Every so often the Lord calls my attention to a portion of His Word.  I will dwell in that place in scripture, trying to understand it, for days or even weeks. This is one of those times. This week I have been reading and re-reading a portion of Song of Solomon.  I don’t know what it is that I am trying to draw from it, but it is like there is something there that I just cannot grasp or understand. Like straining my eyes to see something in the distance, I strain my spirit to try to grasp what is contained in the Words.  What must pass for “sleep” in these stretches is only a continuation of trying to grasp something that is eluding me!  Last night it seemed I was literally trying to squeeze every drop of anointed truth and revelation out of the scriptures that have blessed me this week from Song of Songs, and in that pondering/squeezing, other portions of His Word came to assist  and illuminate the portion I was trying to understand. 

No scripture stands alone!  All of it is supported and witnessed by all the rest of His Word.  There is nothing out of place.  All of it reveals the Love of a Father in heaven for His children on this earth, whom He so tenderly created in His image and likeness!— A remnant of children of His seed that cleave to Him, as He has not left us forlorn for even an instant in time.  We, whom He has so gently wooed back to His side with chords of kindness, gentleness, strength, and a heart that is jealous for our safety and over all our affairs.— None of us are too small for His attention; So attuned He is to all our thoughts and feelings, so delighted He is when we rest our hearts and minds upon Him, and allow Him to pour out His Spirit upon and within us. –For He desires to bless all those who are increasingly drawn to Him. 

He is never a step behind!  He is always opening our hearts to more and more love and fulfillment.  He is more intensely in love with us than anyone has ever loved another in this fallen world.  For He is cleaved unto us!  AS  His command and announcement was proclaimed in the Garden, “For this, shall a Man leave His Father and his mother and cleave unto His wife, and the two shall become One flesh!”  That which God has put together shall not be torn apart.  His heart is so entwined and cleaved unto ours— and if we will allow it, ours grows within His!  Who can tell where one starts and the other ends? 

Knowing this, absorbing this Truth, we allow Him to push away all the darkness and deception that the enemy has covered us with from the moment of our fall!  He removes the doubts, and more and more Lies!— All of them containing a drug of forgetfulness and fear!  For when we receive or consider the lie the enemy suggests, we also invest with it, a fear that, “We are alone and forgotten by our Lord!”  And that fear then feeds a forgetfulness of the Truth of His love for us.  
Very quickly, a coating of slime covers our heart and our eyes, blocking out His words of love and encouragement to our hearts to “Hold fast to His love!”  The muddy slimy Lie hardens, and the voice of the enemy seems to be transformed into “The voice of ‘reason’ in this world,” and we follow after the words and thoughts of our Enemy, and use the very reasoning that he whispers into our heads.  We think his thoughts are ours!  And we are deceived into thinking that we are wise!   

The truth is that we are played the fool over and over and over, again and again!  Each time we promise ourselves we are not going to fall into that trap again.  But, the Enemy is the Master Deceiver!  He tickles the flesh, and promises us more of the same.  All his words seem so agreeable to us… To “Just think about ourselves and seek to be happy!”  We are encouraged to seek wealth, and then we would be happy… and for some, drugs and forgetfulness and mindlessness… and to think only of ourselves… (James 4:13-17, Isaiah 56:12, Ecclesiastes 11:9 Proverbs 27:1)

Satan deceives us into believing that this life is what it is all about!  He blinds as many people as possible to the truth that “This life is but an instant in Eternity, and determines where we will be assigned, and what our position will be for unending eternities!” (Matthew 25)  If we were to think on that question, if we were to remember that there is a God who created us and to Whom we must give an account of the time given to us, the talents and gifts He had given into our hands, we would not spend all our days seeking after the temporary things of this world!  

The Word says that this life is but a mist, and man is like the grass of the earth, here for but a moment and then gone….If our lives are like a mist, with so little substance, except to remember our God our Father, and to remember that this is a test for the eternal home we will inhabit, we would be mindful of the moments of the days.  We would not be concerned about clothes, popularity, trips, satisfying the flesh with the pride of life and what makes us feel like we are more special or better than any other person on the earth.  

In the end, we are all equal!  All of us have unique gifts and talents that the Father placed in us in order to bless the rest of our earthly brothers and sisters.  Far, far too often we have no idea why we were given “more.”  We think we earned it by our craftiness, smarts, position, superiority of some kind… That, “We got it for our self and by ourselves.  But we are told to remember it is God who gives us the ability to get wealth that He may test our hearts to see if we will give the glory back to God and feed His children, cloth and care for them with the gifts that He bestowed upon us!  Too many don’t.  While other people’s children are starving, we are fat and give our money to worthless things: Food, drink, entertainment; To visit lands where most of the  people are hungry and work long hours, sleep on the muddy ground and to whom a single dollar would be the difference between life or death for another day. 

Yet at the end of this time, we all will face an endless eternity!  Only that which we placed in “The Eternal Bank and Trust” is preserved for our journey into eternity.  Those things that are banked in Heaven are Eternal things that cannot be burned up by the fire of judgement for flesh that is coming upon the earth. All things that are done out of a sense of self or pride, the big house for the pride of self: Even helping to feed children or the poor, for a demonstration of charity that also feeds the self righteousness of your pride, is fuel for the fire.  Only that which is done out of  Love: First for the Father, and for the love of your brothers and sisters on this earth, whether they be next door or across the globe will be “banked” in the Eternal Kingdom.  

Jesus is the Gateway!  You cannot even begin to set aside things born of eternal love until you have that Eternal Love in your heart!  Jesus is that Eternal Love, and without Him first in your heart, enabling you to love and care for the lost and broken around you: All is for naught!  But when He lives in you, and your heart is wrapped up in the things of  Christ, the eternal realm, the things of the world just fade away as the Eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Christ Jesus grows into clearer and clearer focus.  

Holy Father, help me to focus in ever greater clarity upon Your Eternal Kingdom, and let this world and the things of it fade like a forgotten memory…  Yes, my flesh is in this place, I feel and breathe see and hear the things that are in this place.  Help me to remember that when I complain that this time is passing so quickly… indeed it is evaporating, I am making confession to the temporariness of this life on this earthly plane!  When I say it was only yesterday that my daughters were born and I can remember so clearly their first moments with me; I am saying it will only be a moment more before I am born anew into my own new heavenly body and reuniting with those I loved and lost and those I have loved from afar, awaiting the day when we would meet in heaven and fellowship without time.  No more time.  No more hurry.  No more impatience.  

Holy Father… Is that why You teach patience?  Because outside of this little time capsule, there is nothing that is measured again.  Will the dimension of time be replaced by other dimensions?  I don’t know.  I feel the sands of my hour-glass coursing through.  Nothing will be given back.  Time will not go back, such that I can regain the time I forfeited to FaceBook and other worthless things.  Only that which is born of love remains.  Only the time invested in the work of the Kingdom will remain to be multiplied a hundred-fold!   “He who has shall be given more and he who has not, even that shall be taken away”.  The treasure of the servant who buried what was given to him to invest was taken from him because he did not regard the value of the Master’s treasure.  We are the treasure of the Master! He is not interested in silver, gems, gold or any other earthly thing!  Can He not command, and it is there for His use?  But what is far, far above all the riches of the earth, is the heart of a child who is brought back to the safety of His arms.  What would a loving mother or father give for the return of their lost child from the clutches of a cruel and savage slave holder?  They would give every cent they have, sell all they own and even give their life is need be to gain the safe return of their precious child to their house!  There is no price that can be put on a beloved child… No price was too great to be paid for us! 

  Therefore, the gifts that are distributed to the servants of the Lord are for the ransoming of His children back to Himself!  They are for the teaching and distribution of the world. —The clothing of the naked, the defense of the oppressed, the feeding of the hungry, to feed and cloth also with the Word of life and the clothing of righteousness!  This is for His glory!  To that end, we have life on this earth!  

As I slept last night it seemed like a line of scripture was wrung out, word by word so that I would drink every available drop of it.  It is life to me!  It is water and bread, life and vitality and joy and contentment! —Overflowing with gratitude for this time, and for the good things that He gives us, as we lift our hearts and hands, like petals of the flowers, the branches of the trees and even the leaves of the trees, towards the Son and give Him all glory and honor!  All the Earth praises the Lord, and lives for His good pleasure!  All testifies to Him.  Every petal unfolds according to His design, opening to spread their pollen, obeying His command to spread forth and multiply upon the earth!  The animals and birds and plant life do so… How simple the design of life really is.  We truly live because He lives.  We breathe back the breath He first gave to us.  We thrive only under the Son.  

Holy Father, I could go on all day long!  I never want to quit, but I must move on with the work You have created me to do this day which You have made!  I want to share the scripture that I was chewing on all night; It is from Song of Songs.  The same scripture that I have ruminated on all week… 

From Song of Songs Chapter 6… vs 10: Who is this woman who looks forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as clear as the sun, as terrible (overawing) as an army with banners?   I went down to the orchard of nuts ( to the walnut bower) to see the freshness  (the fruits) of the valley, To see whether the vine had budded, Whether the pomegranates were in bloom.  Before I was aware, my soul set me among the chariots of my noble people! Return, return O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may gaze at you.  Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, as upon the dance of two camps?” (Recovery Version)
vs.13- Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee.  What will ye see in the Shulamite?  As it were the company of two armies. (KJV)
James Moffatt version: My soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib
Another translation— My soul set me among the chariots of my noble people
The Passion Translation says in vs 13: “Why would you want to seek  a mere Shulamite like me?  Why would you want to see my dance of love? — Because you dance so gracefully, as though you danced with angels!”

In my spirit I see the Shulammite, the Bride of Christ after she has been caught up with Him in worship, and she returns to her outer life.  She now bears the evidence of being with Him, radiating light and glory from her inmost being as He Himself.  Thus, the people she lives among desire to look upon her just as they wanted to look upon the radiance of Moses’ face when he descended from the mountain of God (but he covered his face with a veil).  The Shulammite asks, “why? Why do you want to see my dancing before my Love? — My worship of my Lord?”  For she is not aware of her radiance, only of her desire to abide with Him whom her soul loves.  And as she is again worshipping Him lost in her love for Him in soul and spirit she is again caught up in the presence of His Throne…  And she says, “before I was aware, my spirit (Soul) carried me among my people, the princes of my people… They desire to see the sword dance. 

Who are her people, the princes of her people?  Who are these noble ones?  Are they not those who love her Beloved as she does?  This is the fellowship of the Saints that we can have in the spirit with all those who are carried away into the invisible realms, available only to those who are lost inside of Him who made us and fashioned our inmost being!  When we are lost in Him… we lose sight of time.  We lose sight of what is around us.  We are caught up with Him to a place that exists outside of time and space, for those things were created for us in the earth realm!
Jesus said that He is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in Truth!  Those are our people!  Those who worship Him in spirit and knowing the Truth of who and what He is, and what He has created us to become in Him!  We are told “Taste and see!  The LORD is good!”  As we worship Him, we are transported into His presence with His worshippers— those still in this earth realm, and those who are now with Him in His eternal glory.  They are our people, and they are witnesses of His goodness and love for all He has created. 

As we are with Him in that place without time, in the spirit, we are in Union with the One who is called the Word of God… Who IS the Sword of the Spirit of GOD!  Is this kind of worship the Sword dance of the Shulamite?  Is she now with Him who is the (S)Word of God, standing in the gap between the armies of heaven and the hordes of the enemy?  He IS our fortress!  He is our Deliverer!  When we worship Him…what can touch us?  His glory destroys our enemies. Indeed our worship of our King is as a victory dance, stopping the darkness in its tracks! 

Is this why He loves the worship of His people?  Is it because it releases HIS POWER and protection over the worshipper and those who are lifted up before His throne?  Are we drawn AWAY from worshipping Him by distractions of life, for that very reason?  Is it because the enemy knows that Worship of the One our soul loves, releases the power of heaven upon the earthly realms? 

I see the Shulamite as the one who loves the Lord her God with all her heart and soul and mind and strength!  Jesus called this the first commandment in Mark 12:30.   I am as the Shulamite!  If we love HIM who is Love with all that He gave us, are we not worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, as He is the Truth?  What a powerful sword dance of victory over all forces of darkness on this earth, our worship is!  It brings union with Him who IS the Light of the World; and darkness cannot overcome it! (John 1:5) Those who are in the Light are the light!  Jesus said in Matthew 5:14,16 “You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.”  In Him, the Bride of Christ has overcome all things, as He has overcome all things! He speaks so lovingly to His Beloved, “ In the world you will have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world…And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected into one. John 16:33, 17: 21. 

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Matthew 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and  his clothesbecame white as light.Psalm 34:7-9 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.…

John 4:23-24: But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.  Berean Study Bible
God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  (Amplified bible)
God is a spirit; and they that adore him, must adore him in spirit and in truth. Douay-Rheims Bible
For The Spirit is God, and it is fitting that those who worship him worship in The Spirit and in The Truth.”  Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Hebrews 12:1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, Amplified BibleSon
Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 From my journal Friday August 21st 2015 and given back for my daily bread on Thursday April 29, 2021