|
BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY BLOG@ Rhythms of Grace: a Journey into RestSustenance for the journey into rest and peace
|
THIS SERIES: A HEALTHY HEART Last in our series, 'A Healthy Heart', we look at the heart of passion. We were made for a deep and satisfying love: to give it and receive it. The beautiful song above is taken from The Song of Songs 8:6-7. Here it is in the aptly named, 'Passion Translation'. The Bridegroom-King is speaking: Who is this one? Look at her now! She arises out of her desert, clinging to her beloved. When I awakened you under the apple tree, as you were feasting upon me, I awakened your innermost being with the travail of birth as you longed for more of me. Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore. This living, consuming flame will seal you as my prisoner of love. My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, All-consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God. Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being… Endless floods will be unable to quench this raging fire that burns within you… [Song of Solomon 8: 5-7] The word for 'seal' means a signet ring, which was worn by a cord over the heart, or attached to the arm. It was the personal seal of an individual, a symbol of status and influence, and was often used to show a marriage or family relationship. I think I prefer the softer word ‘captive’, to 'prisoner' as I think 'prisoner' has negative connotations of force, and the words are a plea coming from a 'burning heart of love', rather than an invincible demand for submission. Apparently, this phrase can equally be translated, 'The Mighty Flame of the Lord Most Passionate’! We were made for love; to give it and receive it. Why not set aside some time to go into the secret place to meet with Jesus, our Heavenly Bridegroom? We were made for passion. Our human relationship status is immaterial; we have a Heavenly Bridegroom waiting to woo us. Let’s make it a date! THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM
Then continue to sit quietly in His presence, and play the worship video again. Ask Him to give you a fresh revelation of the depths of His love for you.
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power,
together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [Ephesians 3:17-19] *NB. My apologies, the original link I posted wasn't working. If you click on the picture above, you will be taken to a PDF version of the text, published by the Online Library at archive.org. Please note the chapter links in the text do not work, but you can scroll down to the relevant passage. PLEASE NOTE: THE NEXT BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY POST WILL BE ON FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER. GET IN TOUCH!
[Photo credit: Natalie Kinnear (hello) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
1 Comment
|
Categories
All
 |
