Footsteps, November 7, 2025

Two weeks had past and Hup continued to wait for a sense of Christ’s presence. Where did he want him? Gracie sat in his lap – the Bible open to the Song of Solomon, Chapter One. Hup believed the Song of Solomon allegorically spoke of the coming of the promised Messiah and the union of the Bridegroom and bride.

He gleaned from the sermons of C.H. Spurgeon and Matthew Henry’s commentaries, as David threshed the kernels on the Sabbath. He didn’t rest his belief solely on them. He read the Bible and trusted the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide him. In fact, there were other sources: John Owen’s ‘Communion with God,’ Richard Sibbes’ ‘The Spouse,’ and Thomas Shepard’s ‘Parable of the Ten Virgins.’ Each were 17th-century divines who saw in Solomon’s love song the very pulse of sanctification: desire awakened, judgment endured, self-examination enforced, and finally – as the highest act of love? Waiting. As far as Hup was concerned, the Song of Solomon as an allegory ended, awaiting the 1st advent of Christ. Also as an allegory, Revelation had him awaiting Christ’s 2nd advent. 

Song of Solomon 8:14: Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

Revelation 22:20: He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Now, what was so curious that caused Hup to jump out of his chair? Thomas Shepard was his 12th great grandfather.  

“Talk about footsteps,” Hup shouted when he read Chapter One, verse 8: “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.”

His wife came running into the room. “Hup? You okay?”

“Okay? Absolutely! You know my 12th great grandfather is Thomas Shepard, right? Well, Jesus said to follow the footsteps of the flock – not his footsteps mind you… the anointed hadn’t entered the scene – but, get this, I’m told to feed my kids beside the shepherd’s tents.”

“You’re reading into it, Hup.”

“Okay, maybe a bit, but the testimony is there and that hasn’t changed. As Solomon knew to follow the flocks and footsteps of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac… Moses… David… through the prophets… major and minor… to find Jesus, shouldn’t we be able to trace our footsteps back to Christ, the apostles through men like Spurgeon, Calvin… Aquinas… Augustine?”

“Sure. What do you say Gracie?”

“Gracie agrees. If she didn’t she’d have bolted.”

“Not everyone agrees, Hup. There’s a lot of different teachings… religions out there… all having their own footsteps and flocks.”

“And Jesus told us, ‘narrow is the way and gate.'”

“That’s true.”

“As far as those footprints are concerned? Don’t you think the Holy Spirit can point out the club feet.. those missing toes? Sure, in a thick grass, you have to look closely. We need to trust the Lord to give us the eyes.