Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16 + 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 + Psalm 50:1-23 + Proverbs 22:22-23
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Old Testament – Today we begin the Song of Solomon! Now, for those of you that have not read Song of Solomon before, let me say this up front – this is a book for married folks y’all! 🙂 Well, yes, us single folks can read it, but we would do well to know that this book is all about the beauty of love and, yes, sex – within marriage.
~ Song of Solomon ~
Author: Solomon
Date: Tenth century B.C.
Content: This book, about the love of Solomon and a Shulamite woman, consists of a series of lyrics or songs, hence the designation in the text: the Song of Songs. It is a simple but moving piece, describing the longing of two lovers for one another, of the struggles that need to be overcome, of the tender feelings that love awakens, and of the joy that the lovers find in being together. The young women of Jerusalem, who appear with Solomon and his beloved, add to the dramatic effect of the story by adding observations of their own.
Theme: The most obvious meaning of this narrative is that human love, which was ordained by God, is good and holy when enjoyed in obedience to the commands of God. Many interpreters have found a symbolic meaning in the book, however, and point to the love of God for Israel or the love of Christ for his church. Seen in this way it underscores the teaching of the New Testament that God is love (1 John 4:8). (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 10-11) More great commentary on the Song of Solomon is at this link.
Bible Project: Here is a terrific video overview of Song of Songs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KC7xE4fgOw
New Testament – Second Corinthians chapter 8 verse 23 stood out to me today – “If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And these brothers are representatives of the churches. They are splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ.” I like that last sentence a lot. I believe each of us are called to be splendid examples of those who bring glory to Jesus! How is your example these days? Below is an icon painting of Paul ordaining Titus on the island of Crete:
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s (and tomorrow’s) readings in Second Corinthians titled “Keeping Your Commitments” is at this link. Below is a great image for Second Corinthians 8:20-21 today:
Psalms – Psalm 50 verses 14 & 15 are beautiful words from God to Israel – “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Do you believe these words can apply to us today as well? Are you giving true thanks to God each day? Are you trusting in God in your times of trouble? Are you giving God glory for all that he has done for you? How often do you say “thank you” to God?
Below is a great image for Psalm 50 verse 1 today:
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 22 verses 22 & 23 teach us today: “Do not rob the poor because they are poor or exploit the needy in court. For the LORD is their defender. He will injure anyone who injures them.” This is a strong warning to not rob or exploit the poor. I think we would do well to think of this not only in terms of the materially poor, but the spiritually or emotionally poor too. Let us not rob them or exploit them. For the Lord is their defender!
Worship Video: Psalm 50 verse 15’s “you will give me glory” reminded me of Third Day’s great song “Show Me Your Glory!” Here’s a live version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JbEQHmCEFU
Do you want to see God’s Glory? Click here for Glory!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.” Proverbs 22:22-23 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will never exploit the poor. Pray that you will bless the poor, know them, love them, and serve them – as you know, love, and serve yourself.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
II Corinthians 8:16-24
20 By traveling together we will guard against any suspicion, for we are anxious that no one should find fault with the way we are handling this generous gift. 21We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to know we are honorable.
Accountability and integrity as practiced by Paul: Never do anything alone that can bring on suspicious talk or rumor. In accounting the hand that takes should never be the hand that gives and there should always be a “Paper-trail.” Too often in ministry and churches across the country ministry does not submit to scrutiny or accountability which can lead to God’s name being Blasphemed when the shepherds abuse the sheep they have been assigned to watch over.
Psalm 50:1-23
13
I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice;
I don’t need the blood of goats.
14
What I want instead is your true thanks to God;
I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Too often, we get caught up in the ritual and not the God who made us. Our worship should point to God. Yet we wind up worshiping the worship instead of the one we have been called to Worship, God.
Proverbs 22:22-23
Exploitation of the poor is almost applauded in this society. Predators seeking out a person’s week spot not to try to build them up but to take advantage and tear them down. Lust desires to benefit self at the expense of others while love desires to benefit others at the expense of self.
Lusting after people’s gifts, talents and abilities makes us enemies of God a position no one who is supposed to be filled Wisdom should ever want to be in.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Caryn:
I can’t help but feel a little cynical as I read Song of Songs, because I know that the author, Solomon, did not have only one wife, but rather several hundred concubines! It makes me wonder if perhaps amongst them he had one true love who should have been his one and only wife. Or perhaps the book describes what he imagined it might be like if he had found that one true love? Ultimately, Solomon’s love of women was part of his downfall.
Caryn
======= Pat:
It has long been debated if the book of Ecclesiastes should have been included in the Bible because of it’s negative approach to seeking God. For me Ecclesiastes contains many great teachings, such as there is a time for everything and the glory of seeking God over folly.
I have personally always wondered why the Songs of Solomon was included in the Bible. It just doesn’t seem to fit as there is no reference to God or God’s teachings in the Songs of Solomon. Maybe some of you can open my eyes as to why you feel it was included in The Word.
God Bless!
Pat
======= Ramona:
Pat,
Sometimes things are written and included in the Bible to give us the BIG PICTURE, sometimes they are written as examples, both positive and negative. Song of Solomon can be seen and is looked at as an Allegory reflecting the relationship of Jesus to His Church, the Bride of Christ, and/or His relationship to Israel, His Beloved.
I do know how you feel. Last year, after having read the Book of Esther hundreds of times, I had a total break-down, not the mental kind, but an emotional break-down (I believe my writing is still in the achieve Mike? You see when I was a child, two different churches I attended used that book and the phrase, “For such a times as this,” as justification for sexual abuse which was rampant in both places—two different denomination and none of them were Catholic.
What God has shown me is that we flock together with like kind when we are not looking for truth and use the Word of God as a cover—wolves in sheep clothing. My family has a history of allowing pedophiles to run rampant—dirty uncles, low-down parents and grandparents, so they went to churches where there was no accountability and predators were rampant in the pews and the pulpit. People don’t check each others behavior when everybody, or at least most, are doing it.
I pray that God shows you how the Song fits into His Purpose.
These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did … These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
(1 Corinthians 10:6-11 NET.)
The reason I have dedicated myself to reading and studying the Word for myself is to be able to counter in my mind, and often out loud, those who misuse scripture and not allow those folks into my life.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Jan:
Re: Song of Songs
I look at this way – from Genesis (the Beginning), God intended for man & woman to be together & that portrays our relationship with Him/being One. I know that some of us are still single (some by choice & others not) – but I do believe if the Fall had never happened we would all have Godly perfect mates/spouses in Christ. That is just the way He chose to do this world.
Jan
======= Halle:
The Book of Solomon: In reading the Book of Solomon, there are two things that should be noted: (1) Solomon is actually a romantic musical with a chorus made up of friends standing on the back of the stage and Solomon and the Shulamite woman standing to the front of the stage. It is very hard to read from the KJV and much easier to follow when read from a study Bible that breaks out the separate performers. A study Bible makes the script easy to follow along with the interaction between the performers. (2) Even though interpreters compare this book to the love God had for the Israelites or the love Christ has for us, nowhere in the entire Bible in either the OT or the NT is there a reference made to or a quote taken from this book. It is a stand-alone love song. We also need to remember that the Shulamite woman was only one of Solomon’s many wives and concubines. If we do take this book as an interpretation of Christ’s love for us, then the lesson we get from it is that even though we are only one of many Christians, Christ has a special love for each individual one of us.
God Bless!
Halle
======= Jill:
I think one thing we have to remember is that not everything in the Old Testament is what God is telling us to do. Most of it is simply what people did. It is the history of the people on the earth after the fall of man and before redemption provided by Christ. I don’t take this to be wedded bliss; but just an example of how our natures are and how emotional sex is and how volitile it can also be. Not only did the people of the Old Testament live in sin – they also learned the hard way about it. I think we can get into trouble in thinking that Solomon was a true and faithful man to his wife – he had many. I think this is just to show us our raw emotions and how easily we can be beset by them. Many good people have been caught up in the web of emotons which were hormonal and from lust and not love. I don’t think this is just a glimpse of that side of our nature that we must work to control.
Jill
======= Chad:
Would we not all work hard to hear this praise:
“And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.”
Chad
======= Betty:
In the Song of Solomon passage we see the superiority of genuine love:
like a lily among thorns (2:2), sweet fruit (2:3), being brought to a banqueting hall (2:4), better than wine and more fragrant than the sweetest smelling spices (4:10). The love relationship we have in Christ is superior to anything we could imagine!
In the Corinthians passage we see how to demonstrate love to others–in the care for brethren in need–not just lip service.
Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you. 2 Corinthians 8:24 NASB That is that love is demonstrated and we, who are loved by God are called to demonstrate our love to those in need.
Psalm 50 tells of the sincere sacrifice of love. Verse 8, God is not reproving because they are sacrificing, but, if you’ll excuse the expression, wants them to cut out “the bull.” Sincere sacrifice is one of thanksgiving and not ritual obligation and cannot be accepted when we are being unkind to one another (v. 20).
The Proverbs show us the extreme opposite of love–withholding love by not caring for the poor is actually robbing them; this pits us against the Lord–the source of that genuine love that we recognized back in the Song of Solomon.
Betty
======= Bob:
Psalm 50. I love the tension in these words as we are called to the sacrifice of our own heart.
Bob
======= Dee:
I love Song of Solomon(Songs). True fact..years ago..newly married..my husband and I used to read a chapter of this in bed together. Loved that God’s words, the Bible can be so sensual and unadulterated pure about sex in marriage. Love it
I love how Paul loved the church and loved his understudy Titus. We should love people that much and teach and train them in the admonition of the Lord.
Psalm wants us to trust the Lord and put our faith in Him in all we do! Trust in Him
Proverbs..don’t abuse the poor. Be kind and compassionate. I love the words in the song today..Show me your glory! Yes Lord.
Dee
======= John:
Song of Solomon 1-4:16
I do not believe there is any greater feeling than the love of a man or woman for the person God has raised up for them (to love).
I am a 5 year Christian who met a Christian woman three years ago. We became friends. To my eyes she was nothing special. She would never have beeen my type “back in my secular days”.
She could be likened to the woman in SOS who says:
1:6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I have neglected.
It was funny, but after getting to know her as a person, then as a friend, and finally looking at her as a woman – God stepped in. We were at lunch and she turned her head into the sunlight and I was struck speechless. She was the most beautiful woman in the world. This went beyond a physical thing – I TRULY BELIEVE I see her as God sees her – and it is beyond description.
Wish I could say there was a happy ending to this love, but there is not – at least at this time on earth. This woman sees me in all my flaws and rejects anything more than a casual friendship.
Why God touched my heart about her is not known by me. There are several life lessons I can think of, and it also provides a way of knowing the Father better. And who knows – maybe our lives will be intermingled in the afterlife – and that would be for all eternity when we are both perfect.
The blessing for me is: the way I see her now (as God sees her aka glorified), and despite the rejection I still love her as Christ loves the Church. It is awesome to love someone unconditionally like that, and I can truly say:
1:15 How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.
John
======= Vance:
Psalm 50
14 & 15
“What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
This makes me think of what I heard Chuck Swindoll preach about this morning on the radio from Revelation 2:
1
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.
3
You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4
But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
5
Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don’t, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
************
This really strikes me: We can have the “correct doctrine”, and be right on in defending truth — we can have discernment to discern truth from error and expose liars — and still lose our first love!!
Psalm 50 spaeaks volumes today.
Vance
========== Vance:
Song of Solomon (NKJV)
1
The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
THE Shulamite [A Palestinian young woman (compare 6:13).]
2
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your [Masculine singular, that is, the Beloved] love is better than wine.
NOTE:
It is interesting of the love between Solomon and a Palestinian young woman—especially in light of the tensions and conflicts between Palestine and Israel.
Besides seeing a human love story, I also see God’s love story.
May God’s love be to us “better than wine”—that is better than anything this world could ever give.
2 Corinthians 8 (NKJV)
24
Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
NOTE:
Faith without works is dead. Works, in worship and love to God from our hearts as prompted by the Holy Spirit, complete and strengthen our faith.
And, our faith demonstrates the grace of God THROUGH us TO others—so they are encouraged, strengthened, and built up.
Psalm 50 (NKJV)
2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.
3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
5
“Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
23
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”
NOTE:
God is “the perfection of beauty” and “the beauty of perfection”. He is holy, and He cannot tolerate sin—“ a fire shall devour before Him”.
May we keep our spirits and minds fixed on Him, and may our beings be purified as we do so.
THANK GOD—that He has taken the initiative and has first “made a covenant with [us] by sacrifice”.
God is worthy of our praise from the heart in worship—no matter how “bad” or “good” we have been.
None of us are worthy in ourselves. Only God in Jesus makes us worthy.
God wants to show us His salvation.
True, worship of praise is good for the soul, and glorifies God.
Proverbs 22 (NKJV)
23
For the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
NOTE:
WOW! Truly, “give and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38)—whether good or evil.
May I learn to truly treat all people—even people I do not like—with respect as they (like me) are created in the image of God. All people are poor in some way, not just the physically poor.
May we follow the exhortation of the Holy Spirit in word and deed:
Ephesians 4 (NKJV)
29
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Vance
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