Song 1:6 “Do not stare at me because I am swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
Song 8:12 “My very own vineyard is at my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”
Song 8:14 ¶ “Hurry, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle or a young stag
On the mountains of spices.”
I’ve contemplated these verses often over the last couple of years, and their message is one of the most important in all of life In Christ. I know that we are called to serve The Lord and in so doing serve others, but if your own vineyard (heart relationship with Christ) isn’t taken care of, then you will have nothing of value to give away. Verse 12 reveals what we all should be after. To be at a place in The Lord where you can say consistently that your very own vineyard is at your disposal, is to live in the pinnacle of freedom, as a true Overcomer. To have a healthy, fruit bearing vineyard doesn’t just involve cultivating intimacy by relentlessly seeking His face, and Beholding His beauty, but it also means showing no mercy on the Little Foxes that tenaciously attack our hearts. To have your vineyard at your own disposal involves radical surrender and obedience, so that no choices, or lack of choices hold your heart captive at some level; holding you back from a Lovesick lifestyle, but it also means to not allow things like anger, resentment, despair, self pity, etc. to imprison you. We can’t allow the activity of others that wound us, captivate our hearts with things like bitterness and hopelessness. We can’t allow ourselves to be overcome by evil by permitting unholy heart responses. Your vineyard can’t be at your disposal, and therefore can’t be fruitful with The Holy Spirit, if things like fear holds part of your heart in its grip.
How then do we keep our vineyard free and fruitful? Again, first, the Secret Place has to become our favorite place, so that in His presence we are fed by His voice, and are filled with the fullness of joy that His face adorns us with. Secondly, look at verse 14 and learn this simple life changing prayer. Listen to these profoundly power words. HURRY MY BELOVED!!! There it is in all it’s glorious simplicity. In every moment the Little Foxes come, attempting to capture our vineyard with unholy thoughts that give birth to enslaving feelings, we remember that He is our victory. In those hidden battles of the heart that take place in our vineyards, we practice His presence by confidently, and therefore restfully pray, HURRY MY BELOVED. Those simple words spoken in faith, release Him, The Conquerer, to come with impassioned heart and drawn sword. You may have to call on Him a hundred times in a day, as the thief tries to come to kill, steal, and destroy in a particular area, and each time your conquering hero will come. You’ll find that eventually the defeated enemy will stop trying to take that part of your heart. Give it a try. Give Him a try. He works, not it works, because Christianity is person, not a principle.