Wednesday, December 15, 2021

MY BELOVED

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 7-8

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

 

Sheltered from the sun, a lady sitting in a tree keeps watch over her donkey at Nazareth Village. The Shulamite maiden in our readings was such a farm girl.

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

 

Key Verses: Song of Solomon 7:10, 8:6

I am my beloved’s and his desire is toward me…Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm.

 

For the culture of 3,000 years ago, the imagery used to describe the bride’s beauty was understood. For example, “Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon” may seem humorous to us, but to them it meant,”exquisitely sculptured and well formed.” Solomon considered her entire body to be beautiful from her feet up to he hair on her head. For us, we can learn that complimenting our spouse is good for a happy life. Our first key verse is a wonderful statement which describes a relationship of true wedded love, and it is also true in our love for God and His love for us. He loves us with an everlasting love, and may we do the same toward Him. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

In much of middle-eastern culture, a brother and sister may kiss in public, but never a married couple (8:1). Our second key verse can be understood to be as an engagement and wedding rings in our culture today. A mark, perhaps a tattoo, was placed on the arm of the bride. A tattoo is there for one’s entire life; unfortunately a wedding ring can be removed. May God help us to keep our vows “until death do us part.” In 8:8-10 our reading takes us from the Shulamite’s childhood to her maturity as a woman. Her brothers protected her purity as a “wall” around about her. May our families form a shield of protection, particularly around our youth.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, I love You with all my heart. I have loved ones for whom I care most deeply. May I be as a wall of wisdom, love, and protection around them and not an over protection, which would hinder their development into all that they can be. I pray this in the Name of the One who made His own decision at 12 to stay behind in the Temple, a Boy (young Man) who “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men,” Jesus, Himself (Luke 2:52). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

That verse, Luke 2:52, about the maturing of Jesus from a young boy has been the motto of our Circle Square Ranches across Canada since their first year of operation in 1978. Crossroads gave them as a gift to “Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship,” which has operated Christian summer camps since 1928. They are doing a great job in reaching more and more children and teens for Christ. An excellent Christmas gift for children would be a week at camp next summer. Check out “Pioneer Camps” and “Circle Square Ranches.” Click here for information on purchasing a week at camp as a surprise gift. Good suggestion!

Tomorrow, God willing, we move back to the New Testament and start the book of Hebrews. Hebrews ties together the two Covenants (Testaments) of God with His human family in a powerful way that shows clearly that in Messiah (Hebrew), or Christ (Greek), Jesus is the absolutely essential Bridge over which all must cross in order to embrace the eternal plan of redemption and everlasting life available to all humanity. Acts 4:5-12 is an excellent reading for our consideration as we move into Hebrews.

Yours because we can say, “My Beloved is mine and I am His” (Song of Songs 2:16a),

David

8 thoughts on “Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  1. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

    Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always being there for us. May Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, in Jesus’s name, amen

  2. Thanks for the encouraging words. Without Him we would be without hope and without Salvation. Thank You Lord. Thank You. Blessings all with health and happiness, knowing that He is with us.

  3. Amen and Amen!

    Matthew 11:28 speaks to me of Jesus’s love and compassion for all of us, it just lifts my spirits!
    I think most of us can relate to feeling weary and burdened, at least some times….I sure can, therefore how wonderful that we can still say and sing together “Joy to the world the Lord has come”

    I am looking forward to starting the book of Hebrews tomorrow with all of you, and gleaning from David’s insight!

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