Loved by All Creation

Scripture:
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
in the vineyards of En-gedi.
Song of Songs 1:14

Observation: The author of this love poem uses many references to beautiful places and things. In this stanza alone, (she?) references nard, myrrh, henna, vineyards, and En-gedi. En-gedi is an oasis near the Dead Sea, which today is a natural preserve, park, and world heritage site. It is the site of several deserts springs, waterfalls, clear and beautiful ponds, and caves. It is said to be a place David hid when being hunted by Saul.

Besides this, in the first four chapters, the author references jewels, gold, silver, roses, lilies, frankincense, apple trees, fig trees, pomegranates, raisins, wine, saffron, calamus, cinnamon, mountains, valleys, Kedar, Gilead, Egypt, Amana, Lebanon, Senir, Hermon, horses, sheep, goats, doves, foxes, gazelles, lions, leopards, and the singing of turtledoves.

In a time when all travel was on foot, there was very little written information, and almost no art beyond in-situ drawings and carvings on walls, this person has seen and experienced ... everything and everywhere. They have "been there," "tasted it," "seen them," and "smelled it." From the wastelands of southern Israel, to neighboring lands both north and south, they have first-hand knowledge of everything here, there, and in between.

Or ... the Lord knows well the beauty and pleasures of his creation, and can inspire such writings to appeal to the very awareness he gave us as his wonderous creation to enjoy the world he created.

Application: I am personally aware that ... when I look at nature, I find it wonderful and inspiring ... when I taste fruits and spices and food, I find it exciting and pleasurable ... when I go to different places, I find it enlightening and inspiring. I feel these things because of the very, very obvious purposes of God's love.

God created the world; God created me; God is my loving father ... it is the most logical thing in the universe then that his creation appeals to my every sense and thought and desire.

Prayer: Lord, as I do most days, I thank you for the beauty of the world and all that is in it. Your creation is such powerful evidence of your hand at work, and my enjoyment of creation is powerful evidence of your loving heart. May I glorify you and worship your name today and always. Amen.