Preparing the Sacrifice

The Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
 it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

(Isaiah 35:1-2 NASB)

The Bible is rich in analogies of our natural world. In Song of Solomon, the Shulammite Woman describes herself as a rose in Sharon and a lily in the valley. Solomon, the voice of Christ to the believer, describes her as a lily among thorns (see Song of Solomon 2:1–2). 

I’m reminded of the old hymn, “Lily of the Valley,” so cleverly sung by Acapeldridge

and the more recent “Rose of Sharon” sung by Brandon Jarrett

Writers are often weary. We become weighed down with deadlines, disappointment, rejection, and misunderstandings. Our bodies fail at the most inconvenient times. Our Lord calls, the first Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley, calls us within the storm. He understands our pain and desires to give us peace in our struggles.

As the first Rose of Sharon, our Lord is enough, more than able to meet our needs.

Roses grow abundantly in the plain of Sharon. Even though the church is comprised of many, our Lord sees us as an individual rose. 

Christ is with us in our valley of despair and discouragement. As the Rose of Sharon and the first Lily of the Valley, he was among thorns, and so are we.   

As writers, we are vulnerable to the pricks and wounds of thorns that often are found near the most beautiful flowers. Our thorns can be mockers, unbelievers, critics, and our dear brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We must look to our Rose of Sharon, our Lily of the Valley, to be the author and finisher of our faith. He has called you to write. Do not let the thorns among you deter you from your purpose.

While there is the argument that a lily is not indigenous to Israel, some think perhaps the reference is to a crocus, though scholars have diverse opinions on the matter.

Charles Spurgeon states in one of his sermons on the Song of Solomon that Christ is speaking to the church, symbolized by the Shulammite woman. “It is of small moment to be precise in botany so long as we get the spirit of the text … Jesus himself knows best what his own bride is like, let us hear him as he speaks in this matchless song.*

* From Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 26

How is Jesus like the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley to you? Answer in the comments below. Soley your opinion. There is no wrong answer.