Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,
    so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow with great delight,
    his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banquet hall.
    His banner over me is love.
Strengthen me with raisins,
    refresh me with apples;
    for I am faint with love.
His left hand is under my head.
    His right hand embraces me.”
(Song of Songs 2:3-6)

“You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.
    Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
    Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women.
    At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.
    Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
    So the king will desire your beauty,
    honor him, for he is your lord.”
(Psalm 45:7-11)

Sensual language. Passion. A dialogue of love and lovemaking. One belonging to the other, and the other belonging to them (Song of Songs 2:16). Because they belong exclusively to one another, their lovemaking will be safe and holy within their covenant relationship. The tent of their meeting will be full and free. No baggage from other relationships. No strange and unusual desires picked up from somewhere (or someone) else. A marriage (the ceremony we use to show everyone the exclusivity of our union before God) where intimacy is sought, lives are entwined, and love is courted. Connected. Together. Choosing one another and rejecting everyone else.

We can extend this thinking beyond the relationship of a husband and wife. We can take that shadow and see the spiritual reality of a relationship with Jesus – the One described as the bridegroom to our bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). Loving righteousness as He does. Hating wickedness as He does. Choosing to be godly in our thinking, our words, and our actions. Training ourselves to think as He does and accept His point of view as the Truth (Romans 12:2). Choosing to align ourselves with Him. Choosing to be humbly submissive to His will. Choosing LOVE – which is evidenced by our obedience. Choosing to put God first, have God foremost, and to love God deepest, rejecting every other system in favour of Him (Acts 16:31; Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

Summary

A relationship with God is like a marriage. It is a covenant. It is exclusive. It is based on love and is therefore CHOSEN. There are other emotions and experiences within it, but love is a decision and one that is made on a daily basis. Just as we choose our spouse every day, we choose the Lord every day. We choose to trust. We choose to believe. We choose to love and to accept His love. We choose to think like He does – getting into the Word and studying it so that we know what He thinks about something. Talking to Him and actively listening to Him. Taking the time to interact as well as making sure that He is foremost in our lives. There is SO MUCH blessing and reward from a relationship with the Lord. It needs to be developed. It needs to be strengthened. It needs to be worked at. Not with toil or labour. But with love and intent. An exclusive relationship that we refuse to betray, ignore, or take for granted.