Take us the Foxes
Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
The Song of Solomon shows the personal relationship between the Lord Jesus and the believer (seen as the maiden).
He had, at the beginning of the second chapter, called to her to “come away”.
Song of Solomon 2:8, 10 “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”
He was calling her to come away from the enclosure she had stayed in. She had come into His banqueting house in the first chapter (Oh, the joy when we first believe, and know our sins forgiven), and had wanted to stay.
But, the Lord Jesus always calls us on to new and better things; though they may prove harder things.
This He does now. “Come away”, He says.
But it is not just to some thing: no, it is always “Come away with Me”.
But He did not just call; He also showed Himself to her, though He was on the outside of the wall which separated them, and she was inside, still. (Song of Solomon 2:9)
He had come, in power, leaping on the mountains of difficult things in life; and skipping on the hills of little problems which come up.
He was showing her that to “come away” with Him, was to go along in the path He chose, and since He would be with her;……His power would be as well.
Then He ends the call, for she had hesitated, and hesitation is always the enemy of obedience. It causes us to check and see if there is another way; or another time.
So then He says, “Take us the foxes.”
Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
The Lord Jesus is saying to His beloved believer: Let us work at those things which cause you to hesitate. Those things which hinder you from bearing fruit.
They are “little” foxes; which come in through the fence anywhere, and eat the tender blossoms of grapes.
(Big foxes often are kept out my fences. If they get in they will eat on the fruit of the grapes, but the little foxes nip in the bud, whole clusters of grapes in one single bite, because it is still in the blossom stage.)
But if these “little foxes” are not seen to; then there will be very little fruit….if any.
So Jesus says “Let us see to them, together”.
These “little foxes” are the natural way we do things. Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit, we “think things out” and come to a “conclusion”.
We often do them, by choice, automatically.
They are the natural us, and it takes effort to set them aside, and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help.
Instead of seeking for joy and peace, we look for “happiness”.
(Joy comes from knowing the Presence of God in my life, and it does not rely on circumstances. Joy is just as strong in bad times, as in good.)
Happiness comes from without. It is the feeling we get from the things….circumstances and people….which happen to us. There is nothing “wrong” with it, but it makes us look to what is for me, or us….now.
And when we get “happy”…..it usually makes us want….more happiness.
Instead of following close to Christ, we rely on the experience we had Sunday, yesterday, even this morning. Those experiences are good, but not when Christ is calling you on to what is next.
Real fruit comes from the Holy Spirit within. There is the fruit of the Spirit, in our lives:
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
And there is the fruit of a Christian, which is another Christian; for we are all called as witnesses of Christ Jesus:
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
But to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, we need to “take us the foxes, the little foxes, which spoil the vines.”
Christ is calling all His people to a more personal relationship with Him:
“Come away with Me.
Let us take care of these things which hinder, in our life together.”
What a way lies before us: Come with Me, and let us tackle these mountains of difficulties, and hills of troubles….with Me, says Jesus.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 