Time for Rest
Opening Prayer
My Gracious God, I do so want to know You and Your Word much better. Teach me more now, I pray.
Read SONG OF SONGS 7:1-8:4
[1] How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman’s hands. [2] Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies. [3] Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. [4] Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus. [5] Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses. [6] How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights! [7] Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. [8] I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, [9] and your mouth like the best wine. BelovedMay the wine go straight to my lover, flowing gently over lips and teeth. [10] I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me. [11] Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. [12] Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom- there I will give you my love. [13] The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover. [1] If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. [2] I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house- she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates. [3] His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. [4] Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What "charge" do you see here that was given earlier?The compliments continue, but here the restlessness of the chase seems to be past. Instead, there is an equilibrium of desire in the lovers’ response to each other. Mutuality, parity, harmony, trust—when those are present in a relationship (sexual or platonic)—life is good. George Eliot expressed it well: “Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person.”
Comfort and safety in a relationship are the fruits of friendship and loyalty. We all need that security—but sometimes the desire for sex makes people reckless. So, is anything better than sex? Augustine was torn: as a young man he battled with desire, and sex led him into sin. But when he was met by the lure and love of God, his passion found a truly safe object. His well-known words from the beginning of his Confessions continue to speak to a society besotted by sex: “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Wouldn’t it be great if more people started from this point—resting in God—and then went on to build their relationships with others?
Apply
Is your heart restless in any way today? If so, tell God and ask him to give you “rest” in him.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I know I am safe with You. Stay joined to me, as I stay joined to You (see John 15:4).
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