Until the day break, and the shadows flee away

Song of Solomon 2:17

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

What a marvelous book we have before us! What an incredible canticle! An unrivaled beauty! A description of the lover’s love and the felicitous relationship that belongs only to a man and woman! But this wonderful book has been included in the canon of Holy Scripture. And, although there are many reasons for this (one being to exhibit the beauty of married love), there is one purpose of this book that can reside deeply in the hearts of every Christian. And that is to speak of the love of Christ to the Christian, and the love of the Christian for Christ. It speaks of Christ and His glorious bride, the church! It is for us to revel in His love, for our beloved is ours and we are His! Christ’s name is as ointment poured forth! Therefore the virgins love Him! Every Christian that loves the Lord deeply can find through this book that He is the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys.

But what of this verse before us today? Until the day break…until the shadows flee away? What a word of consolation! What a statement of comfort! What a proclamation of truth! That the day will break! That the shadows will flee away! Praise God! What a cause for rejoicing! That the shadows which linger long upon our lives, that the night which seems to persist interminably, will break one day! That the shadows may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!

My friend, are you living in the shadows? Have you passed through a dark valley? Are you in the midst of a dark valley? Is the night long upon your soul? Are the night seasons seemingly unchanging? Do you dwell in the dark? Is it hard to imagine the light of the morning? Take comfort, my dear one! For the day will break soon! The shadows soon will be overwhelmed with light! The glorious day of joy, peace, and love will soon dawn upon us! For our Beloved is returning! He is coming upon the mountains of Bether, He will cross the mountains that separate us, and will bring us to Himself! He will say, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!”

Now, let us be sure to understand that, although this promise will be brought to pass in its fullness in the physical coming of Christ to this earth, the meaning is far deeper, and much more applicable to our lives. For when Christ comes, all shadows flee! The day breaks! Are you in the shadows or in darkness? Turn your eyes now to Christ! Look to the mountains! For it is not over! He is teaching you something today! Do not think that it is the end, that there is no hope, or that no light will permeate the darkness. For Christ is the light. We are the children of light and the children of the day. Christ has come already to dispel the darkness. Find light in Him! Find hope in Him! Find this promise in Him! Find joy and peace in Him! For through His coming and His presence in our lives, we shall soon see the day break, and we shall soon see the shadows flee away.

“Heavenly Father, through your Son, the Lord Jesus, we thank you that we have light, joy, and hope. We thank you that we do not have to dwell in darkness. Oh Father, please dispel the shadows of our lives, and the night of our soul, and may the light of the day break upon us! May we be illuminated to see things we have never seen before! May the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in our hearts! May you come upon us this day and give us the light we have been so desperately longing for! Do this, we pray, according to Thy will and for Thy glory. In the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.”