Remedial Judgment..

Part 2 of 5

The life of the Shulamite woman is surely a typical mine of truth for those who are willing to study. There are several significant events that occur in her story that have dramatic and life-altering results. In chapters 2-4, something happens to her spiritual life that causes her to completely change her course of action and mode of thought. As we saw recently, she went from refusal in chapter 2, to surrender in chapter 4. She went from neglect to embrace, and from avoidance to devotion. Was she then perfect? No, as is evident from the remainder of the book. But the choice had been made; she had decided to give God her all, even though it may be a bumpy ride. Her inward desire was soon to overcome her shallow actions. Her life choices were soon to follow the directions of her heart. How wonderful! But how did this start? And why the dramatic change? If we can answer these questions, what a mine of truth indeed! And how appropriate for our Laodicean church age! These truths give us insight into loving God more! How did it happen to the Shulamite woman? How can it happen to us?

The first event we saw was her refusal of God's longing for greater relation. She asked the Lord to depart. It is indeed possible to avoid this higher calling, as the Shulamite woman, and the daughters of Jerusalem, clearly demonstrate.

The second event that transpires during this journey is a result of the first event. We have previously seen the possibility of neglecting this higher calling, but now we will see the reaction that Jesus has to one who makes such a choice: judgment! Simply said, He departs. Notice what occurs directly after she asks Him to turn: "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not" (Song 3:1).

God was "divinely absent" from her. Had He altogether left her? No. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5). However, He did withdraw His glory from her. Because of her direct disobedience, Jesus withdrew the lovely manifestation that she was before experiencing and accustomed to. As it was said of Hezekiah, "God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart" (2 Chron 32:31). Truly the absence of Jesus' manifestation will give way to humility, will put an extra edge upon one's spiritual hunger, and will furnish a field for faith to fully put forth itself!

Let's recognize that this "divine absence" was the Lord's judgment for her refusal to go onward and upward. Maybe you have experienced this in your own life? How wonderful to know, however, that (for the people of God) judgment is always remedial! Remedial judgment is judgment that occurs with the purpose of affording a remedy! It's aim is not to punish, but to teach. How merciful! Aren't you grateful? Dear reader, let us understand that judgment is not necessarily a bad thing! It's a shocking thought, I know.

Over and over the Scriptures testify of this truth. Isaiah prophesied, "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city" (Isa 1:25-26). God's judgements are always remedial. They are remedial because it is never judgment for judgment's sake. Rather, the judgment of God is to birth a repentant response! This is why Jesus could say, "my judgment is just" (Jn 5:30). Again the Bible says, "...He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked" (Isa 11:3-4).

Even though it may have been difficult, this "judgment" was very beneficial to the emerging bride. God actually allows such judgment and heartache to birth a change in her. The same is so with you and me! This is called bringing forth "judgment unto TRUTH" (Isa 42:3)! He allowed such divine judgment so that it would birth a deeper response; an obedient response. And it worked!

"The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go..." (Song 3:3-4).

This time, she "would not let Him go"! What a transformation that remedial judgments will produce! She has gone from "separation" to ADORATION! Don't you want that to be your testimony too?

How wonderful that these truths are developing the heart of a bride in her! These truths are slowly giving her the testimony: "his wife hath made herself ready" (Rev 19:7)!

But it isn't over yet!

To be continued...