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Day 150: Virtues of the Maturing Bride 7 (SoS 4:5)

 Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies. (Song of Songs 4:5)

The final compliment and virtue of the Bride may seem weird but it is as impressive as all of the others when decoded.

The Bride's breasts are said to be like fawns. Fawns are young female deers of not more than one year. They are gorgeous and graceful. So the compliment alludes to the Bride's youth, beauty, and fruitfulness. Breasts are one of the most noticeable signs of a mature/maturing woman. A woman of childbearing age.

As breasts are not primarily for beauty but for nurturing infants. This compliment signifies the bride's ability to nurture younger believers. One of the instructions she was given by the Beloved in SoS 1:8 was for her to partner with him by feeding her goats by the shepherds' tents. We said in Lesson 57 that this refers to the work of evangelizing unbelievers and disciplining young Christians. Every believer has a mandate to make disciples. As we mature in Christ, we must get better at doing that.

The two breasts are said to be twins: not just identical but of the same mother, from the same womb, from the same source. If we are to do our duties well, we must then know what these breasts represent and how we use them.

In Lesson 72 we discussed that the breastplate of righteousness mentioned as part of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:14 is called the breastplate of faith and love in 1Thessalonians 5:8. So just like the physical breastplate protects the heart and other vital organs, the breastplate of righteousness guards our heart. Our spiritual heart is the seat of our faith in God and love for Him and all men.

From this, we can deduce that the breasts with which we nurture younger believers are faith and love. Galatians 5:6 (Good News Translation) says:

For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love.

The Easy English Version says:

We belong to Christ Jesus. So it does not matter whether anyone has circumcised us or not. The only thing that matters is that we believe in Christ. As a result, we will love others in the way that we live.

 Preaching to and disciplining men must be accompanied by good works. Paul in Galatians 6:10 said:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Genuine faith in Christ always produces works of love. As we mature in Christ, we grow in love and our faith strengthens. We must teach men the doctrines of the faith and show them unconditional love by our actions. These two were seen simultaneously in Christ's ministry. He taught about the kingdom and showed unconditional love by His actions.

Hebrews 5:12 rebukes a group of believers thus:

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. (New Living Translation)

Every believer is expected to mature and take on the responsibility of nurturing younger believers to maturity with the milk of God's word.

Finally, these breasts of the Bride are said to feed among the lilies. In Lesson 121 we explained that lilies represent a congregation of believers washed and purified by the blood of Jesus. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:22:

...pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

No believer is designed to be independent. Individually and collectively, we thrive when we learn to be interdependent, not only receiving from but giving to one another. We cannot grow in isolation. We must feed on the pure truth of God's word in fellowship with His purified ones. 

So, the final sign of growth as significant as all the others is our ability to teach the basic truths about God to others and love them unconditionally. Faith only works by love.

PRAY WITH ME:

Dear Lord, it's a privilege to partner with You to nurture others in the body. It's also a privilege to be a partaker of the benefits of the fellowship of other believers. Let my faith in you, love for you, and love for my fellow believers grow stronger each day. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • In the past months, how have you taken responsibility for the younger believers around you? Do you understand God's truth enough to teach it to others?
  • How intentional are you about learning, receiving from, and growing with fellow believers?

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