Song of Solomon 4

WEEK 5                                    Song of Solomon 4

FRIDAY  Reflections

Anyone who has been in love can understand the feeling behind these verses. The language sounds strange to many today but praise like beauty is "in the eye of the beholder." Like seeking for the one we love, when compliments and praise cease there is a problem, love is fading. This is true in the spiritual as well as the physical. 

Son 4:1-16
(1)  Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
(2)  Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
(3)  Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
(4)  Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
(5)  Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
(6)  Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
(7)  Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
(8)  Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
(9)  Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
(10)  How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
(11)  Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
(12)  A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
(13)  Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
(14)  Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
(15)  A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
(16)  Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Matthew 5

WEEK  5                                               Matthew 5

THURSDAY  Reflections

Many believe, this chapter is the most important teaching in the New Testament, if not the whole Bible. There have been entire books written on just the opening words, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit." However, I won't be looking at that today. What I want to examine is where Jesus is focusing on his concern: what’s on the inside.

 

Jesus’ focus isn't on the world around the disciple or just their actions, but on the heart of the disciple. Jesus makes it clear the poor in Spirit (inside) are blessed, disciples are to be glad (on the inside) when persecuted, hate (on the inside) toward others is equal to murder, love (inside) your enemies.

 

Outward actions come from inward attitudes. Jesus doesn't seem impressed by actions without the correct internal attitude. He condemns what is considered acceptable when what is on the inside is wrong. What makes a person Jesus' disciple is the heart, not the outside.

 

Jesus doesn't dismiss our actions. He wants a pure heart. Jesus makes it clear that the first and most important step is on the inside. This is why Jesus starts with what is on the inside, poor spirit, sorrow over sinful life, humility, desire for righteousness, mercy, purity, etc.

Mat 5:1-48
(1)  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
(2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
(3)  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(5)  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(6)  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(7)  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(8)  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(9)  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(10)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11)  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
(12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
(14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
(15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
(19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(20)  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(21)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
(22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
(23)  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
(24)  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
(25)  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
(26)  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
(27)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
(28)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
(29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
(30)  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
(31)  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
(32)  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
(33)  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
(34)  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
(35)  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
(36)  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
(37)  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
(38)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
(39)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
(40)  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
(41)  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
(42)  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
(43)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
(44)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
(46)  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47)  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
(48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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Song of Solomon 3

WEEK   5                                 Song of Solomon 3

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Why does the person here seek the one they love? Is it because they are driven by love/desire? Maybe, but the issues here seem that the love may not be reciprocal. The lover has other gardens, but true love calls for exclusivity.  

However, when we awaken our love for God, we don’t have to worry about having to seek and hoping he will love us, because God will always be there and he always loves us.

Son 3:1-11
(1)  By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
(2)  I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
(3)  The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
(4)  It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
(5)  I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
(6)  Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
(7)  Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
(8)  They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
(9)  King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
(10)  He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
(11)  Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

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Song of Solomon 2

WEEK  5                                  Song of Solomon 2

TUESDAY  Reflections

 

I have found a friend in Jesus,

 He's everything to me,

He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see,

All my needs to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow He's my comfort,

in trouble He's my stay,

He tells me every care on Him to roll;

He's the Lily of the Valley,

 the Bright and Morning Star,

He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul

 

These words, written by William Charles Fry (1837–1882), were in response to his meditations on Song of Solomon chapter 2. As I wrote before, this book is an interaction between two lovers. It isn't incorrect to see some correlation between Christ and the church. St Paul, after all, said that marriage is a symbol/image of Christ's relationship with the church in Ephesians 5.

 

If this book raises your awareness of God’s love that is good. If this book raises your affection for your spouse then that can be celebrated also. After all, God instituted marriage before the fall. Marriage under God is holy.

Son 2:1-17

(1)  I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

(2)  As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

(3)  As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

(4)  He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

(5)  Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

(6)  His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

(7)  I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

(8)  The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

(9)  My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

(10)  My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

(11)  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

(12)  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

(13)  The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

(14)  O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

(15)  Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

(16)  My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

(17)  Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

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2 Samuel 24

WEEK  5                                              2 Samuel 24

MONDAY  Reflections

"I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24)

 

What are you giving to God? We understand that salvation through Jesus Christ is free, but what we offer the Lord after that costs us. We are asked to give him our lives, our loves, and in short everything we have so that he will be the Lord of our life.

 

Too often people want things from God but they don't want it to cost them anything. It is like the person who wants the benefits of owning a car without buying it, maintaining it, or putting any gas in it. It doesn't work that way, and neither does salvation. Salvation is free, we can't pay for it nor can we ever earn it, but part of salvation is surrendering all of our life to Jesus. This action of surrender costs us, it costs us selfish desires and sinful actions, but the benefits outweigh the costs. It is like surrendering a broken-down bike for a new truck. Yes, you don't have a bike but you don't need it. You have something better.

 

David understood the sacrifice he was offering needed to come from him. He needed to give up something that cost him something and so do we.

2Sa 24:1-25
(1)  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
(2)  For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
(3)  And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
(4)  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
(5)  And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
(6)  Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
(7)  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
(8)  So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
(9)  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
(10)  And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
(11)  For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
(12)  Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
(13)  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
(14)  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
(15)  So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
(16)  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
(17)  And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
(18)  And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
(19)  And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
(20)  And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
(21)  And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
(22)  And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
(23)  All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
(24)  And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
(25)  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

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