Today, I want to share a lesson I discovered from the Song of Solomon (also known as the Song of Songs). Many scholars have deduced that this book of the Bible is merely for lovers. So often, this book is written off as a poetic expression that only pertains to marriage. But what if I told you that this book holds the key to why many of God's children struggle to receive their blessings?

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For this lesson, we'll be reading from Song of Songs 5, the NLT version.

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Part 1:

Starting at Song of Songs 5:1, we see the consummation of marriage between a young man and a young woman.

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"[Young Man] I have entered my garden, my treasure, my bride! I gather myrrh with my spices and eat honeycomb with my honey. I drink wine with my milk.[Young Women of Jerusalem ] Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink! Yes, drink deeply of your love!" - Song of Songs 5:1

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At its core, the word "consummation" means "the completion of a thing."

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We ourselves are made complete the moment we choose to receive the gift of faith we've been given in Jesus Christ.

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It's when we refuse this gift of faith in Jesus Christ that we are left incomplete.

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"And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment." - John 3:36

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This is the stage where many of God's children currently reside. Void of the Holy Spirit to lead you, your life is muddled with weed, alcohol, sneaky links and situationships, poverty, and confusion.

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And still, rather than receiving the gift God desires for you to have, you turn to sorcery and witchcraft. The Lord says, "Many of my children are placing their trust in fortune tellers and tarot cards." "These things are not of me," says the Lord.

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"Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God." - Leviticus 19:13

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"So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD's command, and he even consulted a medium" - 1 Chronicles 10:13

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If you can identify with these behaviors, the Lord is urging you to give up these ideas and practices that you have set up for yourself. Proverbs 3:5 tells us clearly, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding."

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This serves as a message to both new believers and seasoned believers alike, because we all live in this world that constantly works to pull us away from Jesus Christ.

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The gift of faith is yours. Receive it. And let no one take it away.

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Part 2:

Moving on to Song of Songs 5:2, the young woman has fallen asleep, but is awakened when she hears her lover knocking at the door:

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"I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling: "Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." - Song of Songs 5:2

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But how does she know it's her lover?

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Never in the text does she ask "Who is it?". Nor does she go check through any peephole.

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However, we know it's her lover at the door (and not a stranger or a fraud) because he's speaking to the woman's true identity. He calls out saying, "Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one-".

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Similarly, we can discern in our own lives the voice of God versus the enemy's deception. Godly relationships versus counterfeits. Opportunities that align with your purpose versus distractions designed to lead you astray.

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To put it simply, when anything or anyone presents itself in your life, you should first make sure that it aligns with God's truth and will for your life.

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If that man or woman seems to possess all the qualities you want in a partner, but they lack the spirit of God, then they are a counterfeit.

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If that job opportunity does not offer a livable wage, then do not settle. It's not your portion. The Lord says, "Dream bigger. Aim higher"

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This is why it's so crucial for you to hunger for the word and study your Bible daily - because through the word, God will reveal to you His character, strategy, and wisdom that helps you make informed decisions.

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Seeking God for actual confirmation, rather than acting off of impulse or what the world says, can save you from unnecessary delays in your process.

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Part 3:

In verse 5:3, something interesting happens.

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The woman responds to her lover's knocking. She says, "- I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?"

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What we see here is that instead of opening the door, the woman begins making excuses as to why she cannot.

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The woman:

1. is too comfortable (won't get out of bed)
2. lacks humility (doesn't want to dirty her feet)
3. does not want to go through another process (doesn't want to get dressed again)

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These three heart postures are detrimental because:

1. When you avoid discomfort, you also forfeit the reward attached to it. For example, if you refuse to work out and eat better, you can't obtain a healthier body.
2. God instructs us to be humble in heart. He even tells us:
   1. "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." - James 4:7-10
3. Forward movement requires the willingness to get back up and try again. Think of Moses. God sent him to talk to Pharaoh nine different times. Had Moses refused to try again, the Israelites wouldn't have gained their freedom, and their Pharaoh (oppressor) would have never been drowned.

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Part 4:

Suddenly, in verses 5:4-5, the woman jumps up to open the door.

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Why now? What changed?

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It's because in 5:4, she physically sees with her own two eyes her lover's hand through a hole in the door.

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"My lover tried to unlatch the door, and my heart thrilled within me. I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh as I pulled back the bolt." - Song of Songs 5:4-5

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She waited until she saw a sign to take action. The text reveals that the sight of her lover trying to unlatch the door evoked a feeling of excitement in her, and only at that moment did she act.

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And God wants to make clear that too many of His children are operated by their emotions, when instead He has called you to walk boldly in your faith.

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Yes, I may feel weak at times... so God, let me use your strength instead of my own. (Refer to 2 Corinthians 12:9)

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Maybe I feel a little sad, but Lord, you are close to the brokenhearted. (Refer to Psalms 34:8)

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Lord, I may not always feel like doing what you ask me to do, but I know you've given me everything I need for the journey, and on the other side of that door will be my blessing.

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Part 5:

In verses 5:6-7, we're almost done. The woman opens the door. But to no avail, her lover is no longer there.

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Then, out of nowhere, a group of watchmen find the woman, and they beat her, bruise her, and strip off her [bridal] veil.

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Now, this is not any random group of watchmen. This is the same group of watchmen we find back in Song of Songs 3:3, who helped the woman find her lover when she was looking for him the first time.

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This caused me to pause and ask God, "Why would the same group of watchmen who helped the woman the first time beat her up now?". And the interesting aspect He brought to my attention is that these watchmen quite accurately symbolize the difference between conviction and condemnation.

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You see, conviction is like the group of watchmen in verse 3:3. When you are lost, or perhaps when you make a mistake, conviction helps lovingly redirect you, putting you back on the right path to what is truly yours. Conviction is from God.

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But condemnation is like the watchmen in verse 5:7. It beats you, attacking your faith and self-worth. It tries to bruise you, so when you look in the mirror, you recall your mistakes and start to accept the misbeliefs that "maybe I'm not good enough." It strips the veil from you, your true identity in Christ (modesty, purity, protected), to make you think you're the person you used to be. Condemnation is from the devil. And the devil is a liar.

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Part 6:

I love the way this chapter ends. The young woman's response models the behavior we should adopt as followers of Christ, and it is this...

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The woman immediately continues on her journey to reach her lover.

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There is no pause where she wallows in condemnation. One could even say she's unfazed by the attack from the watchmen.

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Instead, in all of verses 5:10-16, the chapter closes with her speaking aloud, describing her lover and why he's so special.

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That's the call to action for you now.

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It's time for you to open your mouth and declare those things that are rightfully yours.

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We are heirs to Christ. For that reason, the enemy likes to deter us by making us forget whose we are and what belongs to us.

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You must use the dominion and authority God has offered you to talk back to those demons and say, "I know who I truly am!".

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Even if it requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, it's time to give God your "Yes".

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It's time for you to decide how bad you truly want the blessing.

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Because God already gave it to you. You just have to open the door.

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With Gratitude,