"Lily Among Thorns"

"As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." (S.O.S. 2:2)

  As far as practical application goes, this is a picture of what we should expect this life to be; not as a lily among other lilies, but that of being a lily among thorns; where thorns represent sinful people, the cares of this world, and the darkness of this fallen world. It is wise to know and understand what is around us, because without knowing, we are not prepared for what might overcome us, or worse, cause us to be turned into thorns.
  Matthew Henry puts it like this: "When they are among the thorns they must still be as lilies, must maintain their innocency and purity, and, though they are among thorns, must not be turn into thorns, must not render railing for railing, and, if they thus preserve their character, they shall be still owned as conformable to Christ."
  This is not just a simple illustration, because there are two parts; one that shows what we represent, and one that shows our representation. If you know anything about gardening, there is absolutely no way that a delicate flower can stay alive in the midst of thorns and thistles; not without being taken care of by a gardener, someone to trim away those thorns and keep the flower from being choked out.
  This is what we are, much as David described in his famous 23rd Psalm: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4) Yes, we are as such, but we are also not alone! Sometimes we might feel as though we are, but that is what fear does in us, it makes false evidence appear real; the things of this world, whether they be cares or threats, they are not real! The cares will not satisfy and the threats cannot overtake us!
  There is only one thing that we must fear, to not be the lily that we are, and discredit the Gardener...

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us." (Romans 8:35-37) NLT