Going on a Fox Hunt....

Song of Songs 2:15, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.”

We have seen that the Beloved is wavering in her devotion to her Lover.  She has hesitated to go to the mountains with him.  She tells him to “turn” and go to the mountains without her (SOS 2:17).

Before her unwillingness to go with Him to the heights, the Lover is calling to His bride to tend the vineyard; to tend to those areas that are keeping her from going “all in” with Him!  Why does she hesitate?  Why does she waver?  Why is she fearful?  She knows how her Lover feels about her and yet she does not trust Him.  She refuses to go with Him.

What keeps us from going “all in”?  Why do we waver in obedience?  Why do we lack confidence or trust in Jesus? Why are we afraid to get out of the comfort zone and run up the mountains with Jesus?

He says the same thing to us as was spoken to the Bride:  “Catch for us the little foxes that ruin the vineyard…”  This is our responsibility.  The Lord does His part and we must do our part.  He sees the areas in our lives that need to be addressed; those issues that keep us from living deep in the Spirit. 

When the writer speaks of the vineyard in full bloom, it means that there is tender fruit that is not fully developed.  We need to tend to those things that could ruin our relationship with God.  What are the areas that I have compromised in my relationship with God?

I want to present 8 areas of compromise that are foxes in this analogy.  Take some time to read through each of the areas, inviting the Holy Spirit to convict you of anything that needs to be addressed and confessed. 

Let’s go on a fox hunt:

1. Anger ~ Allowing these consequences of anger to have place in your heart: bitterness, resentment, un-forgiveness, revenge, hurts, keeping accounts, impatience.  Do you see anger having a hold in your heart?
   
2. Pride~ Having a cold heart, critical spirit, judging, envy, jealousy, murmuring & complaining, offending others, being opinionated, stubbornness.  Has pride reared its ugly head?
   
3. Self~ Selfishness, self-centeredness, self-pity, self-justification, defending your rights, striving to achieve, unkindness, unloving attitude or actions, insensitivity, impatience.  Are you living by the FLESH or the Spirit?
   
4. No Fear of God~  Disobedience, compromise, tolerance of sin, idols in the heart (kids, time, self, job, leisure, comfort, etc), busyness, laziness, undisciplined life, little prayer, loss of first love for Jesus, not heeding God’s discipline, people-pleasing more than God, misuse of the tongue, gossip, procrastination.  Repent of any idols the Lord brings to your mind.  An idol is anything we think about in our idle moments.
   
5. Control~ Expectations that are not God-given, demanding your rights, independent spirit, manipulation, perfectionism, control.  Release control in every area to Jesus.  As a believer, you must lay down your "rights". 
   
6. Lust~ Coveting a person sexually, love for the things of the world, divided heart, addictions (food, tv, reading, pleasure, sports, alcohol, drugs, etc.).  Ask forgiveness from any area of covetousness.
   
7. Unbelief~ Fear (what if…..), guilt, living by feelings, no joy, depression, hopelessness, tension, anxiety, worry.  Confess areas of unbelief.  Cry out "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief".
   
8. Lying~ Falseness, pretense, deception, untruth, exaggeration to look good. Is untruth living in you?