As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. -Song of Solomon 2:3 ESV
Warrior;
From Charles H. Spurgeon’s book Morning Reading; Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: “Look unto me and be ye saved.” It is hearing: “Hear, and your soul shall live.” Faith is smelling: “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia”. (Psalm 45:8) Faith is spiritual touch. By this faith the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ’s garment, and by this we handle the things of the good word of life. Our walk is not passive; it is sensory warfare. Faith is not a concept; it is a full-bodied engagement with the Living God. Faith sees; piercing the fog of the forest to behold the One tree that bears life. Faith hears; catching the whisper of the Beloved even in the noise of the battlefield. Faith smells; detecting the fragrance of Christ that cuts through the stench of the world. Faith touches; grabbing hold of the hem of His garment with desperate certainty.
Leader, Faith is equally the spirit’s taste; receiving Christ Himself as nourishment, sweetness, strength. The Bible says, “How sweet are Thy words to my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103) “Except a man eat my flesh,” saith Christ, “and drink my blood, there is no life in him.” (John 6:53-54) This “taste” is faith in one of its highest operations. One of the first performances of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone, but with the inward ear; we hear it as God’s Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the “hearing” of faith. Then our mind looketh upon the truth as it is presented to us; that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the “seeing” of faith. If you want an emotional relationship with our Lord, then we need to experience HIM FULLY!
Conduit, once we discover the preciousness of God’s Word, we begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its “smell.” Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its “touch.” Then we follow the enjoyments, peace, delight, communion; which are faith in its “taste.” To hear Christ’s voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us; but that which gives true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit “under His shadow with great delight,” and find His fruit sweet to our taste. Love the LORD- Take in the LORD and HIS WORD, with ALL YOUR Heart, Mind, Strength and ALL YOUR SENSES! If you LOVE THE LORD, then you can have a sensual relationship with Him!
