Son 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
As I arose this morning, I began to think about how fast this year has gone and how quickly the LORD is moving time along. So, I began to think about all the things I have accomplished and some things I haven’t accomplished.
As I was meditating, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “It is the little foxes that spoil the vine.”
I remember reading this scripture a long time ago, so I looked it up and began meditating on it. This is a book that most people don’t read often, or haven’t read in the Bible called; “Song of Solomon.”
It is rich in revelation concerning the love of God for his people, or for Christ and the church! It is also filled with romantic expressions of love between Solomon and his bride.
The scripture in Song of Solomon is profound because Solomon was a man of wisdom, and the book Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is filled with wisdom. But what does it mean to catch the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vine?
Well, it is a euphemistic word of wisdom that says, it is the little things that mess up something that is sweet or good.
A euphemism is defined as:
“A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt, when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.”
Son 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
When we think about it, we use euphemisms all the time when we are trying to be polite or nice in compliments or expressing something, but we really mean something else!
So, Solomon was saying that the little foxes spoil the grape vines because they, “Excuse my wording, use the bathroom on them like dogs do on bushes or trees, or they eat them, and spoil or mess them up.” In other words, the tender sweet grapes are messed up because of the little foxes doing their business on them or eating them!
When we think about this, there is so much wisdom for life in this scripture. Because it is not always the big things that mess up a plan, a vision, a marriage, a friendship, or even a ministry of church. It is the small things.
Sometimes we allow the little things to get in the way of our progress. A little attitude, a little discouragement, a little anger, a little jealousy, a little envy, or something small or insignificant, that gets blown out of proportion.
As I was putting up some dishes the other day, I accidently dropped a small glass bowl that shattered into hundreds of pieces! As I started cleaning them up, “I said let me clean up every piece, because it won’t be the large pieces that will cut my feet, it will be the SMALL or LITTLE pieces I don’t see.”
Likewise, there are some small things in our lives that can hinder our relationships with God and one another, and if they are left unchecked it develops into a larger problem! It is the small foxes that spoil the vine! This is where people miss it.
It is not the big things all the time. This is why we have to correct those small things in our lives that may hinder us because it is the small foxes that will spoil the vine!
Jesus even spoke about one thing, or a small thing when a young man asked him a question. Let’s read!
Matthew 19:16, “Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Listen to the response of Christ..
Mat 19:17 And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He said to Him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 honor your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 19:20 The young man said to Him, I have kept all these things from my youth up; what do I lack yet?
This is a powerful discussion between Jesus and the rich young ruler. Because he wanted to know the way of salvation and eternal life, and he had done all the big things required from his youth!
Nevertheless, Jesus checked him on one thing.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Jesus basically said you have done all the big things, but this one thing you still lack. Marks Gospel says this:
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said to him, One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, take up the cross and follow Me.
Jesus saw the potential in this young man and the scripture says he beheld him, and loved him. But he checked him on that one thing, that one small thing that might hinder him, and that was his riches! But because this small thing was a big thing in his life, it prevented him from following Jesus!
Truth we told, every person reading this under the sound of my voice has one thing they can correct, do better or change in their life! Why, because we are human and there is always the potential to offend, make mistakes, say or do something that would cause us to fall short of the glory of God!
I remember a movie starring Denzel Washington called the “Little Things” which was a suspenseful drama about a police team investigating a crime. It is a powerful dramatization and if you don’t watch closely, you will miss “The Little things” that could reveal who the killer is.
Beloved of the LORD, what is that small thing that may be hindering you? You see, it is not the big things in life, it is the small foxes that spoil the vine. It is the small things that we don’t do in our finances, in your life, in your vision, in a ministry, a relationship or in the church that is stopping progress.
Let us stop, regroup and think about what we have accomplished and did not accomplish this year, as we prepare for a new year soon. Let’s get rid of the small foxes that spoil the vine, so that we can go on to sweet victory and bear sweet spiritual fruit for the LORD!
God Bless,
Pastor Quinn