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Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Why has God Given?


In the book of Genesis we find a garden -
a garden of perfect provision 
and perfect beauty,
a garden which was lost when Adam chose sin.

In the book of Revelation we find a tree whose fruit is complete, 
and whose leaves are for healing of the nations.

In the book of Song of Solomon we find yet another garden -
     not of earthly substance like Eden,
          nor yet of heavenly fulfillment,
               but a garden of the Beloved,
                    the garden planted in the hearts of God's own.

The description is very complete: 
     the garden is almost like a renewal of Eden.
          There is an abundance of fruit,
               there are "all trees'"
                    there are "all chief spices."

There is an abundance of waters... constant and limitless.
     It is "a fountain of gardens,
          a well of living waters,
               and streams from Lebanon.

But all that was within the garden was enclosed;
     no one ate of the fruits,
          and not even the fragrance flowed out.

The bride realizes the garden has a greater purpose than mere existence,
     and cries out to the winds
          to blow upon the garden, 
               to shake the branches,
                    to flow among the leaves,
                         and to release abroad the fragrance.
She invites her beloved to come to the garden, 
and to eat of its fruit ...
     "pleasant fruit" giving satisfaction to the eater.

Chapter five starts, "I am come to My garden."
     She has given the garden to Him, the Beloved,
          given in such measure that the garden is no longer her own possession,
               it now belongs to the one to Whom she gave it.
                    He accepts the gift and calls it "My garden."

Now the Bride and the Bridegroom are one -
     what pertains to one pertains to both
          as she loses her will and self in Him.

The garden fulfills its purpose now in fruit and fragrance to the Creator of the garden - the Lover of the bride. 


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