Though this tale involves three people, it is actually scripture about your relationship with God.
- WILDFLOWER
She's a wildflower, a lily of the valley. She has grown up the younger sister of brothers and has been allowed to roam the fields. She is beautiful and tanned from the sun. She's completely separate from the royal court and city life; born in the country to a modest family of herders. She spends her days tending to her family's sheep, roaming the fields and vineyards, eating apples and raisin cakes and falling in love.
Her life and love is beautiful, innocent and completely natural... but her brothers, misunderstanding that, remove her from the fields and away from the shepherd boy. They place her in a vineyard instead, but then she captures the attention of the wealthy, powerful, prominent king Solomon. King Solomon removes her from her home and brings her into his royal chambers.
This could have been a great honor and privilege; to many others, it would have been. After all, it is a rare opportunity to capture the attention of the wealthiest and most powerful man in the world. To the young woman, it is simply an unwanted obstruction. She has already fallen in love; and though perhaps it seems more modest a love at first glance, it is deeper than any relationship she could have with the king.
In this story, the young woman is a symbol for you and the shepherd she falls in love with is God. King Solomon serves as a symbol for anything, person or idea which obstructs your relationship with God or exists as a temptation within it.
- CATCH US THE FOXES
King Solomon offers the young woman everything the world has to offer. Because of his fascination with her, he gives her his attention, his silver and gold, the protection of his guards. A prominent place in his house, his affection and compliments. But the young woman remembers, from her time in the fields with the sheep, how important it is to catch the foxes. Sly little things creep into good relationships and ruin them. Just as the foxes sought and destroyed the young grapes on her family's land, so too could the materialistic lifestyle of the king ruin her sweet relationship with the shepherd.
You also have to catch the foxes; they must not be permitted to enter your life for then they will enter your relationship with God. If God is the shepherd, literal in life and figurative in this story, you are His lamb, His sheep. Foxes are a threat to you; once they get their grip on you, they prevent you from returning to your shepherd. The foxes in your life and like the foxes in this young woman's life. They are those voices of doubt and temptation. They are the whispers in new places that tempt you from returning home, to God.
Your steadfast relationship with God is strong enough to withstand any fox, as long as you are aware of them and their tactics. You catch them preemptively. It was on the young woman's mind to consider the threat and damage of foxes because she, like you may one day, found herself surrounded by them.
- I SLEEP, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE
The young woman starts to feel a little lost. She has been taken away to the king's court, away from the simple and sweet life she grew accustomed to. King Solomon has laid everything at her feet but none of it satisfies her soul as the shepherd does. She searches for him in her heart and in her dreams, but is is a task because of the many distractions that are now part of her life.
Her struggle aptly describes the struggle you might have in your own life. Though you may want to remain focused on your relationship with God, there are many distractions which work tirelessly to prevent you from doing so. For our own emotions and desires cause us to doubt and neglect our trust in God. Our faith falters as events transpire in our lives seemingly out of time or place and we begin to wrestle for control rather than continue to submit to trust.
The opposite is true as well. Sometimes the world offers up, seemingly on a platter, a lifestyle that is too tempting to refuse. We choose a relationship, a job, a position, a retort or opportunity that God would recommend we deny, simply because it looks good, sounds good, seems good, or superficially feels good. God is the one who nudges us to hike the higher mountain, even though it is more work. God is the one who coaxes us through the river, even though everyone else is taking the bridge.
We sleep, in that we become like the people of secular mindset: because we cannot always figure out His reasoning behind such seemingly outrageous choices, we take the bridge like everyone else... (and then it collapses). My our heart, our soul is awake and constantly seeking God.
Like the young woman, we wander... literally, figuratively, spiritually. We try different mindsets and philosophies, different jobs and hobbies and friends. Meanwhile, our faith sleeps while our hearts are wide awake in search and discontentment.
- WHAT IS YOUR BELOVED?
However, also like the young woman, our focus on our shepherd and loyalty to Him can lead us through that night search. Solomon had many, many wives and mistresses who were enthralled by him. None of them understand why or how the young woman could prefer a shepherd over Solomon.
The world will probably not understand your relationship with God, for they have not experienced it for themselves. They certainly will have trouble understanding the appeal of a humble life of servitude. The world has taught a much different message: pride and power are valued by societies in the world. On large and small scales, world and media teach us to control and impress and acquire. God teaches us to submit, serve and give. Do not be surprised when people wonder what the appeal of that lifestyle is compared to their own.
It is important to have a strong relationship with God in moments like that. We need to be familiar with God, to know who He is and what He is like in order to ever answer that question (for ourselves or others). In order to be familiar with God and to know who He is, we need to spend time with Him. We need to commit to Him and scripture.
The young woman is able to explain her love for the shepherd (for God). She describes him, symbolically, as we would describe God and subsequently explain our love for Him: He is pure and unique; He is strong, beautiful and precious; He exudes health and gentleness; He is provision and order; He is the spice of life; His words are lovely; He is healing and cleansing.
- I HAVE LAID UP FOR YOU
Be a fortress of faith, a garden enclosed. The young women reserves herself for her true love. She sees herself in her shepherd's eyes and she finds peace. Look at yourself in God's eyes, for He is looking at you and He does love what He sees. Peace is in His eyes. He has written of His complete love for you throughout scripture. He is devoted.
The young woman explains that she has laid up for her shepherd. She has waited patiently and faithfully. Every good thing her life has produced she has dedicated to him. The spiritual implication is that we should remain loyal to God; every good thing you have produced was gotten through Him. It would be adulterous (and foolish) to trade Him in for other desires.
Your relationship with God is a love story. It is a true and everlasting love. It is the most unselfish and generous love you will ever have. God will understand you and believe in you and love you more than anyone else ever could. You are a wildflower when you live in faith; you're off the world's grid when you commit to a spiritual life. Your love and laughter and produce of your life is natural and born free in God. God puts the greatest emphasis on love. Not on desire or power or fame. On love. And it is through loving Him and being loved by Him that we discover and keep all manner of love throughout our lives.