“Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves”-- only a little further!
This beautiful statement in scripture is from the heart of a lover seeking her beloved, as told in Song of Solomon 3:1-4.
1All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. 2 I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. 3 The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. “Have you seen the one my heart loves?” 4 Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me.
Doubtless, this striking allegory has prophetic meaning for all believers of Christ’s Church today.
Are you practicing your faith – or loving Jesus? Are you following Christ’s teachings – or living with Him? What a difference there is!
Our Savior is an excellent lover. With considerate understanding, He stretches our hearts until we love Him more and more. He does this in many ways. Many a tender embrace. The happy times. Also the trials. Sometimes He seems to withdraw from us.
The darker seasons cause us to check over our lives with greater care and to root out secret sins. Then, with fresh, new thirst we return to Him. His invitation is, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37.
So here in the 3rd chapter of Song of Solomon, we see the distraught young woman longing and searching for the one who is to be her husband. He has wisely withdrawn from her. Even so Christ increases our love for Him by drawing certain responses from us.
- REFLECTION
“All night on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves.” So our text opens showing the woman awaking from idleness and feeling the first chills of loneliness. Perhaps all of us have experienced this dark period. Hopefully, God is able to draw us from our numbness toward Christ, the lover of our souls.
Like the poor citizen of the City of Man Soul in Bunyan’s Holy War, we awake with a start and realize we haven’t seen the face of our King in a long while! How long since you heard His voice—felt His presence?
So the Christian is drawn by the Lord into a period of reflection. There is an aching heart when we realize, I’ve lost fellowship with “the one my heart loves.” As the psalmist wrote, “You hide your face, I was discouraged.” Psalm 30:8. And as one of the old Puritan writers put it: For the believer, Christ’s presence is day and His absence is night. Consider Him, friend. Take stock of your relationship now.
II. ACTION
Next, the forsaken lover decides, “I will get up now, and go about the city, through its streets, and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.” Verse 2. She is stirred to action. And, that is exactly what the Lord wants from each listless believer.
Picture her stumbling into the chill of night, and in effect crying, “O, if only I had not taken my beloved for granted; how good it would be to be in His arms again!” Many have cried with Peter, “O Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you!”
Yes, the warm communion between the two lovers is interrupted but the covenant is not ended. They are promised to each other. So, praise God! Our covenant is sealed with the very blood of Jesus. We are His forever. Come back to God!
In times like these, one must seek after the Lord. This is done by diligent prayer and Scripture search. Feelings of discouragement must not keep us from the help of public worship. Humbly seeking the aid of family prayers as well, helps restore one.
But it is not an easy matter. “I looked for him, but did not find him,” is her disheartening experience.
Just then: “The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city,” verse 3. Perhaps these watchmen who protect from intruders and also discover the weary strugglers are intended to portray faithful pastors or other counselors of the church family. Notice she does not blame others for her plight. There is not bitterness just loneliness – a singular longing for her beloved, as she asks, “Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
“Help me find Jesus again!” is a cry that needs to be put into words. O troubled Christian, be encouraged with the testimony of Job, “But he knows the way that I take; when he hath tested me, I will come forth as gold,” Job 23:10.
III. DETERMINATION
Having drawn us to a time of reflection and then decisive action, our loving Lord still is hidden from us – until there is a settled determination that we really love and want Him! Thus, we shall have to continue in our search. Notice our text does not say that the watchmen bring her personally to her beloved. What if she had quit there?
“It was but a little bit further that I passed them, when I found the one my heart loves.” Only a little further! What a blessed thought! Jesus Christ – if He is your Lord at all – will be your Lord always. Turn to Him with your whole heart. Seek Him while He may be found.
This will involve leaving the ease and comfort of the condition into which we have drifted. It will mean careful, honest reflection, definite action and solid determination. “I held him and would not let him go,” is the way it ends!
Some years ago a father and his young children toured an underground cavern area. “Oh, Daddy, I’m ascared!” said the 3-year-old. Thinking he could help distract his fears, the guide took him in his arms and walked ahead to the next wonder.
“Look at that!” extolled the guide as he pointed here and there. The answer was plain: “I just want to see my Daddy!” The father took him back and he was content.
Friend, if you are away from Jesus who rules all things, you are out of joint with the universe. In the dark hour, nothing will do but Jesus’ smile.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart,” Psalm 37:4.