His heart.

You are not ordinary. You are not just another man, woman, or believer. You are His lily among thorns. When we think about ourselves this way, it does not just give us God's image of us. It also encourages our hearts and gives us grace and strength to do more for Him. There is no confidence boost like knowing who you are in Christ and seeing yourself the same.

PRAY WITH ME:

My Beloved Jesus, to be loved and admired by You is truly an honor. Thank you for Your unconditional love. Grant me the grace to bring joy to Your heart more and more each day. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • Today, celebrate how special you are to Jesus by thanking Him for His unconditional love and admiration.
  • Meditate on Zephaniah 3:17. As you do, imagine the Lord rejoicing over you.



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