Be kind to one another, and merciful, generously forgiving one another, as also God in Christ has generously forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17.

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV.

I read our chapter, Song of Solomon 2, with a special awareness of joy. It reminds me of the love of Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit. It continues with the conversation of She and He…and yet it reminded me of us and God. She said: I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys, v. 1. In the notes it said those flowers were common in Israel and perhaps She felt like she was ordinary. And what did He say? Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. v. 2. When we come to truly realize how much God loves us, a world of understanding can begin. She speaks and it could be us realizing what God is giving to us…I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love…Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes…My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag…My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! the winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”…v. 3-5, 8-13. That reminds me of God’s kingdom and the banquet He prepares. And when He speaks…can you hear God asking us to stop hiding and show Him our faces because He cares for us and the troubles we worry over do not affect His love for us…My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom…v. 14-15. And the startling truth She says that is true for us and God…My beloved is mine and I am his…v. 16. This is a love letter of so much more than Solomon and his bride. In God’s kingdom there will be no more giving in marriage. The deepest love is the Love of God. We can let Him love us now and we can love Him now. A promise now of what will be in all its fullness of time.

How does forgiveness play in all of this? How can it not? We are imperfect human beings. Forgiveness is the gift of God building bridges that brings God’s healing into our hearts and minds forever changing us. Forgiveness is from God in His Love for us for our Good in Him.