MERRY MONDAY BY PARRIS-”
“Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.” Song of Solomon 6:13
The Song of Solomon’s always anchor’s me back to the love of the Father. It is a guiding light through this world’s haze. Ps.1 in the Message Bible says, we are blessed because we don’t hang out in Sin Saloon, don’t slink down Dead-End Road, or go to Smart Mouth College! He grabbed us out of those hell holes! The Shulamite is the bride of Christ and she has a name full of meaning. Salome or Solyma has been called the fairest of all women by the King, who has put his name upon her. Spurgeon says, she is “peace-crowned, peace-laden” because she is espoused to Christ. Yes, I feel better already!
The daughters of Jerusalem begged her to return to them. While their motive is unclear we know that the Bride returns so they can see her beauty but only the beauty that Christ adorned her with. He crowns us and causes our light to shine in a world of hopelessness. She answers back to the daughters and says, “What will you see in me but the dance of the two armies? Because the more we walk with Christ, the more we understand the two natures. Christ bids us to return to “our city, our friends” and not be afraid of them seeing our shortcomings. Augustine said, “I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.” God has put his nature within us to testify to the world our redemption story. Return oh Shulamite and tell it! There is a ‘Parris’ out there waiting to hear my story, lost as she was and needs me to return. Today in church service, a girl came up to me and said, Thank you for being obedient-“I would have been dead if Christ hadn’t found me.”
Again the Message Bible states: “even though on the outside it looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.There is far more here than meets the eye”. 2 Cor. 4:16-17