Focus: I Am Still A Rose

Text: S. of Sol.2:1,2

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."

In this text, I believe the lady is describing herself, not the man, as the early church fathers would have us believe. The traditional interpretation is that Jesus Christ, the church's groom, is the sweet Rose of Sharon. In fact, it is one of my favorite descriptions of Christ because of this traditional belief. But careful reading of the book of the Song of Solomon will convince you otherwise. The bride is describing herself, and she represents every believer in Jesus Christ. She says, "I am a rose." That is what you are - the flower of the field. You possess sweet fragrance. You smell sweet.

But then, the Groom responds, and says, "As the LILY among THORNS, so is my LOVE among the daughters." Just imagine a situation where you are a rose among thorns and thistles! You are a beauty to behold even amid the thorns of life.

In an ugly environment, you are still beautiful. Surrounded and constantly choked by thorns, you are still a rose. Life has not been fair to you, but you are still a rose. You are in the middle of a big mess, but you are still a rose. People despise and look down on you, but you are still a rose. Everything seems to be going against you and you are constantly being exposed to the harsh realities of life, but you are still a rose.

David was looked down upon by his family, but God still chose him. Jacob laments to his uncle, Laban, "Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight" (Gen.31:42). He says to Laban's sons, "And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me" (Gen.31:7). He continues in his lament to Laban, "Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times" (Gen.31:41). He kept lamenting, "This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes" (Gen.31:38-40). Jacob was cheated, abused, mistreated and maltreated, but he survived it all. God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Today Jacob is a household name, but what has become of Laban?

The lady in our text says, "I am black, but comely." The sun has greatly damaged her skin color, but her beauty is still intact. In essence, she says, 'I am black, but beautiful.' The grace of God beautifies the believer in Christ. Sin has messed us up, but by grace God has un-messed our mess. Sin makes us ugly, but grace makes us beautiful.

The lady in the king's chamber was regarded as the fairest among women and the best of them all. That is what a Christian is - the best species in God's universe! He lives in the world of trouble and tribulation, but by his faith he overcomes.

She says, "The king hath brought me into his chambers." The King of kings and the Lord of lords delights in you. You are His treasure. You are accepted in the beloved. You are dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. You are sitting in Christ in the heavenly realm.

She says again, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." God is treating you to a rich banquet. The table of God has all the supplies you need. In the words of Isaiah, "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined" (Isa.25:6). This is the banquet of grace. John exclaims, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…" (1Jh.3:1). You are loved by God. Embrace His love and enjoy His grace.

Your Groom says, "Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners." And again He says, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman." You are royalty. You are beautiful through grace.

The thorns are still there, and painfully choking you, but you remain a rose, and your scent is sweet.

Listen to your Lord again. He says, "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." Christ will one day present you to Himself as a bride without spot and wrinkles. He will perfect your beauty.

What matters most is how God sees you. God has designed that you blossom as the rose. Tell yourself what God says you are. Tell yourself: 'I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley.' The thorns of life cannot change who and what you are. Sharon means plain, pleasant, straight, fertile. It is taken from a verbal root that means, to be firm or stiff, or to be level. God has planted you where you can blossom and flourish, regardless of the thorns.

After all you have been through, you are still a rose. God won't let you lose your beauty, your glow and your glory. You are the righteousness of God in Christ. In Him you are more than a conqueror.

You are still a rose. Even among thorny people and relationships you are still a rose. It doesn't matter the mockery of men and the afflictions of life, the fact remains that you are God's rose. Your beauty has not departed from you. After all said and done you will shine forth as gold. Regardless of what life hands you, you are still a rose. It won't be long from now, your beauty will appear to many. I am still a rose; God's rose for sure.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter