In last week’s lesson, focusing on Song of Solomon 3:1-4, we discovered the truth that that when we are so encased in problems that we can’t find God, we need to: a) long for Him; b) search for Him; and c) seek the aid of other Christians to help us refocus. And when we do, we will find Him! Today’s lesson in relationship comes from Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3. This is a very lengthy passage, one which I have always had trouble understanding. Until now. Until I realized that this is God’s answer to those who seek Him but cannot find Him! And when God revealed to me what He is really trying to tell me with these words, I knew I had to pass it along. I will be presenting this over the final 3 lessons in this series.
“I was sound asleep, Oh, listen! It’s the sound of my lover knocking, calling! ‘Let me in, dear companion, dearest friend . . . But I’m in my nightgown – do you expect me to get dressed? I’m bathed and in bed – do you want me to get dirty?” (Song 5:2-3 from THE MESSAGE)
Herein lies the first clue to why we sometimes don’t feel like God is there! Because when He calls, we are too busy to hear! Or perhaps we DO hear, but we don’t feel like responding. Not then, anyway! Why not come back later, God, when I’m not so tired? When I’m not doing something else? When I’m not so busy?
Finally, however, we open up the door: “I got up to open the door to my lover, sweetly ready to receive him . . . But when I opened the door he was gone. My loved one had tired of waiting and left.” (Song 5:5a,6, The MESSAGE)
Friends, we have to respond to God in HIS timing, not in ours. We must see our time with God as more precious as any other thing that we do! More precious even than our sleep! More precious than our jobs, our children. We must see it as the most precious thing in our lives! Because if we don’t respond immediately, the moment when we will SENSE His presence may be past! So the first reason why God sometimes feels so far away is that when He tried to reach out to us, we were too involved in our problems to respond! Or maybe we were too busy or too tired. But in any case, we don’t respond when the time is right!
Enough to ponder for one day. And DO ponder it, friend. Ponder the truth that one reason God sometimes feels so far away is that He tried to reach out to us, but we didn’t respond. When God calls, we need to respond in HIS time! If we don’t, the moment may pass us by. But even then, all is not lost! Please join us next Saturday for Lessons in Relationships, Part 25, to find out how to get that moment back!
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.)