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I have once again arrived at that book of the Bible that, I'm ashamed to admit, I sometimes dread to read. I know it's an inspired book. I know it speaks powerful messages about how much God loves us, how He sees us, both on a church level and on an individual level as well. I have grown so much in my relationship with the Lord from reading this book. Nonetheless, it is so full of strange imagery that I have no context to understand!
And so it was that as I opened my Bible to Song of Solomon, chapter 1, I realized that I was dreading my Bible reading that morning, and I admit that I gave some thought to skipping it, maybe reading it at a later time... Nonetheless, I could feel God calling me to read it now, and I dutifully lowered my eyes to the page...
To say that the first few verses of chapter 1 inspired me in my relationship with the Lord was an understatement, and the next couple of days I opened the book to pick up where I had left up with great anticipation. It was, however, God's message to me on day 3 that hit me right between the eyes...
"My darling, you are like a mare among the king's stallions." (Song of Solomon 1:9 NCV)
At first I didn't get it. I don't feel like a horse, and if anyone dared compare me to one, I might fight the temptation to be offended. Besides, I don't want the attention of the opposite sex. What could this possibly mean to me?
The bible I'm currently reading is a study Bible, and this is a direct quote from this Bible in regards to Song of Solomon 1:9: "a mare among the king's stallions. This image reflects the practice of disrupting a chariot attack by sending a mare among the stallions to distract them and send te chariots into disarray."
Wait. Aren't we all continually involved in spiritual warfare? Aren't we warned to stay focused and alert ("But you be watchful in all things..." (2 Tim. 4:5a NKJV))? Don't we realize that the devil is continually trying to bind us in his traps ("Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV))?
Visualize this with me: There is an army of chariots bearing down upon you at all times. Each chariot is being pulled by a powerful warhorse, a mighty stallion. Those chariots are the traps the devil wishes to ensnare you with, and the stallions, his powerful demonic forces. But you, you are a mare. When you charge out in the name of Jesus, those powerful demonic "stallions" will scatter!
I encourage you to remember this the next time you feel under spiritual attack. Temptations, circumstances, trials are coming at you from all sides. Visualize these are an army of chariots pulled by mighty stallions. Remember the Truth of God's Word: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8b ESV); “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down..." (Rev. 12:10a ESV -- See also Rev. 12:9). Remember who you are in Christ:
I am God's Child! (See John 1:12, Eph. 1:3-8)
I am complete in Him! (See Col. 2:9-10)
I am free from condemnation! (See Rom. 8:1-2,31-39)
I can do ALL things through Christ! (See Phil. 4:9)
And so, covered as you are by God, you are that mare who will reek havoc among the demonic forces!
I encourage you to visualize those truths the next time you are feeling surrounded. You may be surrounded by these evil forces, but you are, more importantly surrounded by God! And as a result, your very presence throws the demonic forces into disarray!
Oh, and whenever you find yourself dreading to read a certain passage in the Bible, consider that it may be because this is exactly that message that God wishes to speak to your heart! The devil will do anything in his power to discourage us from hearing God's voice, and placing dread on our hearts about reading a certain passage in the Bible is but one of his many tricks...
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Moderator, Associate Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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