Behind the invitation and commission of Song of Solomon 2:15 to “catch us the foxes” is the passion and zeal of a God who’s love is as strong as death and who’s jealousy is as cruel as the grave. The little foxes of Song of Solomon are the venial sins. They are the small compromises under the surface – and God is calling us to partner with Him deal with them.
“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.”
Little foxes are different from mature foxes. Mature foxes simply eat the fruit, but the little foxes get to the root of the tender branches nearly destroying the chance to bear any fruit at all. The little foxes in our life are the little areas of dissobedience. Those small areas of compromise under the surface.
“Catch us the foxes”
This is an invitation to partnership with Jesus in the pursuit of holiness. We can’t do His part and He will not do ours. To not partner with Christ in catching the little foxes is to have a low and un-godly vision for this life, and the age to come. Nobody sins out of obligation, but rather because we think it will be more satisfying than what God has to offer us. Until we have a touch of the love of God we will continue in sin not knowing any better.
We must pray continually for the Lord’s help in the small areas. By asking the Lord to help us is to take the command to “Rise up My love, My fair one, and come away” (SOS 2:10) seriously. It is the little areas of compromise that hold us back from the deepest experiences in the love of God.
The Kingdom of God only knows forward movement. If we want to continue in our life in God we must also continue and press on towards Godliness. To catch the little foxes is to take hold of those small areas of compromise and fight against them. Nobody said it was easy, but it is worth it. The level that we will enjoy God and enjoy prayer is directly related to the level of Holiness in our lives.
I am resolved to partner with the Lord as He works out His salvation within me. To fight off the little foxes of my own life and to resist my old life. To be honest and integrous in all my affairs and in all my relationships. Especially with the Lord.
[This post is part of a series on Life in God through Song of Solomon. You can read the intro here, and view all the posts here.]
5 comments
Leonard Klaatu said:
Small compromises with obedience to God is surely an incredible danager, but the “little foxes” seem to represent false teachers who are best caught (and fended off) early, before they become full-grown and do greater damage.
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 8:50 am
Matthew Berry said:
“Those small areas of compromise under the surface.”
Shawn, I really liked your insight into this passage. The Lord has been convicting my wife and of little areas of compromise. In some ways, the small areas can be much more destructive than the “mature foxes.” The “little foxes” have a way of sneaking in without much notice.
Thanks for these posts!
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 11:39 am
Zack Hensley said:
It reminds me of Hebrews 12, “Cast off the sin and the little things that so easily entagle us that we may Run the race with endurance…” Good post Shawn!
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Closet Atheism, Habitual Sins and the Truth | The Fight Spot said:
[...] Jesus made a covenant with us. He promised us that the truth would set us free and that whom He set free would be free indeed. Free indeed — Not free for the next 24 hours, or 6 months or even 5 years. Free forever. Most of us still aren’t even free the sins that so easily entangle, let alone the little foxes. [...]
Posted on February 6, 2008 at 9:21 am
Closet Atheism, Habitual Sins and the Truth said:
[...] Jesus made a covenant with us. He promised us that the truth would set us free and that whom He set free would be free indeed. Free indeed — Not free for the next 24 hours, or 6 months or even 5 years. Free forever. Most of us still aren’t even free the sins that so easily entangle, let alone the little foxes. [...]
Posted on November 16, 2011 at 12:54 pm