rose of Sharon

Good Morning,
My back is somewhat better, so I'm back. But, as we're gone Thursday to my parents, I probably won't blog much this week.
Hope you are all well. Sounds like Jack and Betty had a good trip, but that Jack's battling an infection and needs our prayers.
I'd also like for you to pray for our traveling mercies and that physically I'll be able to handle the long 8+ hours trip on Thurs. and again on Sat. Thanks!
This spring Chuck planted a rose bush for me. It's yellow with pink fringes and it's just so lovely. I chose this one because of the color, but also because it's has wonderful fragrance. It had two blooms and I cut one to bring in so I could enjoy it inside too. It's past its prime, but still giving wonderful smells that I'm enjoying. Even Tucker likes how it smells!
Looking at the rose, I thought about how Christ is our rose of Sharon. So, I decided to walk through what the Bible teaches us. I found some great stuff.
Turn to Song of Songs 2:1 "I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." My research tells me that Sharon was a place. Evidently shepherds grazed their flocks there. Because of the phrase: rose of Sharon, my guess is that roses were plentiful there. I don't know if people sold roses or not; not sure when that enterprise started in history.
In Song of Songs, the Beloved (female) says she's the rose. Verse 2 is the Lover (male) and he says: "Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." He's comparing her to other women and calls them thorns! Not sure I'd want to be compared to a thorn. Poetry is sometimes, well poetic. They use metaphors (she's not really a rose, but is described as one) and hyperboles (exaggerated truth as an example) to describe something.
In this case, he's giving her high praise. I've been taught that Song of Songs is also Christ (rose of Sharon) and the church. It's symbolic of God's unconditional love for the church.
I like "lily of the valleys" because it sounds like something really grand. Valleys is plural and lilies are a grand flower with a strong fragrance. Or, there's the little white lily of the valley and they have small flowers with a huge fragrance. She's saying that she's a trophy wife! Just kidding. She is telling him that she has a lot to offer him (my guess, beauty) and as we see in verse 2, he agrees.
Christ is beautiful to us. He's lovely in every way. He loves us unconditionally and shows us in a myriad of ways, every day. Do you see the ways? Count them. Be like the Beloved and know your worth, because of Christ.

Knowing Him,
Sandy
Whether Song of Songs was written about marriage, or symbolic of God's love for us, it's a beautiful small book and worth reading.