S.S. 1:3, “Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.”
Jeremiah 12:5, “If you have run with footmen and they have worn you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the pride (pride of lions) of the Jordan?
Again, the Shulumite is a believer who has chosen to make the priority of their life to experience, and manifest fully their union with Christ. On that journey, there are just some things that we cannot take with us, and when you have the heart of the Shulumite you are prepared to suffer the loss of all things that you might gain the experience of fullness. I love the prayer of the Shulumite in verse 3 the song of Solomon 1 because of the whole heartedness, and sense of urgency that the Shulumite exhibits. “Draw me after you, or Take me away with you, is the desire to go to that place spiritually that Jesus provided for us in his finished work at the cross, which is the place of realized and fully manifested union with him. The sense of urgency is clear in the words, “and let us run.” There is no sense of half heartedness here, reluctance, or passivity, but only the urgency of a palpitating heart that longs to experience and manifest all that Jesus is and has. This is a desire to radically seek, and apprehend that for which we have been apprehended.
Notice how the verse in Jeremiah 12 so speaks into the desire of a true Shulumite. Running with the footman simply speaks of living a safe, calculated Christian life; one that can be measured. I’ve often, sadly find that sincere believers who have a real love for God, are willing to settle for a measured life, because the unbridled desire for fullness is just too costly. Often, Christian leaders have had bad experiences in the past and therefore have allowed fear to wear them out, and their fears have convinced them that is better to play it safe, and not take too many risks. The challenge of Jeremiah 12:5 is that if in seeking Jesus at a moderate pace has worn you out, how will you be able to compete with the horses. The word compete here can also be translated “burn,” and the idea is that if living a moderately extravagant life in Christ is too exhausting emotionally for you, how will you burn, seeking Jesus, and risking all at an accelerated pace. I did not sign up to play it safe. I signed up to experience it all, and if in going for it I should fall on my face, then I will get up and go forward even harder, but with better clarity. It is only those who have given themselves over to childlike daring and extravagance, that will survive in the warfare when the “pride” attacks. Those who want to just lie down in the land of peace, will not be prepared for the radical faith, and extravagant letting go that will be necessary in the extreme battles. As an aging believer, I am not competing against other leaders, or against numbers, or size of ministry; I am competing against time. That is my race. I do not want to stand before him one day, and hear him say to me, “Chuck there was so much more for you to experience, but you were afraid, or too worn-out to go for it. You were willing to settle for peace.” That’s the thing I fear, and I want to spend what time I have left on this side of seeing Him face-to-face burning with the horses, and striking blows against the enemy. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any time to waste at the altar of self protection.