Solomon's Song is one of the most beautiful pictures of Christ one can ever read. The bride, a type of the Church, in the narrative describes Jesus by using the imagery of the temple, combining it with the imagery of the human body. The Holy Spirit through this is depicting the majesty of Jesus Christ, the SUM OF ALL beauty and truth. He IS the New Covenant and the baptizer in the Holy Spirit, who inhabits those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Christ's majesty is described in language and terms such as gold, precious stones, ivory and the cedars of Lebanon. The purpose is to show the Church that ALL things must find their sum in CHRIST who is above all other beloved. In these last days we must embrace Christ and love Him as the bride loved the bridegroom in this narrative. It is only that type of love that will keep us from falling during the coming days of vengeance and testing.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: Song 5:12 - His eyes are as
the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. There is no greater declaration of unrelenting desire, love and passion than a Bridegroom God who took upon Himself the form of a man to atone for man's sins and in essence grant His Son a marriage partner forever. The Son glorifies His Father by being the HEAD of this Body, known as the CHURCH. When the human heart craves God it is the greatest power in the universe. There is nothing more compelling or attractive than desire that goes beyond and above.
It is interesting to see how Hollywood has made billions of dollars from the craving of the human heart to experience deep, abiding love. The love stories through the ages are very similar. They are the stories of the man who sells all to win the love of his lady. People flock to the theater to see the same story line over and over. Why? Because something in us longs for love that knows no boundaries, love that knows no sacrifice in pursuit of the one it loves. Life itself is only worthwhile if the heart burns with love. There is no sacrifice too great when the heart is set on fire. In this beautiful portrait of the Bridegroom, a type of Christ, given by the Holy Spirit through the eyes and heart of the Bride, a type of the Church, we see the eyes of the Bridegroom. Solomon writes later in this same prose that:
Song 7:10 What a statement! That is from the bride speaking out of a heart consumed with fiery love. We rest in this confession that HIS desire BURNS for us. The transcendent, uncreated God who stands outside of time and eternity is moved with desire and is planning glorious things for those who believe in the SON OF GOD and put their faith in His finished work.
1 Cor. 2:9 Many people think a burning God is a God filled with just wrath and anger, destroying everything in His path. However, God burns with a radiant heart of intense DESIRE that destroys ANYTHING and everything that hinders love between us and Him. His fire is first about His pleasure and Holy Romance with His people.
Deut. 4:24 God's fire of judgment is an overflow, a sub-department of His fire of burning desire FOR His people. It is a manifestation of passion that removes everything that hinders love. SIN is the problem neighbor and yes, it HINDERS LOVE. God judges sin in fiery passion FOR US to free His bride. The discipline of the Father is never punitive, but always redemptive. He seeks to take away ALL idols and hindrances between us and Him. This passion He carries for us not only removes sin from our lives but it also removes all the enemies of our faith.
The devil and his forces will one day experience great judgment at the hands of our Father God who is passionately committed to protecting His beloved. God will judge His enemies because of fiery love. His heart will be increasingly stirred with fiery jealousy, and He will strike His enemies to protect and avenge the bride, HIS bride, HIS CHURCH, the BODY OF HIS BELOVED SON - CHRIST.
His judgments are about to be loosed upon Planet Earth. God's love and the fire of His vengeance are actually ONE emotion. This consuming FIRE - HIS PLEASURE, HIS DESIRE, HIS BURNING LOVE, will burn up ALL that hinders love. His burning holiness is an expression of His fiery love.
Exodus 20:5 His focus is toward HUMAN beings, not buildings! He is jealous over us with a HOT, fiery emotion. James writes in his epistle that the Holy Spirit "LUSTS" inside of us with this envy from the Father. It's a HOLY JEALOUSY that seeks to protect us from those things that would destroy our relationship with HIM.
James 4:5-8 - Do ye think that the
scripture saith in vain, The spirit that
dwells in us lusts to envy? [6] But he gives more grace. Wherefore he
saith, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. [7] Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8]
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded. The emotions of God strike TERROR. This terror is not just fear of His judgments, even though that IS the beginning of ALL wisdom! This terror is a feeling of being awestruck by the grandeur and GLORY of the holy romance. It is terrifying to encounter God like this. It makes no sense and seems outrageous in the most holy way - the GLORY of being embraced, adorned and enthroned even though we were formely rebels.
Paul in Romans gives us the clue to how we burn with love in our own hearts for HIM because He first burned in His heart towards us:
Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also
we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God. [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation works patience; [4] And patience, experience; and
experience, hope: [5] And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. [6] For when
we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. [8] But God commends his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
Ps 2:12 - Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,
and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are
all they that put their trust in him.
1 Cor. 1:17-18 - For Christ sent me
not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the
cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of
the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is
the power of God. His Eyes Are Like Doves
Song 5:12
There are other references in scripture to His eyes we will mention here and allude to briefly later:
Christ sees all things, so His
eyes suggest His omniscience, which means "all knowledge." His eyes also refer
to His ability to see or to His discernment, which is always HOLY, RIGHTEOUS and
JUST. Even those things hidden in darkness are completely clear to the Lord because He sees both the good and the bad. Most people think of God as only seeing the negative but He also sees the labor of your love for Him. He sees the times we stumble and feel like total hypocrites, wanting to quit the race. He sees the cries of our hearts to obey Him and succeed. God sees the private longings for righteousness in the hearts of the sincere. He acknowledges the finances we sow secretly into Hi kingdom. He sees the prayer and the times when we did well but were slandered for it. God sees things that are hidden from the eyes of man and rewards us for them. Sometimes those rewards come here on earth, others will be more eternal and waiting for us on judgment day. But rest assured, GOD SEES IT ALL! God sees the good qualities of your life and the willingness in your spirit even more than we can see them ourselves.
Many of us try to obey God but stumble outwardly and feel let down. Samuel looked at the outward appearance of Jesse's boys before he ever got to David. That is a real human emotion we all have. But we must not lose heart and have courage to go on knowing that all that we do - yes the bad too, is seen by God. God is not mocked. We reap what we sow friend mark it down. We can't sin without impunity or punishment. Sin has a price. It always has had a price and it always will have a price. You can't escape that spiritual fact. God's mercy is rich however, and if we will allow Him to draw us TO HIM through the blood stain hands of His beloved Son, instead of allowing the enemy to drive us away through condemnation, guilt and fear, we will make it in this life. There will be a day when the Lord judges all things.
1 Cor. 4:5
1 Cor. 1:20-25
1 Cor. 1:29-31
That is why no flesh should glory in the presence of God. That is why no preacher should stand up acting like a mini-tyrant to his sheep demanding things of them that God don't even demand of human beings. That is why we have no business having Christian rock concerts where we applaud the flesh of human beings who thrill our senses with music, strobe lights and the such just because we think they are doing a great service to the Kingdom. Neighbor, hear me - NO SONG WRITER, NO SINGER, NO PREACHER, NO DEACON, NO CHURCH, NO MOVEMENT ever broke one single power of darkness over you. NO ONE DIED on a bloody cross but CHRIST HIMSELF and HE ALONE deserves our praise and glory. He alone deserves our worship and adoration. He alone deserves the total love and passion and intimacy of our emotions and hearts. NO OTHER NAME BUT JESUS sets the captives free.
No one understands as He does. We hear it all the time when people say that they have yet to meet somebody who understands them and realizes what they've gone through. Jesus sees what you've been through. He knows what you are dealing with now. He knows the times you have stood under unbelievable pressures of life and have not denied His name. And yes, He has seen the times that maybe your faith has failed and you have. In both cases, HIS LOVE still burns deep towards YOU and ME today. His LOVE does not change by the weather. He is not unfaithful to see and reward you for the labor of your love for Him.
Hebrews 6:10
....Eyes...Are Like Doves...
That's why the modern gospel message is so off-base today. It focuses on temporal, physical, worldly matters while the true message of the gospel centers on spiritual matters. Eternity is a long time. David said that if he made his bed in hell, God would be there. Sounds strange, but neighbor, God sees it ALL. Jesus sees it ALL! His eyes are upon everything that happens in the universe. NOTHING happens without His attention to it.
By The Rivers Of Water
Song 5:12
Some are reading this, possibly bitter at God for whatever reason because you think He "did" something to you that was unfair. That is a lie and deception of the enemy. God has never done anything to us. God has done nothing to mankind but pour out His great grace and goodness and mercy to ALL who would receive it. If there has been a failure in our lives, we can't blame God for it. If there has been loss, we can't blame God for it. Did God have a part in it. He allowed it for sure. But in allowing it, His ultimate plans for us were in mind. He doesn't take pleasure in the loss of our lives. He weeps over that. But pain and disappointment are part of our growing processes to where we come into a maturity where our EYES become HIS EYES. We see with the same purity and justness HE DOES towards others. We see with the same innocence HE DOES as we view a lost and dying world. The church world is so callous today to those outside the household of faith. We act so pompous and self-righteous it's not funny. Millions slip off into a devil's hell while the church sits by with its arm folded saying "oh that's terrible." It IS terrible friend, but it's MORE terrible that we think we're better than those people in bondage. WE'RE NOT. The only difference between us and the sinner is the BLOOD OF CHRIST. We see ourselves clearly through the eyes of Jesus. And let me assure of this - when you SEE YOURSELF like HE SEES YOU - you will walk humbly before Him and always having praise FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY that has been extended to you. You will never judge anyone else based on the comparison of whether you think you are more "holy" than they are.
1 Cor. 3:1-23
Washed With Milk And Fitly Set
Song 5:12
His eyes are also fitly set. This comparision is like that of a jewel that is fitly set by the most skillful artist when constructing a very expensive piece of jewelry. The artist will take a diamond and skillfully set it into a bracelet or necklace. That His eyes are fitly set means there is not deformity in them. In other words, His eyes are not too deep, nor do they protdue in an unlovely way. His discernment is perfect, for He sees and judges every situaton without exaggeration or deformity. His vision and knowledge are perfect, being neither farsigheted nor nearshighted. He knows all the strategies of the enemy, but He also understands those things that are important and precious to your life.
God knows everything that is important to your heart. The Lord is aware of the things that will mean the most to us. Some of those things may come to us in this life, others in the age to come. NO matter where or when they come, we can rest in the fact that His eyes are like doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
Psalm 139:1-18 To the chief
Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2]
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought
afar off. [3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with
all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou
knowest it altogether. [5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine
hand upon me. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it. [7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee
from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my
bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover
me; even the night shall be light about me. [12] Yea, the darkness hideth not
from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both
alike to thee. [13] For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my
mother's womb. [14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [15] My substance
was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth. [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being
unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance
were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. [17] How precious also are
thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! [18] If I should
count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with
thee. In Closing
As I close I want to briefly discuss the other passages concerning the eyes of the Lord. John the Revelator saw His eyes as eyes of fire which does not contradict this portrait penned by the Holy Spirit of His eyes in Song of Solomon:
Fire speaks of PASSION as we alluded to in the beginning of this message. His eyes are full or PASSION FOR HIS CHILDREN and against HIS ENEMIES. Friend, if you have not put your faith in what He did for you at the cross today, you are an enemy of God. It doesn't mean that God don't love you, it means that He has given all humanity a choice today whether to serve Him or not serve Him. Judgment Day is coming where the counsels of men's hearts will be laid bare by these same eyes of fire.
Romans 2:2 - But we are sure that the
judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. [3]
And think thou this, O man, that judges them which do such things, and doest the
same, that thou shall escape the judgment of God? [4]
Or do you despise the riches of his
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leads thee to repentance? [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart
treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his
deeds: This message is a message that should make us REST today in His great love and mercy for us. HE SEES all things and know all things today. I pray you know this Heavenly Bridegroom. HE is coming soon, His eyes as a flame of fire, head with many crowns, and a name written that no man knows but HIMSELF. HIS GOODNESS is drawing you today to Him. His INNOCENCE and PURITY and HOLINESS are drawing YOU to Him today. HE IS WOOING you today with the Holy Spirit to let you see His deep eyes of passionate burning LOVE for your eternal soul. He loves you today and I pray you know Him as Your LORD and Saviour. It's getting late neighbor, it's getting late. SO TERRIBLY TERRIBLY LATE. And it's harvest time. Praise God.
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