love – Page 4 – Be Still…

Song of Solomon 4:1-11 – A Night to Remember

I’m not sure if every girl dreams of a fairy tale wedding, but I think every girl should dream for a man who cherishes her like King Solomon cherishes Shulamith. While some of these descriptions may seem a little strange to us, they are highly romantic. He is caressing her with his words, starting with her eyes.

When I first read today’s passage, I pictured the bride and groom standing before the preacher as Solomon took in her appearance. I think it was the veil that got me. Yet the veil is also a symbol for innocence and purity. Solomon was over the moon to be uniting with this woman. Bible scholars also suggest this is the start of their wedding night. Solomon is enjoying her beauty and telling her so. Music to Shulamith’s ears.

Song of Solomon 3:1-5 – Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

Read Song of Solomon 3:1-5

Was she dreaming or awake? Apparently, there is something about the text that has led scholars to believe Shulamith was dreaming of missing her man. Whether dreaming or awake, her intense love for Solomon is sure. She was missing him something fierce. Have you ever been separated from the one you love?

Our daughter was separated for nearly two years from the man she was dating when she lived in Africa and he was in California going to seminary. I am sure she had some nights laying in bed dreaming of the day when they would be back together again. Long distance relationships can be hard. Shulamith would likely endure many nights after their wedding when the king would be away on “kingly” business.

Song of Solomon 2:8-17 – Keep the Spark Alive

Read Song of Solomon 2:8-17

Remember how eager young love can be? We don’t need to be young ourselves to experience the newness of love and the tingly attraction of a relationship. After all, each new relationship starts with a spark. How quickly that turns into a flame (if ever) depends on how we nurture those relationships.

We see some fantastic inspiration in today’s passage. Our king is very enthusiastic about his love. “He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.” I remember the first days of my courtship with David. The days between calls or weeks between times we could see each other seemed like an eternity. The anticipation that bloomed made each encounter so much more enjoyable.

Song of Solomon 1:1-11 – Getting Ready

Read Song of Solomon 1:1-11

We’re about to embark on a new discovery of the wedding gift God gave to a husband and wife. As we read through these beautiful and sometimes odd descriptions of lovemaking and how best to cherish our spouses, remember the intention. It’s a love song of a couple, King Solomon and his bride, Shulamith. Some say this is an allegory for God’s love to his people. It can be both, and when we truly enjoy each other as God intends, we can’t help but thank him for loving us that much that he gave us such a gift.

Being part of Scripture, we can be certain that God intends for us to see the beauty in sexual relations within marriage. So much of what we see on television, in steamy novels, and in other forms of media would lead us to believe that sex outside marriage is okay, that perversion is normal, and that sexual escapades are open season. I could go on and on. Rather, God created sex for more than procreation, and it is certainly not dirty or perverted. He wants us to enjoy it, treasure it, and be blessed by it. Could I be so bold to say, sex is holy?

Holy Week 2020 – Friday

Read Mark 15:16-39 and Luke 23:32-49

They call this Good Friday. What Jesus did for us is definitely good, but what the people did to Jesus is horrendous and mortifying. Doesn’t that contrast make it all the more powerful? The emotions that are swirling around as we read these texts can take our breath away. When it’s a familiar story like this, it can be even harder to really put yourself back in the moment. Close your eyes and picture the scene. Can you just about hear the mocking in the soldier’s voices? They were truly possessed by the evil one and totally blinded to the Son of God standing before them.

Even on our most difficult day, we have not endured such brutality. We cannot begin to imagine what it felt like to be beaten, spit on, jeered at, and then forced to carry a heavy cross to Calvary’s hill. I remember testing for black belt and feeling totally drained and beaten up after that. I wasn’t sure I could walk to the car to drive home. It was the most brutal thing I have ever done. In the midst of that test, I questioned everything I had ever known, been taught, and practiced. I had to be on alert even though my dripping sweat was burning my eyes. My spirit fought through every test. I remember calling on God many times to give me just what I needed for the next trial. I didn’t die. I was not even close to dying. When I think of Jesus’ torture I can only weep. His purpose for going through all that was for me. Because he loved me.