Intimacy with GOD by Esher Shoshannah (the unexpected everything txt) 📖

wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favor (Heb. 'peace')."

What a testimony by the bride! The purpose of a wall is to separate and to protect. Here is a key to the contented, spiritual life - separation. When did she begin to have real peace in her life? It started to take place the moment she acted on her desire to be separated unto her Beloved. That's when the Holy Spirit began to reveal the infinitely deep things of the Bridegroom to her (I Cor. 2:9,10). When did this happen? In chapter one she had asked the Beloved, "Let him kiss me...Draw me...Tell me..." .It was there Jesus really opened up His heart to her and oh so much has happened since that moment! The wall began to be built right there and then. It would take time but her Beloved was full of tender mercies and heavenly patience to see His plan and work accomplished in her (Jer. 29:11; Isa. 46:11; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6).

Are you dear one, an object of His affection, a "wall" for Jesus yet? All you need is a sincere heart for it and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. This is made so clear in II Cor. 6:17 which states, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing...". Just be willing to "come out", make the first step, turn off the TV and pick up a spiritual book to read instead of wasting so much of your time on the temporal. Quit frequenting that place which has you in bondage. Take the first step that is all.

The Holy Spirit declares in the next part of that verse He has the responsibility to continue to keep you "separated". ("be separate" is passive voice in the Greek - it means it will be done to you). The Lord is in the "building business". Let Him build you up as a strong wall (Col. 2:7; I Pet. 2:5). You are a spiritual palace (temple of the Holy Spirit). As you surrender each day you will have peace within your walls and prosperity in your spiritual palace. "May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces." (Psa.122:7)

Would I want to do anything that would displease my Beloved? Holiness (sanctification - separation to the Lord Rom. 12:1; 6:13,19; and separation from the things of the world – (Rom. 12:2; I John 2:15-17) is vital in order to have a vibrant and victorious spiritual walk in Christ. Meditate on the following verses (Psa. 29:2; 93:5; Eph. 1:3,4; I Thess. 3:12- 13; Heb. 12:10,14; I Pet. 1:13-16; II Pet. 3:11). Holiness is not something that is worked up, but through a deep love for the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit causes it to flow through us as refreshing living waters. Love will not do anything that would offend the one loved! "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my Words...." (John 14:23).

 

"...like towers..."

As His spiritual bride, your breasts of faith and love (I Thess. 5:8) will become fully developed as if they were "towers". Yes, "towers" where all those around you will see what is most important in your life. "Towers" are to be seen. And what is the Christian life all about? It is faith and love. Remember, the battlements on the wall were like towers in order to discern exactly where the enemy would attack and from which point he could be fought. The Lord Himself is the tower of all towers for battle, "For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." (Psa.61:3)! The enemy is defeated every time through your absolute "tower" of love for Him, His Word, His people, and being firm in the "tower" of your faith by standing on His promises in each attack.

 

"...then was I in His eyes as one that found favor (Heb. 'peace')."

Praise God for the wonderful, all seeing eyes of the Lord that reflect His heart of peace, love and grace. Oh the joy of having His peaceful favor. What a comfort to know His loving, Bridegroom eyes are watching your every move. When faith and love are exercised then He guides you with His eyes (Psa. 32:8) and His eyes become your spiritual eyes each moment of the day. You see with spiritual discernment! You see as He sees! His Word becomes alive in your spirit (Heb. 4:12). O what peace to know He is watching you with His infinite, caring heart. In the following verses find rest and peace dear lovingly watched one: (Heb.7:25; Rom.8:26; Psa. 4:8; 34:15; 36:1; Prov.5:21;15:3)...

 

V.11 "Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver."

This love song begins (1:1) and ends with Solomon's name that means "peaceable". This lover of Jesus begins and ends her day with the Name she dearly loves and desires to glorify. The vineyards of the Lord and the fruit produced in them should always have the characteristic of peace. Heb. 12:11 speaks of the "peaceable fruit of righteousness." The surrendered believer, when faced with a difficulty or attack, begins the process with His peace and ends with His peace. When the Lord dropped the spiritual bomb on the disciples that He was leaving and they wouldn't be allowed to go with Him (John 13:33,36), He began to show them what was needed for facing the heart-wrenching circumstances to come (betrayal and crucifixion). How did Jesus do that? He did it by giving them His peace (John 14:27). When He appeared to them in resurrection, Jesus met with them and the first Words out of His mouth were "peace be with you!" (Jn 20:19,21).

He taught them to begin with His peace and end with His peace. Praise God for His peace (Phil. 4:6,7)! Jesus is our "Solomon". Eph. 2:14 proclaims that, "He (Jesus) is our peace." The heavenly Father refers to the eternal Sonship of Jesus in Heb. 1:5 and is a direct quote from II Sam. 7:14 which speaks of Solomon, David's son! Jesus is the King of Peace. When His Kingdom truly rules in your heart there will be peace (Rom. 14:17). We are to allow His peace to rule our hearts (Col. 3:15).

All true peace comes from Him (II Thess. 3:16). Peace actually comes from His wisdom. Remember, Solomon represents wisdom (I Kin. 4:29-34; Mt. 12:42). Jesus is wisdom itself (Col. 2:3). There are circumstances that would seem to overwhelm you, but by faith, standing on the wisdom of His Word, you experience James 3:17, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure (brings holiness; a separated walk), then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

 

"Baalhamon"

"Baalhamon" means "lord or ruler of a multitude." Thus, from the beginning and throughout your day His peace will surround the activities and challenges Abba Father has planned for you. That is why it is so important to keep the promises of God between you and your activities all the day long. Let it become a filter through which you make all of your decisions! Let Him be the Lord or Ruler over the multitude of things you will have to face! Remember, the very sly "little foxes" will be lurking in the shadows with all of their wicked intents to begin to destroy the fruit of God in you!

Remember, Jesus died that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom. 14:9). If He is not Lord of you, the individual, or Lord of the "multitude" - the body of believers in the local fellowship, then He is not Lord at all and the Holy Spirit’s power to teach, reveal, protect, answer prayer, guide, save, heal and deliver will be greatly hindered. O the shame of division in the congregation and leadership. Strife simmers beneath the surface of the local body of believers because He is not Lord. Their will is more important then His will. They simply will not humble themselves and fulfill Eph. 5:21.

 

"...he let out the vineyard unto keepers..."

The one who possess a deeply committed bride’s heart will have great "keeper" or "caretaker" concerns for all the "little sisters" in His vineyard (the particular members in the body of Christ, His bride). This was illustrated in this bride's life from the very beginning in 1:7-8 and reconfirmed in 7:10-12 and 8:8-10! Do you have this vineyard concern?

Isn't it wonderful that our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves us individually and not just as a corporate body? This is demonstrated in how He makes us "keepers" individually. Each one has a very special and private place in His great heart. Our "Abba Father" gives to us a sphere of responsibility (our own vineyard) to minister to the needs of others. For moms and dads your first and great ministry is to your family. From there, the Holy Spirit might lead you into other ministries: teaching, cleaning, nursing home, rescue mission, evangelism, discipleship or simply supplying encouragement to others, etc. The Lord knows that we will be happiest in serving just as our Bridegroom did while here on earth and is still doing so in Heaven (Mark 10:45; Phil. 2:5,8; Heb. 7:25).

Remember, silver represents redemption (comments 8:9). God expects to receive something from you, His redeemed one, which will bring Him ultimate joy. Jesus redeemed us so the Holy Spirit could produce in us redeemed actions, attitudes, worship and service. As a surrendered redeemed one, you have the privilege in bringing Him the "thousand pieces of silver" so to speak.

How? There will be the "thousand" little pieces of silver resulting from the redeemed fruit of your life. When? It is happening every day in small increments. These pieces of redeemed silver (actions) from your vineyard are being sent into glory every day. Later, when you stand before your Bridegroom at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:9-12; II Cor. 5:10) He will show you all of them. He will experience ultimate joy there as He rewards you for giving to Him the redeemed silver accrued during your lifetime. Keep this verse in mind, "...It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35).

It is joyful to receive but it is more joyful to give. At the Judgment Seat, Jesus our Lord wants to give you rewards. It will bring ultimate joy to Him. Don't rob Him of the joy of giving rewards to you. Just be faithful in whatever you do. He has made it so easy for us to receive rewards. It says so in Col. 3:23,24, " And whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and not for men; Knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ." WHATEVER means WHATEVER! How much easier can He make it? Get dressed in the morning for Jesus, do your homework for Jesus, work at your place of employment for Jesus, and all the little things that come your way during the day. Do them faithfully and He will have the joy of giving you a reward. The thousand pieces of silver, plus gold and precious stones will be made into crowns for you (I Cor. 3:11-14).

There are five different crowns we, His redeemed ones, may receive from our King. It all has to do with being faithful in what He asks of us. All we want to hear from Him will be these Words, "...well done thou good and faithful servant..." (Matt. 25:21). The "thousand pieces of silver" are bound up in the Word "faithful"! What He gives you to do, do it faithfully (Eph. 2:10). The crowns that may be received are for: Self