"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." ~ Deuteronomy14:2

Monday, October 1, 2012

Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: October 1

 “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” ~ Song of Solomon 8:5a

Here is a hidden cause for rejoicing among those of us who know about the “wilderness”. Cause for rejoicing for those of us who have not forgotten the terror of the black “wilderness” night. For those who still shudder wide awake from a dream set to an old rhythm. A rhythm heard only in the “wilderness” night.

Here is a “green stone” verse deep with reason for praise to the One who Himself lived through forth “wilderness” nights blacker with torment of soul and body and mind than any we could ever know. Reason to rejoice here in the One whose desire to “lead us out” finally formed itself into a Cross, so that we would be given a weapon to “withstand the evil one.”

Christ’s temptations in the wilderness were not checked by God. “Himself He could not save.” All the demons of Hell were loosed upon Jesus during those forty black nights. But we can rejoice. Somehow because they were loosed on Him, we can know in our “wilderness times” that “God … will not suffer [us] to be tempted above that [we] are able to endure.” Temptations were not curbed for Jesus, so they could be curbed for us!

Reason in this “green stone” to rejoice in the One who also walked willingly into the “wilderness” of Gethsemane and Calvary so that we could be led up from the “wildernesses” of our blackest hours. We can all be driven to the wilderness to be tempted, but if we are His, as completely as He is ours, we will be willing to let Him lead us out again.

The wonder is not that He is able to lead anyone out of any “wilderness.” The wonder is that He longs to do it! And for us.

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? … Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”

No comments: