14 day plan

It Matters That You're Here

Day 4 of 14

NIV

Song of Songs 2:4

4Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.

Reflection: The Unresolved

“To Philemon et al: God’s rich grace and peace, you precious friends. I have such joy in remembering you and what we share in Christ. Your maturity and the overflow of your love in Christ makes my heart sing. Well, it’s on the basis of that love, that I now write and return your slave (and my bosom buddy), Onesimus. I’d so love to keep him as a friend, but of course he’s legally yours to reclaim…or may I suggest, even free. In any case you two need to be reconciled. And I’m confident that we can all work this out, both in technicalities and, more importantly, in love. …In remembrance of Christ’s grace, Paul. P.S. Get the guest room ready. Hope to see you soon.” (Author’s paraphrase of Philemon)

Set against yesterday’s anonymous slaves is today’s onymous (named) runaway slave, Onesimus. Whatever his faults, he’s been transformed since running into the imprisoned apostle Paul. Onesimus has been reconciled to the Master of the universe through faith in Jesus Christ. He’s found friendship and forgiveness in his new community.

But Onesimus hasn’t yet been reconciled to his earthly master. He doesn’t yet know the peace of forgiveness and restitution back home.

What a kindness of Christ to nest this little unresolved story in the canon of Scripture. Because who hasn’t experienced the heartache when followers of Christ choose not to serve up grace.

Admittedly, the letter of Roman Law meant master need not reconcile with slave. It was Philemon’s right to even punish Onesimus. But the Law given through Jesus Christ, that’s where transformation really happens. That’s where grace-abundant-experienced, is served up as grace-abundant-given. And Paul’s appeal in this little letter, is that everyone sit at the banquet of grace that unites us in Christ.

Prayer:

Before I banquet with you; before I ‘eat and remember’, Christ, shine a light in the corners of my past where I may have harboured resentment and unforgiveness. [pause] Spirit, convict and guide me to active reconciliation. Convict your people throughout the world to seek restitution-in-love. As fellow followers of Jesus daily feasting on you, may your banner over us and our sumptuous table, be love.

Song of Songs 2:1-17

She

1I am a rose of Sharon,

a lily of the valleys.

He

2Like a lily among thorns

is my darling among the young women.

She

3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my beloved among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.

5Strengthen me with raisins,

refresh me with apples,

for I am faint with love.

6His left arm is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me.

7Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and by the does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until it so desires.

8Listen! My beloved!

Look! Here he comes,

leaping across the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look! There he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattice.

10My beloved spoke and said to me,

“Arise, my darling,

my beautiful one, come with me.

11See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

12Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.

13The fig tree forms its early fruit;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

my beautiful one, come with me.”

He

14My dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the hiding places on the mountainside,

show me your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet,

and your face is lovely.

15Catch for us the foxes,

the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards,

our vineyards that are in bloom.

She

16My beloved is mine and I am his;

he browses among the lilies.

17Until the day breaks

and the shadows flee,

turn, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or like a young stag

on the rugged hills.