“Awake, O north wind, and come O south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out.” Song of Solomon 4:16
Dear Ones:
The effect and power of the wind is extraordinary. We have only to go to the ocean’s shore to see how wind can cause massive waves to come crashing forward, in some instances, destroying all in their path. Why is wind a necessary consideration for the Christian? It is because of a promise, and the effects and realization of that promise in the life.
When Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon, it is certain that he did not realize the ramifications of some of the truths which were yet to be declared in the Scriptures, specifically in the New Testament. With regard to “speaking to the wind,” we refer to the call of God to the Christian, to trust Him to send the wind to blow on a garden, the Lord’s garden. The beauty and truth of Christ’s life is in that garden, the believer’s life. The problem is that the garden is “…enclosed” or locked and barred. The Christian has been placed in Christ, and is thus complete in Him. The riches of Christ’s blessed Life in the heart, is revealed to us by Peter’s words: “…His divine power has given to us ALL things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) But we need to ask how this is to be realized? Sometimes our lives are exactly as we see in the picture of this enclosed, locked garden. Though the believer is “…blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ…”, he or she may know little of the out-flowing of the fragrance of Christ’s life, much less, the power of His resurrection. What is the solution? It is found in the following words of Peter: “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through THESE you may be partakers of the divine nature.” (1 Peter 1:4)
Before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven after the crucifixion, and resurrection, he told his disciples: “…to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the PROMISE of the Father.” (Acts 1:4) The promise of the Spirit’s coming, revealed the larger ministry of the Spirit, not only to be WITH the disciples, but to be IN them. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, would proclaim that this outpouring of the Spirit was the realization of the promise written in the book of Joel: “And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.” What is the principle here by which spiritual reality becomes manifest in the life? It is that of believing God fully, according to the promise, waiting upon Him alone to fulfill it. In essence, it means that the believer comes to see that the Spirit of God is the wind, and that the wind has been promised. The believer is to pray, and believe God for the wind of the Spirit to blow powerfully, and wonderfully, upon the life.
Isaiah wrote the following: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.” (44:3) Here is a promise, not only to a nation, but to the individual heart who has come to grips with his or her spiritual need of of God. With the knowledge that God has promised to respond, and “pour out” the Spirit upon the thirsty heart, upon the dry ground, comes also the grace of God to believe Him for it.
Dear Father, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that the Spirit of God was like the wind, which we cannot see, but yet know the effects of its moving. Move upon us wonderfully today by Thy Spirit, that the fragrance of the life of Christ will be known to the one, or many, who are seeking Thee. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad