As the love saga in the Book of Solomon plays out we find that the couple are madly in love, the common thread that weaves the story is her proclamation that “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me” now that is pretty close, the left hand being the tenderness and gentleness and the right hand in reference to the protection and justice of God, she is completely covered.

As we know she get to comfy and refuses to answer his call and once she does decide to drag herself out of bed, he’s gone.

Now the embrace that was becomes the embrace that should be, she is no longer in his arms, she is no longer under his protection.

Desperate to get him back, she frantically runs through the city, and as compared to our backslidden states and the rude awakening of the lukewarm, sleeping church, in the frenzied hunt she is wounded, she is hurt, and her dignity is taken away but she doesn’t give up.

As lovers often do, she begs her friends to please relay a message if they were to run into him and she is met with the question that we as believers are often met with.

Song of Solomon 4:7-9: “The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote (struck) me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took my veil from me.

I charge (beg) you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, THAT YE TELL HIM, that I AM SICK OF LOVE (lovesick).
Her friends reply: “ WHAT IS THY BELOVED MORE THAN ANOTHER BELOVED?…

What was it about him again? What was it that made her proclaim “Draw me, we will run after thee”…
Our main thought from part two, so what does that mean?

Well we need a reason, something that we desire that propels us to “press toward the mark.”

So how does he draw us, what is it about him that makes us follow?

Hosea 11:5: I DREW THEM WITH CORDS of a man (gentle cords), WITH BANDS OF LOVE; I was to them as they  that take off the yoke on their jaws (heavy burdens off their neck), and I laid meat unto them (STOOPED AND FED THEM).“

His Mercy, His Grace, but as He himself stated, His gentleness, coming down to care for us.

Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
His mercy meeting us in our sin stricken state and the truth of his love and forgiveness washing us white as snow, right standing and peace of God, peace in God, and the peace of God forming a beautiful union.

Psalm 18:35:“Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden (held) me up, AND THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE ME GREAT (victorious).”

Matthew 11:29: “Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of  (from) me; for I AM meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble) ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

So when did she find him? We’ll get his answer:

Jeremiah 29:13:“And  ye shall SEEK ME, and FIND ME,WHEN YE SHALL SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

I  so totally wanted to end that with an exclamation point but…. I don’t want in trouble!

But as we wrap this up please hold onto that thought, remember that love, that drew you to him and rekindle that flame, remember who HE IS.

He draws us with his gentleness and that love. 
Next time we’ll see why that love, that mercy, and above all that gentleness that forgives, that saves, and heals also turns to the other side of that double-edged sword.
It will bring justice, judgment, and unimaginable horror beyond human comprehension to this earth.
Without the understanding of that love and being embraced in that love and without the acceptance of his will and our place in the midst of it all, we will lose that love and that love and that love alone is all that can keep us through these days.
Φλογιζω/ NBJ/ All rights reserved 2015 REVISTED 2021/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson