COMPASSIONATECOMMUNICATIONS
Jack Davis
“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” - Song of Solomon 2:14.
“O MY DOVE.” The speaker is moved with excitement, and exclaims with deep emotion, using both the personal pronoun and a special term of endearment to express the love of His heart.
SECURE POSITION
Thou “art in the clefts of the rock.” In type the Lord speaks to us assuringly of our solid safe secure position “in Him.” Thus expressing the standing into which we are brought by faith unto salvation. We think of a tender scene when God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him there with His hand, as He caused His glory to pass by for Moses view – Exodus 33:21-23.
Jesus is indeed the rock of our salvation. His church will be triumphant, for it is established on Him and His foundation work on the Cross. It certainly is and will continue to be under fierce attack until Jesus’ return. Praise God, Jesus has promised that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it – “ Matthew. 16:18.
God told Abraham, “I am they shield and exceeding great reward” – Genesis 15:1. In Psalm 84 we read, that our God is a sun and a shield, and that He will give grace and glory. Jesus spoke of how doubly secure the believer is, in His God given position, John 10:27-29. Oh, yes, I believe that our life is hid with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3. Don’t you? How could one be safer than in the cleft of the ‘ROCK OF AGES’?
STEADY PROGRESS
“IN THE SECRET PLACES OF THE STAIRS.”
With the solid position of the believer revealed to our hearts, we are prepared to make steady progress. This may be expressed as “growing up into Christ in all things” – Ephesians 4:15. Has not our God provided that our state by brought up to our standing in Him?
Jacob, in his dream saw a ladder extended from earth to heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending on it. He also saw the Lord standing above it – Genesis 28:12-13. What a wonderful symbol and encouraging sight. Considering this scene should give us some special insight to the believer’s place and privilege. Notice what Jesus said in John 1:51. “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God (holy messengers, glorious living creatures) ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
Thank God for the way, the truth, and the life. Oh how marvelous, that He opened Heaven to us. He did it by descending to earth, partaking of a body by birth, and condescending all the way to the death of the Cross, to bring us to God. GLORY!
We will thank Him forever for coming down to such horrifying depths in order to lift us to celestial heights. He has brought many sons unto glory. Let us go on and grow up in Him. Have we now left the dung hill and are today heading for the throne? I Samuel 2:8. If our affections are set on Him, and are focused by faith in Him, we are making steady upward progress. We are indeed in the secret places of the stairs.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” – Psalm 91:1. As we onward and upward go the exact stage of our progress is a secret know only to Him. We may realize that we’ve come a long way with the Lord, but only He knows what steps remain to be taken.
In our text He follows with two major request, the Lord willing, we will consider some thoughts on them in the next issue.
