A Sweet Fragrance

 "Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits" 

Song of Solomon 4:16
(NLT)

I am having spring fever! "For lo, the winter is past---the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." (S/S 2:11-12 ) At least in my mind and my heart. Yes, I know- "Three snows after the forsythia blooms"- the old saying- and then comes spring. But in my heart, the forsythia is blooming now, and as for me we don't need anymore snow or cold. 

I was reading this verse in Spurgeon's Devotional this morning- and it really set me thinking. The book of the Song of Solomon is a love story of the Church and Christ as depicted by a Shulamite woman betrothed to the Shepherd-King. I love the analogy of Christ's love for His beloved- the Church- and for me as a believer. In this verse- she is speaking to the north and south wind to blow over her garden in order to spread the fragrance of the flowers all around her. Biblically speaking, "The north wind in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol, representing both the harshness of judgment and the refreshing power of divine intervention."(1). The south wind in the Bible represents warm, favorable conditions. By mentioning both, the bride to be is requesting that both take place in order to produce a beautiful and fragrant garden in that would be pleasing to  her future bride-groom.

Putting this into perspective: it takes both the harsh, wintry conditions AND the warm and favorable conditions in our lives in order for us to bring forth fruit in our lives. There are many flowering, fragrant plants that bloom only in dark conditions. It takes the darkness for them to emit their sweet smell. Also, several plants only bloom on high mountains, far away from view but noticed and enjoyed only by the brave souls that would climb to such heights- but definitely noticed by their Creator.

Our Christian lives are like those plants.  2 Corinthians 2:15  states "Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God." We all emit some fragrance in our lives. Whether it is a pleasing fragrance or a bitter smell depends on how we live our lives. If we are harsh and unloving, critical, rude and argumentative all the time- we emit a foul odor to those around us- and more importantly to Christ. When we walk in the fruit- or I like to say- in the "graces" of the Holy Spirit we put forth a pleasant fragrance. This is so pleasing to our beloved Bridegroom- Jesus Christ.

Some flowers or leaves must be crushed in order to emit their fragrance. How do we handle those times of crushing or bruising at the hands of others- or just tests and trials that come our way? How do we react when someone slights us, criticizes us; when we are sick or just going through difficult times in our lives? What about when we feel alone and in the darkness? Do we still allow those graces of God work through us so that we will be a sweet fragrance to Christ and others around us? Or do we just let the bitterness and anger fester till we take it out on everyone around us? What do we pour out when we are being pressured by life?

The north and the south wind together will bring about those changes in our lives that are necessary to live a holy, productive life in Christ. It takes both the harshness of winter, the darkness of night, and it also takes those warm, favorable and pleasant breezes of spring and summer- to make us into those plants that emit those sweet smelling fragrances to be enjoyed by others, but especially Christ.

Join me in praying that with God's help, we will repent and destroy any present bitterness and will not allow any future bitterness, envy or any destructive thing to fester in our  spirits and that as He sends both those north and south winds- that they will produce a beautiful flowering plant that puts out the most sweet and fragrant essence to those around us and to Christ.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 ~Donna 

 

(1) (https://biblehub.com/topical/ttt/t/the_wind--north.htm)