“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” SOS 2:2
Merry Monday by Parris Bailey
“The rose as for beauty and fragrance, is the chief of flowers, and our Saviour prefers the clothing of the lily before that of Solomon in all His glory. Christ is the rose of Sharon, where roses probably grew in plenty, denoting that the gospel salvation is a common salvation; it lies open to all; whoever will may come and gather the rose-buds of privileges and comforts that grow in the covenant of grace. He is not a rose locked up in a garden, but all may come and receive benefit by Him and comfort in Him.”(Spurgeon)
What are these lilies among thorns? These lilies represent the pure in heart, with whom Jesus dwells. Spurgeon was right, flowers remind us of being heavenly-minded. Do they not seem to say, ‘set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth’ as they look heavenward. The lily seems so feeble and frail but are so lovely just like us who are dressed by the Master Himself. It is a beauty put upon them by the Lord, for “they toil not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
The beauty of believers consists in their conformity and resemblance to Jesus Christ. They are His love, and so they are as lilies, because His love has been “shed abroad in our hearts”. As a lily compassed with thorns, we find ourselves surrounded by the “world”.The people of this world have no love for Christ, they choke us and try to hinder our fruit.
Spurgeon says “God’s people become as lilies among thorns, scratched and torn, shaded and obscured, by them; they are dear to Christ, and yet exposed to hardships and troubles in the world; they must expect it, for they are planted among thorns (Ezek. ii. 6), but they are nevertheless dear to him; he does not overlook nor undervalue any of his lilies for their being among thorns, When they are among thorns they must still be as lilies, must maintain their innocency and purity, and, though they are among thorns, must not be turned into thorns, must not render railing for railing, and, if they thus preserve their character, they shall be still owned as conformable to Christ.”
Jesus even said, “But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Do you want us then to go and gather them up? But he said, No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:26-30)