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Day 121: The Shepherd and the Lilies (SoS 2:16b)

My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. (Song of Songs 2:16)

In SoS 1:7 at the beginning of this journey with the Beloved, the Bride asked where her beloved fed and made his flock rest. The Beloved responded in verse 8 with guidelines on how to find Him. She followed exactly as he instructed, dined in his company, and got to know him better. As she got to know him better, she became more self-aware and described herself as a lily of the valley. Pure, humble, and exquisitely beautiful.

Every believer begins their walk with Jesus without having a revelation of His person and character. It is as we gain more revelation knowledge that intimacy with Jesus grows. 

In our text today, after the Bride declares her statement of shared ownership and oneness, she tells something about her beloved: where he can be found at all times and what he'll be found doing there. Why she made this statement might not make sense now, but it will when we get to the next verse.

Let's examine this statement (He feeds his flock among the lilies) in the light of Christ and His Bride.

Some translations of the Bible say he feeds among the lilies. It still carries the same thought because the word translated feed means to pasture, tend, and graze. It is also a metaphor for associating and communing with a special friend/people.

In SoS 2:1 the Bride says she is a lily of the valley. In Lesson 81 we said one of the two meanings of this statement is that she is one of the many lily flowers growing in the field. That refers to other believers who love and follow the Lord just as we do. Though we are individually unique, the blood of Jesus has made us all pure blooming lilies among the unsaved thorns. 

In our text today, the Bride speaks from experience that wherever you find a gathering of lilies (believers), Jesus will be found there. The gathering of lilies here represents the church of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20:

 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them

Jesus is always wherever His people gather whether His presence is manifest or not. He loves to associate and commune with His Bride. 

Our statement however emphasizes not just Jesus' presence but also what He does in the gathering of His people. He said to Simon Peter in Matthew 16:18 that He would build His church and He's still doing that to date. Build in that scripture is used metaphorically to say He will edify and cause His church to grow in wisdom and piety.

In John 10:9 He said:

 I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus knows where good pasture for His flock is. It is among the saved and sanctified. Among the lilies (men and women who according to Paul in 2 Timothy 2:22 pursue God out of a pure heart).

We are the lilies and also the flock he feeds. Psalm 95:7 says:

 ...He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand...

In Lesson 26 (The Called-Along Community) we examined the purpose and importance of belonging to a local church and concluded that no believer can thrive outside the local church. In Lesson 106 (Signs of the Harvest 4) we examined how Jesus has given gifts to His church to edify and equip them. In Lesson 54 (One Flock, Many Folds) we spoke about His role as the chief shepherd who assigns His flock to different folds. In these folds, He feeds them with knowledge and understanding of Himself by His word, through His pastors.

We can see how committed Christ is to His flock. He will always be found among them, giving rest and satisfaction. So, if you ever feel far away from Jesus or want to constantly experience His presence, there is always one place He will always be found: among the lilies taking care of His flock. It's why Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us to never forsake the gathering of the Brethren. 

Christ is committed to your well-being. He is committed to your growth, edification, and prosperity. 

PRAY WITH ME:

Beloved Jesus, thank You for Your commitment to us believers as your body and Bride. Thank You for Your commitment to my growth and edification. Renew my love for Your church and give me more grace to follow You faithfully. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • What convictions about Jesus do you have in your walk with Him so far?
  • How committed are you to the body of believers you belong to?
  • Are you being edified, growing, and prospering as you associate with the community God has placed you in?

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