A Power Towards Passion!

Read these few Scriptures with me, and notice what emerges:

1. Song of Songs 1:7 "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?"

Another translation reads this way: "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou makest it to rest at noon: For why should I be AS ONE THAT IS VEILED Beside the flocks of thy companions?" (ASV)

The phrase “turneth aside” in the KJV literally means, “to wrap, cover, or veil”. In the Old Testament, it was prostitutes who wore a veil to cover their faces. It speaks to us of sin and shame: Genesis 38:15 says, "When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; BECAUSE she had covered her face."

2. Song of Songs 4:1 "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead."

Or as another translation says, "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves BEHIND THY VEIL. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of mount Gilead". (ASV)

The word translated in the KJV as “locks” can just as easily be translated “veil” in the orginal language.

3. Song of Songs 4:6 "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense."

A quick glance at the majority of the body of Christ today will sadly prove the lack of passion and response in His people. Yet, somehow, this declaration of the Bride in Song 4:6 is one of passion, commitment, and love for her Bridegroom. She is accepting the call of God to intimacy and completion. The “day break” speaks of that time when the Son is fully risen in our hearts: 2 Peter 1:19 says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." The time when “the shadows flee away” speaks to us of that time when we no longer are restrained by the Adamic effects on creation. It is a time of fullness and completion. Ephesians 4:13references this glorious end: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…"

Until this glorious event transpires, the Shulamite continually declares her devotion to the sanctifying tools of the Lord, namely “the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense.” Myrrh, being a bitter burial spice, is symbolic of the death of the flesh. It speaks of the conscious choice every believer must make to put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit, lest we fulfill the lusts of the flesh: Philippians 2:12 says, “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It is present tense sanctification (Jn 8:31-31; 17:17; Jer 23:29; Gal 4:19; 2 Cor 3:18; etc).

The “hill of frankincense” speaks to us of prayer and communion. We know that frankincense, when burned, is a white smoke. It was this same substance that was used at the golden altar of incense, symbolic of the believer’s prayer and worship before the very throne (ark) of God. Exodus 30:34-36 elaborates on this point: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy."

But what has CAUSED this sudden passion for God’s purposes in the heart of the Shulamite woman? How does she seemingly grow so much in just a couple chapters? For she has but a few moments ago refused such a call; She before wanted seperation: "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether" (Song 2:17). "Bether" means separation. But suddenly, in chapter 4:6, she so willingly accepts such a daring venture. But what for? Could it be the repetitious wooing of her Lord and Saviour? Though He has declared it over her once already (Song 1:15), He again says to her in chapter four, verse one: “thou hast doves eyes within thy locks”, or as we have already determined it can better be translated, “thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil”.

We have seen that the veil speaks to us of sin and shame. Thus, when the Lord declares that she has “doves eyes within” her veil, He is saying that even in the midst of her lack and shortcoming, her sin and shame, he sees her desire for sole commitment and devotion, though not yet fulfilled. Doves are physically capable of only looking strait ahead, neglecting all other loves; also, doves mate for life. Even in the midst of sin and shame, God’s heart is ravished! He sees our willingness and desire to be like Him; to be His mate for life! What a response this revelation has birthed in her heart! “You love me!”, she must proclaim! “Even in the midst of my lack!” Her response births exactly what the Lord had hoped for – her sole commitment.

And do we find it a coincidence that directly after this said response is the very first time the Lord refers to her as His “spouse” (Song 4:8)? No longer is she simply “fair” (Song 1:15-16), but now she is “all fair” (Song 4:7). She has accepted the bridal call. The revelation of her Father’s heart has caused her to do so! And how powerful this revelation would be to the masses of complacent believers who are sitting by in shame and condemnation, afraid to give God their all because of such obvious lack and spiritual deficiency. So powerful indeed, that I beg to say it would cause an increase in passion possessed. Such a immense passion and desire for the Lord would arise that they too would find themselves selflessly declaring “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” The revelation of the heart of the Father to His people would undoubtedly birth this response!

My how God desires this response from His people! How His heart aches for true lovers; for worshippers who worship Him in Spirit and in truth; for a people of passion who are in it for Him and Him alone! Thank God that in these last days the Father is revealing His heart more and more: Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Reveal Your great truths to our hearts, Lord! Draw us, and we will run after Thee!