A Song of Ascent
Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning on her beloved? - Song of Songs 8:5
New Beginnings of Grace
There is a song echoing across the plains,
The greatest song,
the song of all songs.
Waiting in the sunset to be sung.
From the hilltops and mountains
to the valleys below.
Echo,
echo,
echo.
Its chords and melodies dance
and sweep down in procession.
The festivities have begun.
In the quiet the song grows louder
though all is still
the song,
it whispers
alive above the winter chill.
The song of the beloved
The deepest thankfulness
is found.
The voice of the Beloved and the Lover
Arm in arm.
Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning on her beloved?
I got to take pictures of this lovely family, the Prestiges, in November. The month of Thanksgiving! So thankful! It was a divine orchestration of taking their pictures. I was watching an online photo class on documenting families and thought..."God, I'd love to take pictures of their family." An hour later, I see on my phone I have a missed call from Julie. She left a voice mail, "Hi Crystal, wondering if you would be willing to take our family pictures." :D Amazed at God's orchestration and timing!!
During the photo shoot this scripture in Song of Songs seemed to be whispers in my ear. And as I later reflected on the wilderness like scene, and all the moments and beauty of the leaning, carrying, and helping one another in the adventuring.
This is a powerful verse I have been discovering.
...of the strength, desire and pursuit of the Lord to carry us out of the wilderness…dry…dessert seasons.
...the places where we are hungry and thirsty for the wells of living water…and sustaining hope.
I woke up this morning thinking of the verse again and the Prestidges.
Wanting to write and post these pictures.
I went to grab my journal to jot a few thoughts.
And I opened it exactly to this page where I wrote the poem that merged so perfectly with the moments captured of the Prestidges and the whispered verse again.
I see the sun rays causing all to be glowing and warm.
A warmth returning.
A warm light.
A life light.
Hope.
A promised hope.
A hope, ready and waiting to be released.
I was curious, I began looking into the phrase “coming up from” to see what the original hebrew means.
The word is a derivative of "alah" http://biblehub.com/bdb/5927.htm , which means to go up, ascend, climb.
In Song of Songs 8:5 it indicates ascending from a low place to a high place.
As I walked with the Prestidge family. Little Nathaniel raced ahead to this overlook.
You could see the plains for miles.
This plain was seated high.
Reaching far into the horizon.
Eternal perspective.
A high place of hope.
I watched all three of the kids playing, climbing up higher, as high as they could go.
Elijah, the oldest started the extreme leaps. Flying high into the sky!
Isn’t that what we have longed for as kids.
To climb trees high, to get as high as we can to see for as far as we can?
Who is that ascending from the deep lows of the dessert into the high heights of her beloved’s arms?
Leaning.
Relying on.
Trusting.
Leaping.
Into trustworthy arms.
In his deep Song of Song love for her.
His deep Song of Song of love for you and your family.
Lean in.
Race to the high places.
And watch all your enemies become a footstool at your feet
while you lean in,
and rest
into the arms of your Beloved Savior
and his Song of all Songs love over you.
A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
http://bibleapps.com/psalms/126-1.htm