In the Court
of the Garden
of the Palace
of the King
Intimacy. If one is intimate with another they are closely acquainted and familiar with one another. It speaks to being a very close friend and confidant. Such a relationship can be deep, personal, and inward. Hearts are definitely involved! Esther 1:5 metaphorically symbolizes such a relationship with the Lord to me. The verse is poetic!
In the Court
The antiquated meaning of the word court is "to be involved with romantically, typically with the intention of marrying". The Church is the Bride of Christ. She is to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27. But, beloved, The Church consist of we believers. You and I , like a bride, are to have a deep, heartfelt relationship with the Lord. This speaks to pursuing that relationship. I do not know about you, but in the three months or so before I came to a saving knowledge of Christ he courted me, I mean he just drew me to himself, wooing me into salvation. We are to have that same "courtship", if you will, in which we seek him as our vital necessity. K'ayal ta'arog...like a deer thirst the Sons of Korah sang in psalm 42, our souls are to thirst for the living God. Like all relationships we value, this relationship, too must be nourished. We can get so busy in our lives that we can sometimes be neglectful. Pay attention to him. Take care to stay in a Divine Romance with God! Our friend who sticks closer than a brother. Intimacy. Keep the courtship going. Chase after him!
Of the Garden
Deeper still in this intimacy is this garden...this fence of protection in which we are hedged in with and by the lover of our souls. When I think of a garden, I think of flowers...roses. The Rose of Sharon is a protective hedge around about us, our lives, our spirits, our souls. Jesus! His very name, Yeshua, "Salvation" has protection as an aspect of what belongs to we who place our confidence in him. Child of God, when we are in the garden of the King, he defends us! The psalmist speaks of Jehovah-Magenenu, "God our defence" and so He is!
Psalm 89:18
For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Out of our intimacy with the Lord may our souls be like a watered garden and like a spring of water "whose waters fail not". Isaiah 58:11 Living waters! The Spirit of God within! It does not get any more intimate than this:
John 17
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one
Of the Palace
Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Abide in Him! We have to train ourselves to recognize that his Presence is ALWAYS with us, prompting us, guiding us , directing us. Acknowledge Him! " Father, I know you are here!" Enjoy Him! The "palace" of his presence by his Spirit is a sanctuary for us.. We can enter into his rest! In day to day routine and grind of life, that "dry and thirsty land " God is our refreshing oasis. Drink deeply and be refreshed in the palace of the King! Not only are we to abide in the Lord, but we are to abide in the haven of his Word:
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7
We stay anchored and moored in that secret place as we sup with him and feast on the bread of the Word of God. We must have God as our refuge more than ever! But, not us only. The King desires we compel others to sup, too!
Of the King
Beloved, we know that Jesus is the King of Kings! How absolutely awesome to think of the fact that he desires intimacy with us. Deep calls unto deep...our love relationship is to grow more and more profound. When we see it as an intimate act relationship, "prayer' in the stereotypical sense, vanishes! There are no "thees" and "thous". It is a genuine dialogue, a pleasurable, friendship with Melekh hakkavod, the King of glory. Believe! Come to him knowing that He is, and that He takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Our sense of security and well-being because of to Whom we belong, is a great gift. Life has its challenges to be sure, but our King is on the throne...including the throne of our hearts! In order to be in sync with the very heartbeat of God we should respond to the the call of the deep. Our King, who never leaves us nor forsakes us, awaits!
Remember "The Great Commission":
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28: 19-20
Beloved, it just seems to me that we are being dispatched from the court of the garden of the palace of the King. We know that apart from him we can do nothing. All truly effective "fruit that remains" level of ministry comes out of a robust and intimate relationship with the Lord. That is if one is to minister under the "smearing" of the oil of the yoke destroying power of God. The anointing!
Isaiah 10:27
"...the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
Make your relationship with the Lord your priority. let me say again nurture and value that relationship. Purpose to spend time in the garden. I can hear an old Christian hymn my sweet grandmother used to sing:
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
God will disclose to you what that days assignment. He will give you next steps in the "garden". The prophetic! Expect a rhema word from the King!
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Come to the garden of the King!. Let us respond to the call and then "Go".
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