Notes on a Journey

I'm not one to like sharing the middle of a journey.  Typically, I like to make it to the end and throw out a nice wrapped up package for everyone to see.

I'm sitting in the middle of a journey through studying the book of Song of Solomon.  Initially a somewhat reluctant journey.  One that has had its share of critics and cheerleaders.

SOS has received some poor study in many places in the modern church.  Many have concluded that there is no place for Song of Solomon in the Bible.  Criticized from afar without ever taking the time to wade through admittedly hard language to understand.  There are exceptions of course and I have had awesome input from the studies of Mike Bickle and also Hudson Taylor and Matthew Henry.

So what exactly am I learning from SOS?  Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

As my heart has become more willing and seeking, I have seen Jesus and the union with the Church that He calls us to.

It is an ever maturing relationship of love. Let Him kiss me we the kisses of His word...

The church comes back into the communion intended with God in the garden.

It's is marked by mutual affection. I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine.

Jesus is the Bridegroom and He is coming back for His Bride.

Again this sort of feels like I'm trying to wrap up weeks of study when I am only halfway through the book. It is full of reading, messy prayers, deciphering language, studying context, more messy prayers, outside encouragement and discouragement, more messy prayers, the worst life losing streak I've encountered yet, and crazy moments where everything makes sense and I KNOW that God loves me.

Holding

Those that hold Christ fast in faith and love will not let Him go;  He shall abide with them.

Matthew Henry

A Beautiful Sound

Like it or not, my life is filled with tension.

As I finished writing that sentence, a picture of a guitar came to mind.  While playing guitar is a stress relief, my thoughts have begun revolving around the tension on the strings.  Out of proper tension, the guitar is out of tune or under too much tension the string snaps.

But in tune, a pluck of a string produces a sweet tone.  All six strings in tune produce an even sweeter harmony.

In life, tension is good.  It isn't always easy to hold in a particular place of tension.  Right now, I know the tension of one string feels out of sorts and out of tune.  I'm holding to a job that isn't going to fully pay the bills within the next two months, I'm trusting God in the waiting to hear back about an interview I had for another job; one that would put me back in a place to be using the education I'm paying for, one working with kids, one that will pay the bills.  Yet, also knowing the job I have now is the perfect place for me to be and is consistent with the prayers that I prayed asking God to put me in a place to love and care for those that are weak and sometimes utterly frustrating but producing integrity and real kindness in me.

So again I pray: Lord my life be in a beautiful tension that is a sweet sound to Your ears.