Greetings!
Lilies! Who has not delighted in the magnificent fragrance of a lily? After another spate of wintry snow, Spring has arrived – a little later than usual – and with it the Spring lilies. Last week some friends came to visit, bringing with them a beautiful deep rose-colored Oriental Lily. It is filling the room with its scent.
Checking my “Guide to Gardening” I find that the stately lily plants, with their exotic flower forms, are one of the oldest cultivated flowers, and have been cherished for at least 3,000 years – in ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, China, and Japan. For centuries only a few species were known, the most famous being the pure white Madonna lily – traditionally a symbol of purity – from the eastern Mediterranean. Like many wild plants, lily species can be difficult to transfer to the cultivated garden. However, after more than half a century of hybridizing by professionals and amateurs around the world, many varieties of lilies now exist, and beautify gardens everywhere.
The Lilies of the Valley with which we are familiar have clusters of small, white, bell-shaped flowers that hang from a strong reedy stalk. There may be a dozen or more blossoms on each plant. Their sweet scent has even inspired one of my favorite perfumes.
Spring is here in earnest in our part of the country, and soon the Lilies of the Valley will be appearing with their delicate white waxy blossoms. I don’t know how closely these resemble the lilies referred to in the Scriptures, but I know that they are a favorite blossom for their simple elegance and exquisite fragrance.
I suppose they are a much more cultivated variety than the ones to which Jesus referred when He said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not labor nor do they spin; but I tell you that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as one of these.” He goes on to say that if He clothes the grass of the field that flourishes today, and tomorrow is discarded, how much more will God provide for His children. (Matt. 6:28-34)
Six thousand seasons have come and gone, the grass and the lilies of the field have flourished, faded and died with the fall frosts; yet God has been faithful to His Word in all generations.
In Solomon’s Song, there is a wonderful metaphor in which Christ is pictured as the choicest of flowers, “The Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.” Charles W. Fry, a song-writer in the 1800s, picked up on the theme and has given us a beloved old hymn that covers it all. Take the time to meditate on each phrase:
I have found a friend in Jesus – He’s everything to me;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley – in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort – in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley – the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He all my griefs has taken and all my sorrows borne,
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for Him forsaken – and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Tho all the world forsake me – and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
He’s the Lily of the Valley – the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He will never, never leave me nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessèd will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear -
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to Glory I’ll see His blessèd face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Doesn’t that inspire you with HOPE in your heart?
I pray that God, who gives HOPE,
will bless you with complete happiness and peace
because of your faith.
And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with HOPE.
(Romans 15:13 Contemporary English Version)
In Agape, Eulene
