Dark Yet Lovely
Dark yet lovely. A recognition of the sinful nature and the prophetic insight into our hearts as lovely.
In SS 1:5-7 we see that in our desperation for more of the Lord we have our eyes opened to our own sins and shortfalls. Even though we are dark, the desperate cry of our broken and contrite spirit makes us beautiful before the Lord.
In the New Testament we see that in Christ we are a new creation (2 Cor. 5: 17-21). Through Christ’s sacrifice we were reconciled to Him, our sins discounted, and the responsibility to share the testimony of our salvation. In this He is made glorious, above all else. It is because of our salvation, that we are made lovely. The vineyard in our hearts restored to be like the One who saved it. We have confidence because of Jesus’ righteousness. Sinful people are made lovely in God’s sight because of what Jesus did, not because of what we do.
Our lives have different twists and turns that drive us deeper into sin or deeper into His vineyard. What we do day in and day out tends the vineyard of our hearts. Sin will cause rocky soil and weeds to come up. Like a barren land quenched with thirst our hearts long after Jesus as the only source of restoration. When our heart’s vineyard has become desolate, the broken and contrite cry to the Lord to restore to us what was once His is not only our salvation but His joy. How He longs for our desperate cry. Our hunger. We have kept sin in our vineyard. We have kept other’s vineyards under the guise of religion or “busyness” and neglected our own. In our desperation we cry out like in SS 1:7,
“Tell me whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself besides the flock of your companions?”
In Psalm 23 we see that the Lord as our shepherd will lead us beside still waters. He restores our souls. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His namesake. We are crying out for the Lord to restore our vineyards. To restore and rescue our hearts. Yet we seek answers in other places. Even while well intentioned, we seek affirmations from others. In Matthew 15:13 it says:
“He answered, ‘Every plant that my Heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.’”
The Lord will uproot what He hasn’t planted. Crying out to Him will ensure that what is put in is from the Lord and not from man. We are constantly seeking reassurance. Reciting mantras to ourselves in the mirror, desperate for an affirmation that “we matter”. Looking towards others for faith in ourselves and looking for other to even carry our faith in Jesus. This leads to a more barren soil in the vineyard of our heart.
The Lord will reveal His tender heart towards us. He sees our brokenness and reaffirms our sincerity. We are dark, full of sin and overwhelmed with ourselves. Yet, when our cries of desperation are towards the Lord. He. Hears. Us. He calls us to Him. We think that because of our weakness, we are second-class. Unworthy to look up and accept the mercy that He has for us. We have sincerely repented of our sin yet lack confidence that we are beautiful. When the light of Jesus hits the darkness of our hearts, we encounter our weakness. We are constantly in the process of awakening to Love. Awakening our hearts to the truth that our loveliness to Him is not based on our success or failure but on His own definition. From here the vineyard in our hearts begin to flourish.
“That we, being Rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [Eph. 3:17-19]
Our hearts are the branches of the One True Vineyard and Vinedresser. We cry out to Him in desperation, His call to us is to abide.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” [John 15: 4-5]
What Jesus says to His disciples in John is the answer to the cry in Song of Solomon. Where do you feed your flock? In me. Run to me. Run to me when you’re full of joy. Run to me when you’re in pain, devastated, and desolate. Abide in the One who abides in His father’s everlasting love and then never stop. Never stop accepting the truth that even though I have sin (past, present, or future) through His righteousness, I can abide in Him and approach the throne of Grace with confidence.
