We’ve now seen that in OUR part of the relationship with God, we’re to desire Him as much as He desires us, and we’re to see Him as our closest friend. Now let’s take a look at Song of Solomon 1:4 to find out yet another of our responsibilities in the relationship: desiring PRIVATE time with God!
“Take me away with you! Let’s run off together! An elopement with my King-Lover! We’ll celebrate, we’ll sing, we’ll make great music. Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine. Everyone loves you – of course! And why not?” (Song 1:4) (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
So often we, as Christians, think that by going to church, Bible study, Cell groups, prison ministries, church social functions, etc. we are spending time with God. And we are, on one important level. How often, though, in these group worship settings, are we specifically focusing on our relationship with God? I mean, so often in the praise and worship service at church, I, personally, find myself looking around, wondering if the person with problems from last week’s Bible study is here, wondering why the child in the row in front of me is crying and no one is taking care of him, or wondering if there’s anyone new in church today. My personal time with God is completely lost!
Today’s verse takes us a bit farther than these kinds of corporate worship: “Take me away with you! Let’s run off together! An elopement with my King-Lover!”
The kind of relationship God desires above all else to have with you is a personal one, one that exists just between Him and you. He craves the time ALONE with you. He isn’t specific about where. It can be in the car, it can be in the early hours of the morning on your couch, it can be by a quiet stream. It can even be in a crowd of people! Wherever you are, however, and whoever you’re with, God craves time when He has ALL of your attention. And once you have experienced this kind of time with Him, you will crave it, too!
But what do you do when you are alone with your God and King? Song of Solomon tells you this, too: “We’ll celebrate, we’ll sing, we’ll make great music. Yes!”
Think about it. What do you do when you find yourself alone with a close friend? You enjoy each other’s company. You talk and laugh, you share your intimate thoughts and dreams. That’s the kind of sharing God longs to have with you. He wants you to share your intimate thoughts and dreams with Him, and He wants to share His intimate thoughts and dreams with you. And believe me, there isn’t much more exciting than having the God of the universe share His mind with you!
Lord, help us to long for that time apart with You! Help us to experience what it is to really celebrate with You, to share with You, to laugh and talk, to just enjoy being in Your presence!
Enough to ponder for today. Please DO ponder this though, my friends. Ponder how must God desires private time with you!
Please join us next Saturday for Lessons on Relationships From Solomon, Lesson 17 where we will look at the truth that in order to be with God, we must cry out to Him!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .
(To access the entire “Lessons on Relationship From Solomon” mini-series, please click here.)