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Day 98: King of the Mountains (SoS 2'9a)

 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice. 

Song of Songs 2:9 

In the previous verse, we saw the Beloved leaping over mountains and hills to come to us. We said it referenced Jesus as the triumphant king. It was also a reference to the joy with which He faced the mountains and hills of sin and death to come to us.

Continuing the same thought, the Bride compares her Beloved to a gazelle and a young stag.

Gazelles are female antelopes. Very beautiful and graceful. The word translated gazelles can also be translated as beauty, splendor, glory, and honor. In this context, however, 2 Samuel 2:18 says Asahel, David's nephew, and Joab's brother was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. In simple, modern English, he could run very fast. 

The stag is a male young deer. It is known for its speed too but it is also often used as a symbol of masculine strength but not just that. Many times, the Bible refers to deer's feet when talking about effortless progress despite challenges. This is because deer's feet are specially designed to walk in mountainous regions without stumbling. One such is Habakkuk 3:19:

“The Lord God causes me to be strong. He makes my feet run safely over the rocks and hills, like a deer's feet...” (Easy English Bible)

The Message translation of this scripture says running like a deer made Habakkuk feel like king of the mountains. The true King of the mountains however is our beloved Jesus.

When we put the two together, it's a picture of Jesus effortlessly, gloriously, speedily, relentlessly, and without getting weary. He runs over high hurdles on His way. He doesn't stumble on any and sets a record no man or created being can beat while at it.

This assures us that after we've become His, He doesn't take our love for granted and stops pursuing us. He's still running to us as we run to Him. He's still as committed to us as He was the day He died on the cross.

When we see mountains and hills (the challenges life presents us) before us, we should not focus on or be intimidated by them. Rather we must choose to see our Beloved Jesus, the King of the mountains leaping over them. If He overcame the cross and the grave, the devil and all his cohorts, we can be assured that nothing is too formidable for Him. They have no new moves to play. It was a checkmate.

There is a popular saying that fits this lesson:

Don't talk about how big the problem is, talk about how big your God is.

Fear and awe are two sides of the same coin. A heart in awe of God cannot be discouraged, cowardly, afraid, or overwhelmed. Don't look at the enormity of the problem, instead choose to see Christ's cross and triumph. 

Romans 8:35, 37, and 38 describe this perfectly. It's quite a long read, but there is no better way to end today's lesson.

Who could ever divorce us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love, Yet even in the midst of all these things, we triumph over them all, for God has made us to be more than conquerors, and his demonstrated love is our glorious victory over everything! So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. (The Passion Translation)

PRAY WITH ME:

Beloved Jesus, King of my heart, today I choose to be in awe of Your greatness and not look at the challenges life presents to me. Grant me a deeper revelation of Your triumph over all that stand in the way of us. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • There is no better way to spend Easter than meditation on the cross. Think deeply about the benefits of Christ's sacrifice for us and its consequences for the defeated one and his kingdom.
  • Meditate also on Romans 8:35, 37, and 38. Rejoice in your inseparable union with the Lord. 

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