We have been discussing the song, Pretty Fair Maid in the Garden for the last couple of times. In summary, a stranger comes up to a maid and simply asks if she will be his bride.

The song doesn’t say this (and I will give away a lot here by saying this) — but they are either at a distance she cannot see his face; or he’s holding his head down or it’s partially covered; and he may be distorting his voice. It is important you realize that.

She responds to the stranger that she has a “true love” who’s in the army, and that he’s been gone for “seven long years.” And she adds, if he’s gone for another seven years, she will still be waiting for him. So, in essence . . . “No,” is her answer. She will not be his bride.

The stranger responds by asking — what if he’s dead, or what if he has gone ahead and married someone else? To which she responds, “I will love the girl that married him.”

What?

Is the fair maid just an utter fool? She and her lover made this commitment to each other, but if it turned out that he did not keep it, that he has married another, why should she continue to wait for him? Does she not want to have a fuller life herself, marry, and have a family?

But, even more. Why should she simply erase herself out of the equation altogether? Why would she be so devoted to her lover that she completely supports and sides with him, no matter what he does, even if he betrays her and marries another? Does this make any sense?

I believe there is only one way this does make sense. And it will help to remember many of Jesus’ parables.

When Jesus told a parable to teach a very important point, he would often use hyperbole, to exaggerate, to make that point. He wanted one thing, and one thing only, to be clear. Other things in the story did not have to make perfect sense. Often they didn’t.

Like the story of the woman who pleaded for justice from a corrupt judge.

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8   NASB

So, does this mean that God is a corrupt judge? No.

In a way Jesus chose a story that was easier to relate to, something that could actually happen in their lives. But more importantly, He wanted the listeners to understand they need to be this persistent. The focus is on the widow and her persistence, that’s it. Now, the widow may have also known the judge was corrupt, and she knew she would have to push him to the brink to have any success. But I hope the point is clear.

And so, how might this be similar to our fair maid? What is the point in our song?

The point is that a commitment is a commitment. A covenant is a covenant. Our struggle is usually our tendency to not keep our commitments. Our tendency is to indulge ourselves, instead of sacrificing for others. For the pretty young maid — what would be the only way to make sure she kept her pledge, to make sure that she never gives in to any form of self-indulgence?

Please think about this.

Next time,

Sam