God’s Greatest Poem

God’s Greatest Poem

Please read this whole post so you don't misunderstand where I am going with this devotional.

God gives each of us (mankind) one or more talents; talents we can squander on ourselves, for the world, or use for God's glory. If we come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual gifts to be used to build up and strengthen our fellow believers.

One talent I have had since I was a child was the ability to play with words and make a poem out of them. Granted, I do not consider most of the poetry written before I came to the Lord to be worth much in the eyes of eternity, nor when compared to the poems I have written since I have gotten saved. Now I use my spiritual gifts (exhortation and teaching) to make my natural talent better and to make a difference in the lives of those around me, especially to edify my brethren and remind them of the promises of God.

Truly, my talent and gifts in this area would be nowhere near as good (if that is an appropriate word to use) without the input of my Christian friends throughout the years. Friends such as my webpartner, Angela Trenholm, who has helped me make so many poems better - including helping me rewrite It's Only After and Just As I Was. My sister, Lori, whom I can tell when she doesn't like the wording of a line here and there. But it is such a pleasure to see when something I write touches her heart and draws her closer to the Lord. There are also the many friends from my Bible study group and my church who have helped iron out parts of my poems here and there.

All that being said, I'm a poet. I love expressing the truth of the Word of God through poems and songs because they affect people emotionally in a way that dry facts or doctrine itself does not - though I seek God's wisdom in each poem to make sure that every idea and phrase I use is according to the Word of God (specifically the King James Bible), because only people and the Word of God last forever. If I want God to bless my poems, it must not be some nice sounding religious idea, but a poem firmly based on the Bible.

As a poet, I am not finished with a poem completely until I get it exactly the way I want it, until it sounds pleasant to me, until I get the Scriptural ideas and promises across in a way that is clear to those I share each poem with. I want an end result that is the best I can make it - and yes, that includes taking into consideration the input of others. I want a finished poem that I can be satisfied thoroughly with and that glorifies the Lord God.

Did you know God is writing a poem too?

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The word for "workmanship" is the Greek word poiema, where we get our English word poem from. According to this verse, you are God's poem!

And just like an earthly poet keeps working on each poem until he gets it exactly the way he wants it, so does God. The difference is He is the great Creator, He has all wisdom, and He absolutely loves each poem He has started. He will continue working on us until the day He takes us home to glory.

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

In His love and wisdom, the Heavenly Potter will work in each of our lives and make the final product that He has long desired - a vessel that is transformed into honour and that brings Him eternal glory. If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, believing He paid the complete penalty upon the cross when He died for your sins, know that the Risen Saviour is also working on you each day. He is the Master, the Potter, the Creator, and He has the power to transform any vessel, no matter how marred and scarred, into one that is a valuable treasure to Him.

Jeremiah 18:2-4  Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Psalm 68:13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Once God started the work of salvation in you, He promised that He will continue until He has the finished product before Him in Heaven. as long as we are alive, the Lord is working on each one of us.

Truly, God's greatest poem is you!

November 20th, 2024

Jerry Bouey

Under Construction

Under construction by the Lord,
Pieced together in perfect accord,
Bit by bit, each part joined carefully,
Fitted and arranged with wisdom, tenderly.

As the Holy Spirit smoothes the edges,
And transforms His vessel into honour,
These changes, blessed by God's own touch,
Are wrought by His glorious power.

When God's final product is presented,
It will have been tested and proved.
Fired in the kiln of life's afflictions,
Refined and the impurities removed.

Though I can't imagine the end result as yet,
This work of art will someday be done.
Molded by the Potter with His very hands,
Lovingly crafted into the image of His Son.

August 22nd, 1995
Jerry Bouey

Jesus' Compassion

Jesus’ Compassion

I was reminded recently of a poem/song I wrote based on Mark 1:40-42 (Be Thou Clean), the chorus of which is:

I wondered if Jesus would have compassion on me. I asked if He was willing, and He said, Be thou clean.

Jesus being moved with compassion was the reason He fed the 5000 and His motive for several other miracles and lessons taught by Him and the other apostles:

1) Forgiveness:

Matthew 18:27, 33 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt… Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

2) The Father's reception of the prodigal son:

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

3) A high priest's (and the High Priest's) understanding of our infirmities and weaknesses:

Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

4) Proof that we have the love of God dwelling in us:

1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

5) Growth and blessings as a Christian influencing other believers:

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

6) Growth as believers making a difference to the lost:

Jude 1:22-23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

July 18th, 2016
Jerry Bouey

Saved To The Uttermost! - Part Two

Saved To The Uttermost! - Part Two

This devotional builds upon one I wrote a long time ago, Cities Of Refuge. Please read that first for context.

Hebrews 7:22-28 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our great High Priest. It might be helpful to read all of Hebrews 7 if you need a refresher on what it says, though the passage above is the part I will primarily be focusing on.

Jesus, the Son of God, became a Man so He could die for our sins. As the Bible reveals, He has never sinned; therefore, His one sacrifice on the cross of Calvary paid the complete penalty that was needed to forgive and remove our sins forever. And because He was tempted in all points as we are, but He has never given in to sin, He knows the struggles we face, He knows our weaknesses, and is the person most qualified to help us in our day to day struggles. He is the only person that can give us the grace and spiritual strength we need to conquer the sins and temptations we face in our own lives.

Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

One of the Old Testament types is the Cities of Refuge. If an Israelite or a stranger in their land killed another person unintentionally (ie. without premeditation or by accident), he was able to flee to the nearest city of refuge to find sanctuary until the death of the current high priest.

Numbers 35:25-28 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

Once the high priest died, the sin was wiped away and the manslayer was able to return to his own land again, safe from any further retaliation or future harm from the revenger of blood. Almost 2000 years ago, our great High Priest - our Refuge - died upon the cross, and our sins were wiped away by His shed blood, but after three days and nights in the grave, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, never to die again! Not only was our sin debt fully paid for upon the cross, now we are free forever from any spiritual revenger of blood, from the accuser of the brethren, from the guilt and penalty of our own sins, from the wrath of God - Jesus paid it all, and the proof of that fact is that He is now alive forevermore.

Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Revelation 1:17-18 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

All that the high priests in the Old Testament pictured was (and is!) fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Now He ever liveth, never to die again; therefore, not only is He the perfect Refuge, He is forever our own High Priest, who is able to intercede for all His spiritual brethren, all those believers who have placed their faith in His finished work of redemption.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines uttermost as: Extreme; being in the furthest, greatest or highest degree; as the uttermost extent or end; the uttermost distress.

Strong's Concordance gives this definition for the word uttermost: from G3956 and G5056; full-ended, i.e. entire (neuter as noun, completion).

Strong's 5056: from a primary τέλλω téllō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose); specially, an impost or levy (as paid).

Strong's 5055 (a related word) is defined as such: to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):—accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform.

We can see this last word used in John 19:30, in the phrase, "It is finished!"

From the uttermost and to the uttermost - that's from the farthest reaches to the furthest extent. As some have stated in the past: from the guttermost to the uttermost. Not only did He save us and blot out our sins forever, He gave us an inheritance in Him, a relationship with Him, a home in His presence for all eternity. What more could we ask for? To the uttermost!

...He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him...

October 26, 2024
Jerry Bouey

Sowing The Wind And Reaping The Whirlwind

Sowing The Wind And Reaping The Whirlwind

Hosea 8:7-8  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

Wind – idea of vanity, nothing of substance

Whirlwind – destruction, judgment from God

Main sense: Wind – sowing a storm, playing with lightning (or a lightning rod), if you will.

Whirlwind – tempest, hurricane

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Illustration: Deuteronomy 22:9  Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

Ecclesiastes 5:16  And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

Proverbs 11:29  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Proverbs 22:8  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Negative sowing and reaping:

Hosea 10:13  Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Positive sowing and reaping:

Hosea 10:11-12  And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Jeremiah 4:3  For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Matthew 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Luke 8:12, 15  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved… But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

James 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

2 encouraging promises:

1) Even if/though we have previously sown sin, we can turn back to the Lord and sow righteousness – and that harvest will eventually grow if we persevere in our walks with the Lord.

Psalms 126:5-6  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

John 4:35-36  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Proverbs 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2) Jesus can calm all the storms in our lives – even when caused by our sin. We need to repent (turn back to Him), make that area of our lives right, and keep our eyes on Jesus, not on the wind and the waves.

Mark 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

The Tempest Of The Lord
(Psalm 107:23-32)

The tempest rages sudden,
Cruel winds prevail strong,
Though jagged lightning spears the sky,
The night seems dark and long.

The storm crashes down upon them,
Pounding waves overflow,
All thoughts of mercy fade away
To fear, and anguish below.

Mounting high to heaven then
To the depths, plunging down,
Troubled souls melting, at wits end,
No refuge to be found.

But then out from distressed hearts,
Comes a wretched, ragged cry,
The storm calms down, the waves are still,
The Lord of hosts draws nigh.

Chastening, then conviction,
Turning away from sin,
Praying and seeking forgiveness,
Restored to God again.

Peace floods the trembling soul,
The haven is in sight,
A rainbow pierces through the clouds,
And scatters darkest night.

Bless the Lord for His goodness,
Exalt Him for His grace,
Give Him thanks ye children of men,
Oh give Him love and praise.

Poem written August 11th, 2000
Preached February 17, 2011
Jerry Bouey

Behold - Your Saviour!

Behold - Your Saviour!

In the past, I have done devotions on the theme of Behold, A Fivefold Picture (of the Saviour), basically presenting the contrasts between the Gospels, using the five different Behold statements about the Saviour. Ie. Isaiah 42:1 states, "Behold my servant," and corresponds with the Gospel of Mark which presents Jesus as a servant.

Now at the Mission we are working our way through the Gospel of John, and I was covering part of John 19. I know there are five different statements about the Saviour using the word "Behold," that use the term in a different way than it is normally used (ie. Behold, ... Consider something - but these statements are commanding us to behold a Person - eg. Behold your King - no comma - ie. Take a long, deep look at your King).

For a refresher I rechecked to find behold is used 1326 times in 1275 verses - only eight verses are used differently covering these five statements:

Behold My Servant! - Isaiah 42:1 and Matthew 12:18. Corresponding to the Gospel of Mark.
Behold the Man! - John 19:5 and Zechariah 6:12. Luke presents Jesus as the perfect Man.
Behold your King! - John 19:14. Corresponding to the Gospel of Matthew.
Behold the Lamb of God! - John 1:29, 36. The overall theme of the Gospels, and the Bible as a whole.
Behold your God! - Isaiah 40:9. Corresponding to the Gospel of John.

5 statements about the Saviour in eight verses, each representing a different aspect of His character...

Today I presented Jesus going to the cross using these five statements.

1) Behold My Servant!

Isaiah 42:1-4 and Matthew 12:18-21 showing what our Saviour was like.
Matthew 20:28 how Jesus came to serve us by giving His life for us.
Isaiah 53:11 how the knowledge and reception of that Servant leads to salvation.
Here is the Saviour going to fulfill His ministry: Behold my Servant!

2) Behold The Man!

John 19:1-12 Recap Jesus' struggle in the Garden, capture by the guards, beatings, scourgings, crown of thorns beaten onto His head, etc.
Behold the Man! (this word carries the idea of weakness) - the Saviour at His weakest, then being crucified, thirsting - John 19:28 Behold the Man!

3) Behold Your King!

John 19:13-22 His authority is shown by commanding the crowd to let His disciples go - John 18:8
Mocking of Jesus by the purple kingly robe, crown of thorns, presented as the King of the Jews, sign above His head - John 19:19 (shows God's authority and overruling of His enemies' intents to show who Jesus was, even to those who refused the truth), His dying at His choice and command, not man's - John 19:30 (notice the "It is finished" - the price was paid for our sin, victory was won! Recall what God's Servant would do in Matthew 12:20). Behold Your King!

4) Behold The Lamb of God!

The Passover Lamb - perfect, young, beloved, killed and His blood shed for our salvation - see especially Exodus 12:3-7, notice "a lamb... the lamb... your lamb" - the young lamb they had grown to love now killed for them and the blood applied... On the cross, dying for our sins, shedding His blood - John 19:16-18 Has His blood been applied to your soul through faith in His sacrifice for you? Behold the Lamb of God!

More weakness - laid in the tomb for three days and nights, then...

5) Behold your God!

The Saviour has risen. He is alive! Behold the King of Kings; behold your God; behold your Saviour!

The Lord Jesus Christ has triumphed, He has risen forevermore.

Behold your God! Isaiah 40:9-10 John 20:24-28

April 14th, 2011
Jerry Bouey

New Testament Apostles - A Word Study

New Testament Apostles - A Word Study

Interesting that the word "sent" in the New Testament (send out, send forth - String's #649), comes from the word apostello. It means someone or something that was sent out (usually from God in the NT), including the apostles, but it includes basically any kind of messenger or person that is sent in a service or a commission.

However, the word that is translated into English as apostle is apostolos (a different firm of the word - Strong's #652). Everytime it is used in the NT, the context shows that it is always the 12 apostles that are in view (except four times),* and one of the four usages is referring to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 3:1.

*John 13:16 - he that is "sent"
2 Corinthians 8:23 - "messengers" of the churches
Philippians 2:25 - your "messenger"

It is noteworthy to me how the NT uses this word. There are many pentecostals and charismatics who try to teach there are other "apostles" (#652, ie. one of the Apostles) today because there were other ones "sent forth/out" (#649) in the first century.

But the Bible teaches that there were and are only 12 Apostles in light of eternity (the Apostles were the foundation of the NT church: see Ephesians 2:19-22 and Revelation 21:14; and the way the term - #652 - is used in the NT to refer to the 12). There are only twelve foundations for the New Jerusalem in eternity. Yes, Matthias was temporarily chosen by the early disciples to fill Judas' office, but the Scriptures show that Paul permanently took that place once he was saved. He was not even on the scene yet in AD 32 (or thereabouts). When the early church used lots to determine who would replace Judas, Paul was not even saved yet, and I do not believe God's hand was on the results. (Ie. "Which of these particular two do you choose, God?" "Neither - My choice is not even saved yet!" - My imagination on the events that unfolded in Acts 1.) When Paul was used by the Lord to write most of the New Testament epistles, he identified himself as an Apostle (and the Apostle to the Gentiles) at the start of each of them (except Hebrews, for various reasons).

A true believer need never fear that there are modern Apostles today with authoritative revelation from God. The Bible is a closed book, the 12 Apostles did the signs of an apostle to back up their messages (see 2 Corinthians 12:12) while the New Testament was being written, but no one else was given the same authority then or now. Yes, some of the Apostle's associates were referred to as ones being "sent forth", though it is not the same form of the word and they are not referred to in the same sense. The four references stated above that differ in their usage show Titus, Epaphroditus, and perhaps some of their associates as co-workers with the Apostles, but they are not referred to in the same sense, and the context does not give them the same authority. Of course, Jesus is "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession" - He is the person with all authority and power, sending forth the 12 with the commission He has for them.

There were only ever the 12 Apostles, and once the foundation of the church was laid and the New Testament was finished being written, the need for any Apostles was done away with. Now we have the complete Word of God - the final authority for everything in our lives.

February 1st, 2023
Jerry Bouey

An Orchard Of Delights

An Orchard Of Delights

In Song of Solomon 4 (please read the whole chapter before reading this devotional), we see the Lord Jesus Christ (pictured in the Song of Songs as Solomon) admiring the beauty of His espoused (engaged) bride (in which the individual believer and the true church collectively is pictured). In Song of Songs 4:1-5, we hear Him praising her beauty, listing seven particulars of her makeup. Matthew Henry does a great job of breaking down the symbolism for us, tracing out each symbol in this whole book and in this passage by showing how they are used elsewhere in the Word of God. There are many spiritual lessons we can glean here in regards to the believer's fellowship with her Saviour, but I am only going to focus on  a few portions of this passage in this devotional.

Notice Jesus' praise of His fiancé, His espoused bride:

Song of Songs 4:1a Behold, thou art fair, My love; behold, thou art fair...

Song of Songs 4:7 Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee.

We are perfect in the Lord's eyes, without spot or blemish. See Ephesians 1:6; 5:25-27. The seven things He praised her for show her perfection in His eyes - this is how our Heavenly Father views us when we are in Christ (which happens at the moment of our salvation, when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection, and believing that He paid the full penalty needed to save us from our sins).

Jesus/Solomon goes on to describe how the Shulamite (feminine form of the name Solomon, see Song of Songs 6:13) has captured His attention and taken His breath away:

Song of Songs 4:9-11 Thou hast ravished My heart, My sister, My spouse; thou hast ravished My heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! Thy lips, O My spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

The Pulpit Commentary says the following about this verse:

"If but a portion of her beauty so overpowers, what will be the effect of the whole blaze of her perfection? As the Church advances in her likeness to her Lord, she becomes more and more the object of his delight, and as the soul receives more and more grace, so is her fellowship with Christ more and more assured and joyful."

Again, a little further in the same commentary:

"So the Lord has said, in Isaiah 62:5, that he rejoiceth over his people as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride."

Truly, this book portrays the love the Saviour has for His people - whether His people in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel, or His people in the New Testament, the church of Christ, and each individual believer that makes up His bride.

Chapter four of this Song goes on to show the lengths our Saviour will go to bring forth fruit in the lives of true believers. He considers their souls or hearts His garden that He fellowships in. We can clearly see this in the following verses:

Song of Solomon 4:12  A garden inclosed is My sister, My spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Song of Solomon 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.

Song of Solomon 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.

Notice that Song of Songs 4:16 and 5:1 goes from Solomon/Jesus speaking to the believer/Shulamite speaking. Every time this Song says "My love," it is Jesus speaking, and every time it says "my (well) Beloved," it is the believer speaking. Each of the two verses above start off with Jesus referring to His bride - "My sister, My spouse" - then ends with her referring to her "Beloved."

The important part I want to emphasize here is that though the believer is considered a garden, it is HIS garden - we are HIS GARDEN. The fruits we produce are produced by the Holy Spirit working in and through us. See John 15:1-5 and Galatians 5:22-23.

Now back to the Lord's garden - our hearts or souls:

Song of Solomon 4:13-15  Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

Jesus refers to the believer as an orchard. Strong's Concordance says this about the word "orchard" used here:

Strong’s #h6508, “p̱arḏês; of foreign origin; a park: — forest, orchard.”

In the New Testament, we find a related Greek word that is used only three times - both the Hebrew word and this Greek word come from the same Persian word, "Paradise":

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The Strong's definition of the word "Paradise": Strong’s #g3857, “paradeisos; of Oriental origin (compare h6508); a park, i.e. (specially), an Eden (place of future happiness, “paradise”): — paradise.”

We can see from this definition that this word is related in meaning to the same OT word we were looking at from Song of Songs 4:13, "Orchard." The orchard, the believer's garden, and ultimately God's garden, is literally a Paradise to the Lord.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary: “Paradise:

PAR'ADISE, n. Gr. The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed immediately after their creation.

1. A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight.

2. Heaven, the blissful seat of sanctified souls after death.

3. Primarily, in Persia, a pleasure-garden with parks and other appendages.”

The Garden of Eden (which means "delight, pleasure") in Genesis was created to be a garden of delight for man. There He placed man and there He provided for all their needs as they fellowshipped day by day with Him.

Genesis 2:8-9  And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 

Though mankind sinned, God provided a way of redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ - and one day, the new heaven and new earth will basically be a restored Eden, where we will dwell forever in the presence of God (this is what the third heaven is referring to, Paradise, where the presence of God dwells - see Hebrews 9:24).

In eternity, man will dwell in a new Paradise, a new Garden of Eden/Delight, where we will delight forever in the Lord our God, forever worshipping in His presence. See Revelation 21:1-5; 22:1-5.

But now back to the passage that started this blessed train of thought:

Song of Solomon 4:13  Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

To recap: "Orchard" here is "Paradise" (to use the NT Greek word and the transliterated English word to emphasize this point). The Lord Jesus Christ's Garden of Delight, His Paradise, is His people! From the moment you came to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, the moment you were born again as His child, adopted into His family, accepted in the Beloved, you became His Garden of Delight, His Paradise - and just as we will forever delight in fellowship with the God who created us, gave us life and new life in Him, even so will our Saviour delight in us and in fellowship with us for eternity.

Now tell me that did not bless your soul today!

May 3rd, 2024
Jerry Bouey