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:
Today, I’m going to the Go Train shortly and heading to downtown Toronto to a clinic for treatment for MDS leukemia. 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. 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. If you haven’t received your copy of my book yet, here’s how to get it (click here). I’ll ask Ron to put that picture here at the bottom of today’s blog.
I’ve just read all 85 responses to Wednesday’s blog where I asked, “What do you think?” in relation to my continuing this blog past March, the month predicted by the doctor for this normally terminal illness. I’ll quote just one comment. David L. said at 9:47 a.m. these words, “Blessings to you David, Bloggers, and though you probably won’t read this blog, everyone who follows the Bible reading through 100words. Our God is a God of miracles. Obviously, David, you have work here on earth that is not complete.” I have not been able to read every response since I began on June 3rd, 2012, but lately I’ve been faithful to read everything readers say. You are a great encouragement to me. Keep them coming!!!
Yours, as the Scripture says, “And to communicate, forget not!” (Hebrews 13:16 KJV),
David
Up Next in Year 2 | December
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How fair is your love,
My sister, my spouse!
How much better than wine is your love,
And the scent of your perfumes
Than all spices!
Whether we read this poem as simply a love story between Solomon and the lovely Shulamite maiden, or a portrayal of the love bet...
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100 Words - YR2 December 15th - My Be...
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 Leban...
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100 Words - YR2 December 16th - God S...
Key Verses: Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…What we used to call “the bare subject” of th...