Day 4: The two tests of desire (SoS 1:2a)

Like the Bride asked in Song of Songs  chapter 1 verse 2:

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.. 

we established that we must express our desire for a deeper walk with Jesus in prayer. But just like when you invite someone to come into your home the door must be unlocked we must unlock the door for our Beloved Jesus to come Him when we invite Him in.

There is a song about the Messiah King and His bride in Psalm 45. First, the song talks about the Messiah, then it reveals two other characters in this song, the maidens of the court and the King's Bride. It states that both of these characters are of royal birth: daughters of a king. Yet only one found favor with the King.

Just like in this song, the Song of Songs has a category of characters referred to as the daughters of Jerusalem. No special distinguishing factor between them and the Bride yet they seemed to be just spectators of this love story.

At salvation, we all become daughters of the King brought into the courts of God. Yet there are believers who have more intimate relationships with the Lord than others. What distinguishes them? Is it at the Lord's discretion to choose who gets to know Him more than the others? What does it take to be chosen to be the king's Bride among all the maidens of the court? 

Our clue lies in verses 10 & 11 of Psalm 45 where the psalmist first addresses the Bride as a daughter, a maiden in the court. Then in the next starts to describe her wedding procession. Meaning she took to advice and became the Bride of the King in spite all the other maidens who desired the same. Psalm 45 verses 10 & 11 in The Passion Translation reads:

'Now listen, daughter, pay attention, and forget about your past. Put behind you every attachment to the familiar, even those who once were close to you! For your royal Bridegroom is ravished by your beautiful brightness. Bow in reverence before him, for he is your Lord!'

From this we can deduce the two tests of desire:

  1. To forget about the past, put behind every attachment to the familiar.

Many versions say to forget her father's house, her people, her family. This correlates with Jesus' words in Matthew 10:37:

'He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. '

So, if we truly desire Jesus, we must be willing to make Him priority in our lives; to love Him above all others. We must want Him more than we want anything or anyone else.

         2. To reverence the King:

    Many versions put it in different ways: to adore, worship, obey, bow, submit... All mean one and the same. Again I quote Jesus saying in John 14:15:

    “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. (AMP)

    Worship and obedience are intertwined. To desire Him is to honor Him. To honor Him is to obey Him. Worship is not what you do in church or your prayer times alone, it's also in your everyday decisions. You must live every moment of every day as worship to God.

    If we really desire Jesus, our desire will pass these two tests of desire. Without them, our expressed desire will just be mere words. We will then be like the homeowner who invites his guest to come in but the door is locked.

    PRAY WITH ME:

    Lord, thank you for bringing me into Your court and calling me your very own. Help to let go of my past and every attachment to the familiar. Help me to honor you with every moment of my day through my speech, actions, and attitudes. Amen.

    REFLECT AND ACT:

    • Are there relationships and associations that mean more to you than your relationship with the Lord?
    • In what areas of life: relationships, finances. career... have you not honored and submitted to God as you should? Make a decision today to make adjustments in these areas.


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