As I was driving to work the other morning, my eyes were drawn to an unfamiliar and surreal sight. Why is the hillside moving? As I drove closer the details came into sharper focus. The hillside was alive with dozens of goats slowly moving along the steep slope, devouring the excess grass and shrubbery. The goats were introduced into our neighborhood as a novel way to clear the hillsides of excess foliage, reducing the fire risk. These animals are far more efficient than humans and while this is a practical and business savvy decision, I am thankful to simply observe the beauty of the hillside flowing with these beautiful creatures. It brought to mind the poetic verses from the Song of Solomon.
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.
Song of Solomon 4:1 (NIV)
Solomon is describing his bride and he is completely smitten with her. It is a beautiful and moving description of her physical beauty, but these verses and the entire book of the Song of Solomon also speak of the radiant and irrepressible beauty of Jesus Christ. When we are love with someone, we study everything about that person. We know every strand of their hair, the way they walk, the way their smile lights up a room-it is physical intimacy and God honors this at the highest level, represented by the love between a husband and wife. The intimate description of the physical beauty speaks of the detail that we should know what it means to be truly in love with Jesus. As believers in Jesus Christ, do we seek every opportunity to learn about Him? Do we bring Him into every situation we encounter? Do we desire to always do the things that please Him?
The beauty of God is ubiquitously manifest in His creation. From the goats on a hillside to a sunrise illuminating the clouds on the horizon, the physical beauty of God’s Creation speaks of the infinitely greater beauty of Jesus Christ.
How blessed are all believers to experience the beauty of Jesus Christ in so many wonderful ways!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 