Chapter Nine
The Golden Bowls and a New Song
The Servant Girl grinned as she stepped through the doorway, for there was her Companion waiting for her. “I thought you were with my Friend!” she said.
“I am with her…but I am also with you,” He grinned back at her. “Another door, little one?”
“Lead and I will follow,” she said with joy in her heart.
“We are here already” He said and pointed to the door behind Him.
The rich golden script shone these words: “AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK, THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB, HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS AND GOLDEN VIALS OF INCENSE, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.
“Open the door, little one.”
“But I have no key, Teacher,” she said.
He smiled. “But you do, child. As you worked in the burning furnace the key that lay against your heart burned the words into it. You don’t need to wear the key anymore for you carry it in your heart.”
Her eyes grew wide with this revelation. “Do you mean that all of these doors will open to me?”
He laughed. “Yes, child, every one of them holds treasure waiting for your discovery.”
Her face lit up and she reached for the knob. As always, it opened easily and her heart swelled with joy. 10,000 times 10,000 angelic voices singing praises with all of creation enveloped her for the Servant Girl found herself once again in the very Throne Room itself. A sweet perfume filled the air and she saw that 24 Elders were carrying large golden bowls of incense.
The King’s Son approached her then and after a warm embrace smiled at her, “Do you have the pouch, little one?”
“Oh yes, my Lord. Here it is,” and she handed Him the pouch.
He took the pouch, and opening it poured the contents first into His Hand, and then into one of the bowls before Him. As He did so her Companion blew softly upon the coals beneath the bowl and the rich aroma filled the air. The Son inhaled deeply. “Well done, child, the perfume of your prayers is added to the others and is a sweet aroma to the King.” Her heart was content for she knew that her small pouch of herbs were only acceptable to the King because of the Son’s touch upon them.
And then The Son seemed to snatch a handful of the smoky incense as it wafted in the air which transformed into a rainbow bouquet of fragrant flowers clutched in His fist.
“Here, little one,” He said and handed them to her. “This the gift that you bring to present to your King.” She beamed as she took the blossoms into her arms. The Son gently took her hand, then, and led her to The King who took her into His arms with a warm embrace. She handed Him the still blooming and fragrant sacrifice of prayer and He accepted it with joy. “You have returned from your task, little one,” He said. “You have served your King well. And so, My child, it is time that you stop thinking of yourself as Servant Girl. Your journey has changed you, and you must now recognize and embrace the person you truly are. You are a true Daughter-of-the-King, adopted into The Family with all the blessings and responsibilities that come with it.”
Her eyes widened as she tried to comprehend what this meant. “Daughter-of-the-King?” she whispered.
“Yes, My Daughter. It is who you have always been, but you are only now beginning to comprehend it.” He allowed her a moment to contemplate His words, then added, “In time you will understand, child. In time you will grow. But for now, it is enough that you become accustomed to who you are in MY eyes.”
She bowed her head and dropped to her knees, once more overwhelmed by the blessings bestowed on her. The King placed His hand gently on her head and said:
“These are the things that you have learned on your journey, child: That when you are summoned by your Companion to the Throne Room, it is a command, and you must come knowing that I, your King, My Son and The Companion will be here with you.
You have learned that it is not only a command, but a privilege you enjoy as a child of The King. You may approach the Throne of Grace at any time, but you must never take this privilege lightly, but come before Us in all humility, which is pleasing to Us.
You have learned that My Word is precious and you are to use the Golden Key of Prayer unceasingly to learn great and unsearchable Truth, illuminated for you by your Companion. Indeed, the Word is to remain within you, and you are to remain in Me. If this be so, you may ask anything of Me and I will do it. Obedience to My commands are the right response of a child of The King.
You have learned to hear My voice when it thunders in the mountains, when written in Holy Scripture, and when whispered in the quiet places of your heart. You have learned to wait on Me, knowing I am with you, even when I am silent.
You have learned about self sacrifice, carrying the burdens of others and the blessings that come to you even in the midst of the fiery furnace. You have learned to speak the names of others, to intercede for those who have yet to approach the Throne of Grace in the way that you have.
You have learned all of this and the seeds of even deeper understanding has been planted in your heart.”
As the Daughter-of-the-King reflected on all the lessons she had learned, her heart was both light and heavy at the same time. Light, because of all the blessings she had received, and heavy that her journey had come to an end.
“No little one,” The Son said and He took her hand, raising her to her feet. “Your journey is not over. It is just beginning.”
Her heart leapt. “What do you mean?”
“It was necessary for you to walk this path so that you might learn to commune with Us in all circumstances. Now the journey continues as you do all that you were created to do—the work that was planned for you before you were even born.”
A smile burst forth on her face as she took in these words, and then He continued. “You, My child…are a Singing Pilgrim, and I give you a new song to sing. Once again, I have two gifts for you.” He smiled as He handed her the first. “Do you remember this, little one?”
She nodded, “It is the harp You played on the porch of the little house.”
“Yes, it is the very same one. It is yours now.” She reverently took the gift into her arms and was filled with wonder as He handed her a second gift.
“On your journey, little one, you learned to love all the Words on the Doors within the hallway. All of those Words are written within This Book…this is your Song Book, child.” Tears sprung to her eyes as she received this most precious gift. All of the Words contained within One Book and at her fingertips! And the Golden Key of Prayer now burned into her heart could unlock all the mysteries with the help of her constant Companion! She hugged The Book tight knowing it would become more dear to her with each passing day. Over come with emotion, she could find no words of her own to thank Him. “My Lord!” she cried.
He smiled, understanding. “The journey continues for you, little Singing Pilgrim, and I will be with you always, even unto the ends of the earth. I send you out, bearing a flood of grace with you, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. Let the adventure begin!”
Questions for Reflection
What does the Servant Girl learn about her golden key?
Have you had important scriptures burned in your heart by your time in the furnace?
What did the herbs and spices the Servant Girl had collected represent?
The Servant Girl knew that the herbs were only acceptable because of the Son's touch upon them. What does that mean for us?
How can we know that the incense of our prayers is acceptable to God?
The incense becomes a gift acceptable for her to present to the King. Why do you think our prayers are a gift for our King?
What new name does the King call the Servant Girl and why?
The King tells her that it is who she has always been. Why do we need to become accustomed to who we are in God's eyes?
The King lists the things that His daughter has learned on the journey. Whi
ch of these things is most important on your own journey?
Why was it important to take this journey, before a new journey could begin?
What two gifts does she receive from the Son?
What gifts have you received for your own journey?
Now that you've completed this story…why do you think it was called "The Golden Key?"
Discussion
or
"Things I've learned about prayer
that somehow worked their way into this story."
I hope you have gleaned much insight into the topic of prayer after reading the parable "The Golden Key." My prayer is that you have gained not only insight, but also a deeper prayer life of your own as a result. Below is a deeper exploration of the truths that my Holy Spirit Companion shared with me on my own journey. I like to call them: "Things I've learned about prayer that somehow worked their way into this story." I've broken these points down according to the chapters that you will find them in.