SONG OF SONGS

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 1-3

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

On this coin that was minted in Jerusalem is Yehonatan the King surrounding a lily flower. It is a Bronze prutah of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus and is dated 104-76 BC. Song of Songs, chapter 2, verse 2, likens the beloved to a “lily among thorns.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Song of Solomon 2:10

My beloved spoke, and said to me:
“Rise up, my love, my fair one,
And come away…”

The story is told of the conference of Jewish Rabbis who were faced with the decision as to which writings were to be included in the Bible. One Rabbi said that the Song of Songs, as it is called in the Hebrew Bible, was much too sensuous and should be excluded. Then the aged Chief Rabbi stood to his feet and said, “Brothers, all the other books we are including in the sacred Scriptures are like the Holy Place in the Temple, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies. It is all about intimacy with our God.” Of course they included Song of Songs! For our readings, it is vital to understand that all expressions of affection and physical lovemaking are pure, true love, not to be taken in an erotic, lustful way.

Historically, this is the courting and marriage of a shepherdess to King Solomon, and the delights and heartaches of wedded love. Later in life, Solomon married many women. This special person may have been Solomon’s only true love. Allegorically, it pictures Israel as the object of God’s love and as His bride. Israel was unfaithful to her Husband. The Prophet Hosea lived out God’s relationship with Israel. God instructed him to marry an unfaithful woman (read Hosea 2:19-23, Hosea 3:1). Make no mistake about it! “GOD IS LOVE!” For a New Testament reading check out 1 John 4:9-19.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, just as You chose Israel as Your “Spouse,” so You have chosen all who believe in Jesus as Your “Bride.” I pray for Your grace so that I will be faithful to You, not prostituting myself by yielding to temptations to commit spiritual adultery with a world that is opposed to You, and living in a way that is so dishonouring to You. I love You, Lord Jesus, and I pray this in Your Name and for Your sake, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I know that every time I go to make a call or click an icon on my iPhone, up will come a picture of my bride, my spouse, and me (the same photo is posted below). Norma-Jean is my love. I think of her when I read the song of the Shunamite maiden and Solomon. That same picture is on the back cover of my latest book, This Far By Faith. As you can tell, I’m very fond of that picture.

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Yours, as the Scripture says, “And to communicate, forget not!” (Hebrews 13:16 KJV),

David