Teachings – The King’s Garden

THE KING’S GARDEN

UNFOLDING TWENTY-THREE

WHERE WE ARE 

This is the second of two discourses which are based on the Song of Songs 4:16. Previously, we considered the coming of the Spirit, and our Lord Himself, to the garden. This verse is so very, very rich in meaning and application. Wow.

SCRIPTURE

Song of Songs 4: 16

“Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.”

Isaiah 65: 24

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Song of Songs 5: 1

“I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.”

THE KING’S GARDEN
UNFOLDING TWENTY-THREE

A Christian’s communion with Christ is of the utmost. While our work in the garden is important, it comes secondarily. Thus, Pastor’s assertion is consistent with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Answer to Q.1: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Consider Martha and Mary in the New Testament. Let us seek to be both: worshipping and serving simultaneously for – 

“… we shall not then become cumbered with much serving; we shall serve and not be cumbered…”

Moreover, Pastor asks if the Master could come without our perceiving it? Is it not possible?

“Is it possible for us to be like Magdalen, seeking Christ while He is standing very near us?”

Christ came in answer to prayer. Please read Song of Songs 5:1 in response to 4:16. Pastor maintains the chapter division took away from our understanding. The Bride prayed (4:16) and Christ answered, verse 5:1. 

Christ’s visit… nearness to us… brings the north and south wind. 

“His visit brings both north and south wind; all benign influences are sure to follow where He leads the way; spices always flow out from the heart where Christ’s sweet love flows in, and where He is, Christians have all things in Him.”

Moreover, we should know:

“Where Jesus Christ is not in the garden, the plants wither, and like untimely figs, the fruits fall from the trees. Blossoms come not, or if they appear, they do but disappoint when Jesus is not there to knit and fructify them; but when He comes, even the driest boughs in the garden become like Aaron’s rod that budded.”

‘I am come,’ such is the personal presence of Jesus. 

‘I am come into My garden,’ note here Jesus’ personal possession of His own.

Finally, Jesus cultivates His garden. It did not spring up by chance.

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

How often do we know, or think about our Lord’s presence being so near? Oh, we say it, but do we know? Sadly, we so spiritualize Christ’s presence, we forget that He is a real person, as is His Holy Spirit!  Yes, as Spurgeon reminded me of Magdalen, Christ was there and she did not recognize him. Why? What prevents us from recognizing our Lord? 

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RYHMES

In his discourse, Pastor ended with the following poem:

We are a garden walled around,
Chosen and made peculiar ground.