Christian Writers Circle

My Beloved
Lily of the Testimonies
by Brenda D. Flowers

I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine:  he feedeth among the lilies. (Song of Solomon 6:3, KJV)

On March 7, 2023, I was praying about what God wanted me to write about for April as Passover and Resurrection Sunday (Easter) fall early this month.

I was surprised when I saw, with my mind’s eye, the image of a painting I had done as a young adolescent. It was the image of a brown cross on the backdrop of a light blue sky. Pure white lilies stood tall in the foreground.

My heart was touched by the realization that God had inspired me to paint this symbolic scene for the school contest I entered. He encouraged me to use my talents for Him.

Now many years later, God is still showing me His love and care in intimate ways. God speaks to me with “stones of remembrance.” (Special moments when He intervened in my life.)

As I pondered this memory, Jesus’ words came to mind, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Luke 12: 27)

I recalled these words in Hosea, I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. It will blossom like the lily; …(Hosea 14:5a, NLT)

 I discovered several psalms are introduced with references to “The Lilies” or “Lily of the Testimony.” (Psalms 45, 60, 69 and 80) There is a mystery regarding the deeper meaning of these references to lilies.

To me, a pure white lily can be compared to the purity of a lamb without blemish.

God intervened on behalf of the Israelites that first Passover. When His people obediently followed His direction to apply the blood of a pure, beloved lamb to the posts (sides) and lentil (head) of the doors of their homes, God protected the Israelites’ first born sons from death. God delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt miraculously. (See Exodus, Chapters 11-13).

Isaiah and other prophets prophesied of a coming Savior who would one day deliver all people, who trusted Him, from their sins, iniquities and sicknesses.

I had the opportunity to see photos of key parts of the Great Isaiah Scroll, mounted at the Bible Museum in Washington D.C.  There, I read how it is one of the seven Dead Sea Scrolls, first discovered in 1946. The scroll is written in Hebrew and contains the entire Book of Isaiah.

In Isaiah 53 we see Jesus:

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53: 6-7, NKJV)

We see the fulfillment of this Isaiah prophecy in the New Testament, for example:

Mark 15::3 NKJV And the chief priests accused Him(Jesus)of many things but He answered nothing.

Closing Prayer: You, Jesus, and Your great love are revealed throughout the Old and New Testaments. You are the Lily of the Testimonies. Lamb of God, I see how Your blood was placed on the cross to deliver me and all those who faithfully trust You. We are set free from death, sin, sickness, and all the bondages of evil. You give us new life. Thank You, Lord, for the promise of Your pure raiment of righteousness, restored to perfect intimacy with You. We are clothed more beautifully than a lily. Thank You Jesus. Amen.