In His Shadow
Week Twenty-Three | Fifty-Two 6.13.21
I’ve always loved to walk, as in the almost-jogging-exercise kind. I say almost jogging because well, I’ve never been a runner and likely won’t ever be, especially at forty-something with about two flexible places left on my entire body (you can laugh, I am too:).
Anyways, I can remember walking around our neighborhood block as a kid and well-into my college years. I always anticipated this one bend in the road, just near the end. There was something comforting yet mysterious about the deep shade arched across the street. With outstretched arms in every direction and deeply rooted feet that would rival any hurricane’s howl, this singularly magnificent oak tree simply stood there, day after day after day. Almost as if it was waiting for me to come by and whisper,
“Look up. Look down. Look around. Just breathe, right here in my shade.”
And who doesn’t love the cool relief brought by the shade?
But what comes to your mind when you hear the word, shadow? For most of us, our first thought is probably the gray image of a person or thing. And then, if you keep thinking about the word, it’s likely going to be something that makes your heart feel anything from fear to gratefulness, isolation to protection…depending on your story, past or present.
As I read this week’s passage in Song of Songs 2, my initial reaction was shame (which clearly wasn’t from Jesus). But, grace quickly turned it to wonder and gratefulness.
“With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (v3) He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.” (v4)
For one, I don’t think I’ve ever paid close attention to the verse (3) before the verse (4) that I’ve heard and repeated countless times in my life. And yeah, I even know the old, sweet song.
But what arrested my heart next was that these words were spoken by an adoring bride about her beloved husband. Of course symbolically, this story is *our love story with God, as is all of Scripture. He is the consummate One in whom we find delight, protection, blessing, guidance, and rest.
Still, I believe there is another secret tucked inside of this bride’s song. And it’s for the girl, the wife, who feels hidden by her husband’s shadow. Not a shadow that brings dishonor, rather one that humbly takes the stage. Where honor and wisdom, success and applause follow him like *they are his shadow.
All the while, you just keep doing your next right thing, raising the babies you birthed together, caring for the home you built together, cooking-cleaning-carpooling, squeezing in a hair appointment on a Tuesday, loving and serving and doing with all your tired heart. All in the unseen mundane of another day’s work.
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But what if this place of hiddenness was meant to be a bend in the long road, for shade. On the days of looking up, down, and all around, there’s a gift of breath waiting.
Of sitting in
and rejoicing with
and feasting on
the fruit of this man’s honor and wisdom, success and applause.
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Ultimately trusting that to sit in his shadow is to sing in His. All in due time, with eyes of pure faith.
“For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7
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Perspective changes everything.
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And to my friends whose husband’s shadow feels less like a banner of love and more like a blanket of misery, I am so deeply sorry. May I gently whisper a reminder to you, from Him ~
You are worthy.
You are seen.
You are stronger than you may think.
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He is waiting for you, to help you.
Just slow, and make sure you look up, down, and all around.
He truly is a Good Shepherd who is able to
Keep you as the apple of His eye and hide
you in the shadow of His wings. (Psalm 17:8)
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No matter what shade finds you this day, I pray that you may find yourself humming the words to a tried and true song, “The Lord is mine and I am His. His banner over me is love.”