Harpezo

Bob Neumann

BEHOLD MY LILY OF THE VALLEYS, ROBED IN ROYAL PURPLE, CLOTHED IN THE COLORS OF SOVEREIGNTY.

BEHOLD MY BELOVED IN WHOM I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT. MY BELOVED IS LIKE A LILY AMONG THE THORNS. A ROSE AMIDST THE BRIERS. IT IS NOW TIME TO COME FORTH. COME FORTH OUT OF THE WEEDS. TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE TARES THAT HAVE SURROUNDED YOU SO LONG.

BEHOLD MY BELOVED, THE ONE IN WHOM I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN. BEHOLD THE ONE IN WHOM I AM MOST PLEASED. BEHOLD MY BRIDE.

AMONG ALL WHO HAVE HEARD THE GREAT CALL THERE IS A MERE FEW WHO HAVE COME FORWARD. IT IS THESE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES THAT I DO PROCLAIM MY CHOSEN.

FOR I HAVE PAID THE PRICE FOR MY BRIDE. GENTLY I HAVE COURTED YOU, ENTICING YOU FROM THE PLACE OF DARKNESS. CONTINUOUSLY URGING YOU TO LEAVE BEHIND THAT WHICH WOULD HARM YOU, ENSLAVE YOU, DESTROY YOU.

AND NOW I AM ABOUT TO COME FOR MY BRIDE. THE ONE WHOM I HAVE BOUGHT WITH MY BLOOD. THE ONE WHOM I HAVE WRAPPED IN THE GARMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND CROWNED HER WITH MY GLORY FOR ALL TO SEE.

LOOK UPON ALL THE LILIES IN MY FIELDS. LIKE THE VERY STARS IN THE FIRMAMENT THEY STAND OUT AMONGST THE COLORLESS. THE LIFELESS. LIKE SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY, THE WORLD WILL BE ASTOUNDED, AMAZED, AND PERPLEXED. THE LOST AND LIFELESS WILL MARVEL FOR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GLORY NEVER FADES. NEVER CHANGES. NEVER DIES.

BEHOLD MY LILY, MY BELOVED. THE TIME IS NOW AT HAND. COME AWAY AND PLACE THE VEIL OVER YOU. NOT A SACK THAT COVERS THE GLORY THAT YOU REFLECT. BUT THE VEIL THAT PROCLAIMS I AM NOT MY OWN. THE VEIL THAT PROCLAIMS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. THE VEIL THAT TELLS ALL WHO SEE IT THAT HERE IS ONE WHO AWAITS THE BRIDEGROOM. SO PUT ON THE VEIL OF HOLINESS, THE VEIL OF PURITY, THE VEIL OF INTIMACY.

OH MY BELOVED, FOR SO LONG I HAVE WAITED TO TAKE YOU AWAY WITH ME.

TO PRESENT YOU TO MY FATHER WHO TAKES SINGULAR DELIGHT IN EACH OF YOU AS HIS CHILD, AS MY BRIDE. FOR YOU WERE HIS AND HE GAVE YOU TO ME SO THAT I MAY BRING YOU TO HIM. TO THE PLACE IN HIS HOUSE THAT I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU. THE BANQUET IS READY AND NOW MY PRECIOUS ONE IT IS TIME TO FILL THE BANQUET HALL SO THAT NO SEAT WILL BE LEFT EMPTY.

IF ANYONE ASKS YOU WHY YOU SMILE, SAY THAT THERE IS ONE WHO HAS FOUND HIS DELIGHT IN YOU AND IS GREATLY PLEASED.

IF ANYONE ASKS WHY DO YOU SING, SAY THAT THERE IS ONE WHO SINGS HIS LOVE TO YOU CONTINUOUSLY.

IF ANYONE ASKS WHY THAT YOU DANCE, SAY THAT THERE IS ONE WHO IS YOUR SONG AND YOUR STRENGTH WHO GUIDES YOUR STEPS.

IF ANYONE ASKS WHY YOU REJOICE WITH LAUGHTER, SAY THAT THERE IS ONE WHO IS YEARNING TO CARRY YOU AWAY.

IF ANYONE ASKS WHY YOU SHINE, SAY THAT THERE IS ONE WHO SMILES UPON YOU AND YOU MERELY REFLECT HIS GLORY.

BUT WHEN THEY ASK WHO THIS ONE IS THAT YOU HAVE WAITED SO LONG FOR, WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?

THINK WELL MY DARLING, FOR THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED. BEEN CHOSEN. BEEN BETROTHED!

OH MY BELOVED YOU HAVE STOLEN MY HEART, MY SISTER, MY BRIDE. YOU HAVE STOLEN MY HEART. IF YOU COULD BUT SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE. HOW DELIGHTFUL AND PLEASING YOU ARE IN MY EYES.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER BELOVED? WHAT IS THE ANSWER THAT THE WORLD SEEKS TO KNOW, BUT WILL NOT RECEIVE? FOR WHAT YOU SAY WILL NOT BE WHAT THEY WILL SEE.

SHALL YOU NOT SAY , “MY LOVER IS THE ONE IN WHOM I HAVE FOUND FAVOR. IT IS HE WHO PAID MY BRIDAL PRICE AND REDEEMED ME BY HIS BLOOD. HE WHO RESCUED ME FROM THE PIT AND HAS PREPARED A PLACE FOR ME IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. HE CLEANSED ME FROM MY STAINS. HE SAVED ME FROM THE CURSE. HE HAS DRESSED ME IN GARMENTS WHITE, CLEAN, AND PURE. IN HIS LOVE I AM HEALED. IN HIS LOVE I AM SET FREE. IN HIS LOVE I AM REFRESHED. IN HIS LOVE I HAVE PEACE. IN HIM, I AM.”