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Have you ever had a restless night? Sometimes
dreams can seem so real, so frightening you can't
get back to sleep. Or sometimes they are very
encouraging and you never want to wake up!
It has been said that dreams are the way in which
the subconscious mind filters through and processes
those things which concern us in our waking hours.
Fear, longing, excitement, frustration, worry, anger,
peace, disappointment, you name it! Our very busy
minds and emotions can show up in our dreams
in stories that are usually symbolic, not literal.
I don't know about you, but I've had the one where
I'm falling....how about you? Or the one where I'm
flying. Talk about opposites!
Did you ever show up naked in a classroom or
workplace in your dream? So uncomfortable!
But, usually my dreams don't provide an ending!
I'm left hanging, wondering what that was all
about! How about you?
In Chapter 3 of Song of Solomon, the Shulamite
woman seems to relate a dream which any
engaged woman with wedding jitters might have even today.
She is extremely stressed looking, searching,
desperate to find her man! Running through
the streets, she is asking in the town square and
pleading with the night watchmen,
“Have you seen the one I love?”
I wonder if her feet were running
in bed as she experienced this dream?
It sounds like she is overwhelmed
with fear that maybe he has changed his
mind about the wedding? Is she experiencing
inner turmoil about her value, her worthiness?
She can't find
him anywhere.
Then, coming out of the “wilderness”,
she sees her king, surrounded by valiant
warriors, carried on a royal couch arrayed
in gold, silver, purple. Her fears are
put aside because her bridegroom, her Beloved
has arrived for the wedding!
How wonderful that the dream becomes
reality and her restlessness is replaced
by promises fulfilled.
Well, we know from our study so far
that this song poem is the beautiful story
of God's love for His people Israel, so
the symbolism is rich, historical and
still true for us today.
The restlessness of the night is very
much like our own. We can be
so overwhelmed with doubt and
anxiety with the challenges in our lives.
We can feel inadequate
and far from Christ, our King. We may feel
uneasy, unworthy, feeble in our attempts
to know Him and live in a way that
honors Him. Is that you? At times, it's me.
Yet, our King has demonstrated so clearly
that His love for us is sure and constant.
“God loved the world so much that He gave
His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have
eternal life.” John 3:16 What a promise!
“Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God
that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 8:39
This fills me with confidence~
He longs for us to embrace His gifts of love, joy,
wholeness and healing. Why do we so often refuse
to lean on Him? To trust Him? Why do we lay down our burdens
for a while, only to pick them up again?
When we have entered into that loving, trusting
relationship with Jesus Christ, we are His, and
He never leaves us whatever may come in our lives.
We all know it ain't a perfect world. Never has
been, never will be.
In the Song, Solomon uses the term “wilderness”
to symbolize this world so full of troubles, lies,
distractions, violence, hatred, and insincere relationships.
Yep! 2016 still feels the same way!
The Shulamite woman is so
distraught until at last, her
Beloved arrives to claim his bride.
Her story can be our story!
We, too, can rejoice, for our Beloved, Jesus Christ
has come for us! He has promised to
carry us through this treacherous world
safely. We, the church, His bride, have
the eternal promises of our Bridegroom.
He alone wears the crown of victory over
troubles, over our sin, failures, and doubt.
Christ brings us into His own heart, and
desires that we bring Him home into ours.
Our wedding feast begins when we say
“I do” to Jesus; I do believe You are the
Son of God, that because of your great love
for us, you willingly died on that gruesome
cross in full payment of our sin
debt.
I do believe you arose back to life from the grave,
in full demonstration of your power over everything,
even death, and I give you my heart, my trust and will follow You.
I do believe you are a covenant King
who keeps His promises forever and
I will be forever with you, both now
and in Heaven.
Saying, “I do” to Jesus gives us a
model of love to enjoy for ourselves as His treasure, and to
share with our spouse and others.
Treasure Christ as He has treasured you!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today
and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Hold fast to this truth and
“sweet dreams”, my friend.
Categories: Song of Solomon
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