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Now the Beloved shows the Bride how she can be equipped to do His will (go to the mountain of Myrrh and hill of frankincense) - these are principles we must grasp as we desire to follow Jesus and go the way of the Cross.
(i) Seeing ourselves through His eyes as THE SPOTLESS BRIDE (v 7) - See Eph 5:27 and Jude 23.
(ii) Engaging in higher levels of spiritual warfare requiring greater steps of sacrifice and servanthood (v 8) - As we step out into His purposes (mountains and hills) the lions and leopards will be out to get us! Lions and leopards are devouring enemies and speak of satan’s powers and principalities - see 1 Pet 5:8 - also of Spirit of Antichrist - See Rev 13:2).
Look at the descriptions
for
lions
and
leopards
and identify the specific characteristics of the enemy they each represent.
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Lebanon
= Bride’s home (she’s stepping out) = ‘Heart’
Amana = ‘Permanent’. Senir = ‘Mount of Light’. Hermon = ‘Consecrated’ |
Put these meanings together by looking further at the descriptions to make a more fuller interpretation of this verse. These mountains speak of the place of overcoming intense spiritual opposition due to being in the midst of His purposes. This will lead you into His permanent call on your life, a place where you are to be a light of the world, consecrated to Him with a pure heart.
(iii)Seeing the ravished heart of God (v 9-10) - Earlier we saw how the maiden had been overwhelmed by the love of the man. Now, however, we see the Groom’s ravished heart!
‘To Ravish’ means ‘to seize and take away by violence; to overcome with emotions of joy or delight; pleasing or striking.’ The Bride has captured His heart, filling it with ecstasy and delight. One look from her eyes and one glimpse of her necklace had seized His heart and carried it away. Even though we’re not mature, when we show a desire to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost, we ravish the heart of Jesus!
He now calls her His sister and spouse - look at the definitions and see what He is really saying.
Notice how verse 10 echoes her words of Chapter 1 verses 2 to 3 - He is returning her passion ! Sometimes we fail to see that He has passion for us. Grasping this will see us through many trials to come and will ignite more holy passion in us. It is His passionate love for us and our response of love and devotion for Him that acts as a breastplate of love, guarding our hearts with holy affections in times of temptation and in the difficult hours of life ( 1 Thess 5:8).
(For further study look up the other words used here: sister, spouse, wine, perfumes, spices)
(iv) Seeing ourselves
as ANOINTED ABLE MINISTERS (v
11)-
see
1
Jn 2:20.
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Lips
&
Tongue
= Speech/Words
Honey
&
Milk
= Land of promise flows with these (sweet & healthy) -
Garments
= Authority (clothes were signs of authority and covered shame) -
Fragrance= That which pleases (Prayer/Worship)
Lebanon
= ‘Pure heart’
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In the light of the above we can interpret this to mean that when we make a quality decision to break out of our comfort zones Jesus sees us as having anointed speech, full of the promises from His word. Our speech is with great authority from Him which covers all our inadequacy, and our prayer and worship is pleasing to Him. This all comes from a pure heart. This is how He sees us in such times - we must claim this by faith so it can become a reality in our Christian life.
Cloose your eyes now and hear the Lord speak these words into your spirit.