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:
The verse, “increased in wisdom…,” is the motto of our Circle Square Ranches, which are located across Canada. 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
Song
I am my beloved
and his banner over
me is love.
cf Song of Solomon
7.10
I hope this is the song, Carol:
His Banner Over Me Is Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCT2ekYEpj0
Thanks Beverlee…I remember sing it years ago!!
“My Beloved is mine and I am His.” Amen! Blessings, dearest saints, in the Lord! Be safe in the snow!
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.” Isaiah 28:16 NKJV
Jennifer Hudson’s O Holy Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DbZWRSDdIw
Thanks Carol and Beverlee for scripture and songs. O Holy Night is my favorite solo song.
Wish I could hear you sing it, sister Ger!
Mine too!
Lord God, thank You for people like Peter, your people, who stood boldly and uncompromisingly for You. Please help us today to be your witnesses in all we do and say. Bring many into your Kingdom because You live, and love, in and through us. In Jesus’s incomparable name, amen
I love this reading it helps me to understand the love of Jesus towards his bride, the church. Comforting words in a world that is so confused about the relationship in a marriage. My beloved is mine and I am His!
God bless your marriage!
A continued thanks for the on going of our blog. Thank you to those responsible.
Blessings to our fellow saints on this blog. I am in prayer for all requests.
I pray God will meet your needs at this time. I continue to have MRIs every few months on the C3 neck issue. Yesterday I was told it had changed but only slightly so we will postpone a biopsy to be sure of it’s properties for another few months. I praise God for the doctors who are not so rushed into treatment at this time.
For Sah, Beverlee, Ger, Lianne, Doreen, Eleanor and Norma-Jean my prayers go up for you. Others also come to mind. Our list increases and as Sah said it is so encouraging to know we can share our inward thoughts with each other and Oray to Our Saviour Jesus. Keep warm these cold days. ❤️And????????S Catherine
Should read and PRAY. To our Saviour
Bev Kaye
That is the song
His banner over me is love
Here is another great version:
His Banner Over Me – Bethel Church – Jeremy Riddle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxPpOZXNL-w
The expression of love in “Song of Solomon”…no greater love is that which God has for us!!
Lord help us to love one another as You have loved us!
Rev. 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Amen, sister Irene!
needing prayers please! having so much difficulty with life these last few days! I rebuke the devil, I plead the Blood of the Lamb over me, my home, my neighbourhood, my church, my car, my friends, the pool, the life guards, staff at the stores, I declare that Jesus Christ is my Risen Lord and Saviour! He died and rose and through His Resurrection we all have eternal life, if we believe and I do believe!
I pray for safety in my home, on the road, in my town, in my church. Bless the Christians in my community, I pray the Holy Spirit will call many to come to accepting Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God, to be their Saviour! amen.
Thanks Beverlee; you inspire me to sing it this year. Thanks Catherine for your prayers. Prayers for you too and Sah!