My Heart Waketh
Today’s Verse:
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh… ~Song of Solomon 5:2a
I used to be someone who was a very sound sleeper. Very rarely could sounds, even loud ones, wake me out of a sound sleep. Many recent nights my eyes are closed, but I know that I am semi- conscious and can awaken suddenly. The Shulamite woman in our passage this morning said, “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh.” The thought this morning that we must ponder is, “Does the voice of our Lord move your heart?”
We see the DISTINCTNESS of His voice.
“It is the voice of my beloved.” Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me,” John 10:27. His voice is one that is authoritative. When He calls, we know we must respond. His voice is one that is amicable. He calls us His friends because He has made known to us what the Father has said. He is friendly, kind, and caring. His voice is one that is appealing. He knows what to say and when to say it. Some people let their words come out before they have taken a moment to think about what they say. The result can be disastrous; however, Jesus always has the right words at the right time. His voice is one-of-a-kind. It is a voice that cannot be disguised or imitated.
We see the DISTRESS in His voice.
He is on the outside knocking and asking to permission to enter in. In Rev. 3:20, Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” What a sad thing that the Lord Jesus is on the outside knocking, and asking to come in. The church at Laodicea had become lukewarm, careless, and indifferent to the things of the Lord. Instead of finding a door that is opened to Him, He finds the doors of our hearts shut and closed. In every marriage, no spouse should be at the place where he or she is asking to be close and intimate. There is to be loving closeness and a desire for our spouse to be near at all times. However, in our passage, the one on the inside is precluding the one on the outside from entering in. Let us be careful that our Lord is not knocking on the outside asking to come in.
We see the DETERMINATION in His voice.
The Shulamite was sleeping, but her heart was awakened. First, our hearts should be ready at all times for the voice of our Lord. The very first call should move us to action. We might be sleeping, but our heart waketh. Be sensitive for the Lord when He speaks. Second, our hearts should be moved quickly at the sound of His voice. Absalom asked Joab to help him get a meeting with King David. He asked once and there was no response. He asked twice and there was no response. The third time, Absalom burned Joab’s barley fields to move him to action. Let your heart be ready to respond to His voice. Third, realize He does not passively call on us. His voice calls with a strong determination for entry and fellowship.
Do you hear the voice of the Lord calling from the outside? Have we become so independently secure that we have lost that closeness we once had? Let your heart awaken at the sound of His voice! When He calls, it is not the voice of a stranger. It is the voice of the darling of heaven: the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Don’t become so sleepy your heart does not awaken at the sound of His voice.
Have an anticipated God Morning!