Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14 + 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 + Psalm 51:1-19 + Proverbs 22:24-25
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Old Testament – Today we finish up the Song of Solomon! Then – the next book snuck up on me – tomorrow we begin the book of the prophet Isaiah! Get ready for an incredible book. Get ready for many Eighth century B.C. prophecies of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ! Tomorrow begins our readings of the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel are before us. Below is a quick re-cap of the 39 books in the Old Testament and their various categories:
Song of Solomon Chapter 8 verse 4 stood out to me today when the young woman says- “I want you to promise, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.” This is an interesting concept I think – of not awakening love until the time is right. The reason I bring this up is because I know tons of people who are single. And probably a lot of folks reading this blog are single. And I’ve come to realize that single people can oftentimes stress out over being single… as if they are never going to get married. Which, perhaps for some, may be true. I do honestly believe that some are called to live a life of singleness. However, if you are single I think stressing about it does no good. Trying to “awaken love before the time is right” does no good. In fact, in can be very bad. I know of some folks that have gotten themselves in bad dating situations, simply because I think these folks were trying to “awaken love before the time is right.” My thought here is that the Young Woman from Song of Solomon is absolutely right. If we are single, we need to remember that everything is in God’s hands. If God has a plan for us to get married, then we really don’t need to stress about the timing of it all. It will happen when it should happen. When the time is right. And to try to awaken love before the time is right typically does not work out well. So, that’s my two cents today. 🙂 I just hope that if you are single and feel like you’ve been single for too long, don’t stress out about it! God’s timing and God’s plans for your life are indeed a mystery – but a beautiful mystery. He will awaken love when – and if – the time is right. Let us always remember in all areas of our life to “Let go and Let God”…
New Testament – Today in Second Corinthians chapter 9 verses 6 through 8 we read these words of Paul’s – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Great verses! A lot of ground is covered in these verses. Do you believe that we reap what we sow? What are you sowing? What have you decided in your heart to give? Do you give without reluctance? Do you give without compulsion? Are you a cheerful giver? Do you realize that God gracefully gives you all that you need so that you will participate in good works? Are you participating in God’s grace that he is freely giving to you? Related to these verses, I just recently finished reading Randy Alcorn’s wonderful little book, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving. Has anyone else read this book? It is a wonderful book about how it truly is more blessed to give than to receive! I highly recommend it!
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s (and yesterday’s) readings in Second Corinthians titled “Keeping Your Commitments” is at this link. Below is a great image for 2 Corinthians 9:10 from our readings today:
Psalms – Today we read one of my favorite Psalms! Psalm 51. Psalm 51 is David’s humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed in battle. I believe that this Psalm can continue to be a humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing for each of us today. This Psalm is read by many liturgical churches during the season of Lent as a penitential Psalm. A brief quote from this Bible.org about this Psalm is: “The application of the psalm to believers today should be obvious. We, like David, can and must have complete cleansing before we can fully and freely serve God in any capacity. Our eternal destiny may not be in doubt when we sin as believers, and neither was David’s because he appealed to that covenant relationship, but our fellowship and service will be. God will not tolerate unconfessed sin, and so will hold us accountable if we do not confess.” I’ve been trying to figure out my favorite portion or two of this Psalm to share with you. . . but I can’t just pick one portion. It is all so powerful! Tell you what – I’m going to copy the full Psalm below in the NIV translation (my favorite for this Psalm). Please take a few moments to meditate upon this Psalm. My questions for reflection are these – Do you confess your sins to God? Do you confess your sins to others? And ask them to hold you accountable? When was the last time you confessed your sins to God? Do you have sins to confess to God today? Will you do so now? I pray this Psalm opens up your heart to the amazing burden that is lifted when we confess our sins to God!
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Proverbs – Proverbs 22 verses 24 through 25 are a great reminder to pay attention to who our friends are: “Keep away from angry, short-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.” I’ve read somewhere that a good way to determine the character of a person is to take a look at who their friends are. Now, this is a bit tricky I think because none of our friends will ever be perfect. We should not look for perfect friends. We won’t be perfect friends to others either. Jesus is the only one true perfect friend for each of us. But, there are certainly some “friends” who probably should not be people we spend a good deal of leisure time with. There may be friends who are into lying or pornography or who are angry or short-tempered (per this Proverb) that we need to be very cautious around, otherwise we may learn to be like them. Now, I do think we are called to be friends to people who may struggle with various things – including lying, pornography, being angry, etc. – but, we need to be very cautious and clear on our boundaries. This is a tricky one I know… Overall, I will say this – there are friends of mine that I have had to let go because I knew that hanging around them was simply not good for me. How about you? Are there any friends in your life that you may simply need to let the friendship go? When might this be the appropriate thing to do? When might it be the inappropriate thing to do?
Worship Video: Psalm 51 reminded me of the fantastic song “Create in me a Clean Heart” performed here by Donnie McClurkin and a choir:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRjmPGvVB8
Do you want a clean heart? Click here to be made clean!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this today: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit within you, through the grace and Spirit of God. Pray that you will live a pure life now and forevermore.
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.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Song of Solomon 5-8:14
Mike, I want to thank you guys for tackling a very “heavy” topic, singleness. The pressure to marry can be the strongest in church, at least from my experience. I’m going to step on toes here but the people (women) who exert the greatest pressure on single women to “find a husband” have usually been the women who are the most miserable in their marriage. People who have the healthiest relationships are not usually running through the sanctuary trying to “hook” people up because they know it takes hard work to maintain a relationship and we know there are a lot of lazy folk.
If we really examine our life and be honest with ourselves those breaking their necks to get married really don’t like to be by themselves and they think being married will fix their problem. It ain’t so. I have learned how to be alone without being lonely and being in a crowd or married to someone with a houseful of kids won’t do anything for you. If one is not whole being single you will never be whole in a marriage. It takes 100% of the man and 100% of the women to make a 100% healthy marriage, not 50/50.
II Corinthians 9:1-15
I love to read this passage in the Amplified Bible, especially verses six and seven,
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 AMP [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. (7) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.]
Sometimes people try to engage me in debate or provoke an argument on “tithing.” Why would anyone in their right mind give their money to God, the Pastor, the church and on and on. I never argue with them because I know that there are things that I would never spend my money on because I find it wasteful and they don’t. We are willing to spend our money on those things that we identify strongly with that have no concrete benefit, at least one that can be detected by our five senses. God loves a cheerful giver a concept that many people refuse to accept when it comes to the things of God yet daily spend their money on things that bring them temporary pleasure that have no lasting benefit.
We refuse to give to God generously not because we are concerned about how the pastor is spending the money but because we refuse to find pleasure in God. Live is all about choices and we choose to “spend” our money on the alter of material and emotional gain, the things God placed in the universe instead of spending our money on the alter of the God who created those things we find pleasurable.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:18-27 NET.)
Psalm 51:1-19
What I love about this Psalm, and I don’t remember if I stated this before, is the fact that David was such a man of integrity and honesty, not only did he confess his sin to God, adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, he wrote it down and gave it to the choir director to be song in church (Temple).
Proverbs 22:24-25
We are to keep away from angry, short-tempered people because they have boundary issues. A person not under self-control will always violate boundaries. If they have nothing to reign in their passions their “stuff” will not only rain down on their on heads but will rain down on yours as they step into your space even when uninvited.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======== Arun:
Dear Mike,
What you said is absolutely true for me too. I too get pressurized on being single. But this amazing verse, clicked the right button on my heart as you explained. God knows everything and He cares.
I also join with you all single persons, not to let my love awakened until the time is right.
I loved what you said,
God’s timing and God’s plans for your life are indeed a mystery – but a beautiful mystery. He will awaken love when – and if – the time is right. Let go and let God.
Absolutely true!
ABout the second corinthians ,
Its about giving, I m stunned with the teaching,
Paul explains how should we give?
-Cheerfully / what you decided in your heart. Not making urself without anything
– giving from heart purposefully. not reluctantly or whimsically.
– generously,
This type of giving, promises God’s providence. Not just people’s recognition.
About Psalm 51,
As you said mike,
NIV is more clear in this part.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
Man, this is the quickest way to get God’s attention.
When I m totally broken and shattered and become repentant …
Oh, Our God ll not despise that at all!
He ll touch us.
About Proverb bit:
Consciously, avoiding angry friends who are always hot tempered and flaring at all, definitely realign and positions my behavior.
What you said is true, for thro’ friends you know what type of person you are becoming!
God, write these lessons in our heart, bring it our minds to respond, and act according to these lessons!
In Him,
Arun
======= Ramona:
Song of Solomon 5-8:14
There are two things that speak to my heart in Today’s reading. The first one reminds of passage in Revelation which gives me an understanding of how gentlemanly God is toward us and the second passage speaks to me about the protection of God.
I was asleep, but dreaming: The one I love was at the door, knocking and saying, “My darling, my very own, my flawless dove, open the door for me! My head is drenched with evening dew.” But I had already undressed and bathed my feet. Should I dress again and get my feet dirty? Then my darling’s hand reached to open the latch, and my heart stood still. When I rose to open the door, my hands and my fingers dripped with perfume. My heart stood still while he spoke to me, but when I opened the door, my darling had disappeared. I searched and shouted, but I could not find him– there was no answer.
(Son 5:2-6)
Jesus says in the Book of Revelation: Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.
(Rev 3:20)
The door must be opened by us, His bride. Jesus in Revelation, and the young man/lover/Solomon does not break down the door in Song of Solomon. God entering in to the mess of our lives, into the chaos, the baroness the waste places of our lives is determined by our willingness to open the door.
The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water. (Gen 1:2)
We have a young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man? If she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood. (Son 8:8-9)
Protection is implied in the above passage. Protection based on maturity, personality and the conscientiousness and character shown by the one being protected. That is how God is with us. Many of us look at other Believers and think, “Why is God giving that to them? Why am I here and not there?” But we must remember the Parable of the Talents, God gave to each according to their ability.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Jen:
This post was very timely for me. Thank you for the the reminder that it is always best to wait on God’s timing. God has a plan for each of us in each stage of our lives. Sometimes in our eagerness to “arrive,” we fail to see the journey along the way. Those frustrating times and rushed moments are often the times when we can learn the most…if we will just stop long enough to ask God, “What are you trying to teach me in this?”
Jen
====== Lala:
Song of Solomon Chapter 8 verse 4 stood out to me as well: “I want you to promise, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.”
Oh that my Father knows that is my cry for all women. I wish I had the knowledge and wisdom of scriptures of purity in my singleness, but I did not. I did not even have a God-given common sense. I know now how special we are to our Father.
So believe it or not, when I finally was awakened spiritually, I continually prayed for about a month Psalm 51. And as I continue to grow in the Lord, I know that it is not instant, but a process that I must have a will to submit to the Word of God.
As I am sharing, tears are falling down my cheeks, because I know how precious it is to be chaste; but I thank God my Father for His forgiveness.
So if you are engaged with sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage, stop and think how much more free your soul can be.
I pray for your strenght in Jesus the Christ our Lord.
Lala
======= Veronica:
I agree we should wait for love to be awaken at the right time. But I have to disagree with you when you say that not everybady is meant to live a married life, since the creation we were made to be in coupledom, the marriage of a woman and a men is the design and we all arrive to the love in marriage on our due time.
Veronica
======= Cheryl:
Mike, the same verse that struck you in Song of Solomon, struck me both in today’s and yesterday’s reading. My interpretation was slightly different. In the NIV version, it reads:
4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
I think because of our culture, falling in love has been elevated to be the greatest thing ever to happen to us.. I grew up reading and watching love stories and hoping some day my “prince would come”. That somehow my self-worth is less if I don’t have this falling in love experience. So, I tried to “arouse or awaken love” in all the wrong circumstances or before “it so desires”.
I see this today in a lot of relationships where people fall quickly in love, even projecting feelings on to the other person only to later to be devastated by heartbreak. Each heartbreak we go through in life is “baggage” we bring into other relationships. So, I found this verse to be very good advise and full of wisdom.
Fortunately, I learned the “how to be alone” lesson and came to a point where I was happy in my singleness. By the way, I’m now very happily married. Sometimes, I guess, I encourage my single friends towards marriage/relationships because of how happy I am not because of how sad I think they are…. try not to be too hard on us married people. 🙂
Cheryl
======= Eve:
Ramona, I too appreciated the commentary today. In addition to the SoS passage addressing those people who are single, I use this verse to teach my tween and teen daughters even about having boyfriends while they are still so young. They are sooooo interested in boys, and every day they come home from school with the latest news of who is dating whom (although, in their world, “dating” is used very loosely, given the fact that none of them drive, nor do they actually go on “dates.” “Dating” is actually what we used to call “going steady,” and for them it really means “texting.”)
At any rate, I do tell them about this verse and how it applies to them. I think it addresses very young people too— “Don’t awaken love too soon” can also apply in such a way as to mean “Don’t give your heart to the first boy who tells you you’re cute,” or “Don’t decide to like a boy just because all your friends are ‘dating.'” Our girls know they are not allowed to have a “boyfriend” until they’re much older, (and even then the jury’s still out on whether Dad will come around) and it’s very helpful to remind them that this isn’t just our rule, but also what God teaches is best for them.
Eve
======= Jasanna:
I believe that we are wise to apply Song of Solomon 8:4 to all areas of life. When we try to “awaken” anything before it’s time. A new job perhaps, a move, having a family etc. I have wanted to move out of the area I have lived for the last 30 years, back to my hometown. The last two years I have been trying on my own power to make that happen. The doors just kept slamming shut. It is only in the past few months when I surrendered this to God that the peace has come and the desire to move, while still there, is in the background and I know now If and when I move it will be on God’s timing not mine. God is teaching me how to be content right where he wants me to be.
Jasanna
======= Dee:
Speaking from your two cents Mike, as a teacher, I see too many families raise their children on the same mindset to chase love or be too boy crazy or girl crazy when it isn’t the time or place for such. Don’t rush Goda timing..be chaste humble and Let Go and Let God have his way.
One of my favorites ans one that one of my former pastors used to quote: God loves a cheerful giver! ..but our pastor used to say: he will take from a grouch also! : )
I love the penitential Psalms. I love hearing David in his deepest prayers to God. He like us want to be forgiven..we want to be washed white as snow. We want a clean and sure heart . And a repentant heart is worth more than sacrifice. Amen!
Anger and angry friends rub off on you and can drive a snare in your heart. Resist at all costs and pick your friends wisely.
Dee
======
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
It never says anywhere in Scripture – “all that you want”. God supplies our needs, and usually not our “wants”.
I believe as long as you are focused outward – first, to the body of Christ, and then to the world – AND you trust in and rely on our Father in heaven, you will never be disappointed in the state of your affairs. And if you are it will not be for very long.
John
======= John:
Song of Solomon 5-8:14
8:6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
“Love needs to be constrained
by public promise, and it is more powerful than all the
destructive powers of the world, even death.”
=================================================================================
8:8 We have a young sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
for the day she is spoken for?
“The speakers are probably the young girl’s brothers. She
has not yet reached puberty, but they know that one day
soon she will face all of the dangers and possibilities of
sexuality, and their concern, wisely, is for her character.
They know they need to help their sister defend herself
against the possibilities that await her. They want to help
her become a young woman who believes the best about
herself and knows when and how to say “no” so she will
not be swept away by peer pressure and the expectations
of others. They want to help her become a wall in the
most appropriate sense, someone who can stand strong as
a person. The hope for the young person is not the sheltering
protection of older brothers but a strongly formed
character that is prepared to stand up to life’s challenges.”
=================================================================================
“The marriages that are the healthiest and most passionate in the
long run are those in which we are here for each other when
one of us has the fl u, not just when we’re feeling amorous.
Marriage is beautiful and lasting when we share concerns
about both the mundane and the profound things of life.
We help each other discover the spiritual gifts that God
has given us and use them to engage the world around us.
It’s not enough to focus on the two of us. The Lord God
Himself is here fi rst and foremost, and if we love Him, He
will teach us to love what he loves, which is all the rest of
the world. And we will fi nd that if our love for each other
is fueled by something other than selfi shness, then it will
grow greater as well.”
Quotes from:
http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/43738/5311_web_format.pdf
John
======== Vance:
SONG OF SOLOMON 8
4
“I want you to promise, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.
NOTE: Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
7
Many waters cannot quench love; neither can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with everything he owned, his offer would be utterly despised.
~~~~~~~~~~
MY NOTE:
This love is HUMAN love—a gift from God. Many waters or rivers cannot quench it…BUT FOOLISHNESS CAN.
We need God’s wisdom. We need a solid rock commitment to laying our lives down, yielding ourselves to the Prince, the Lord of Love in order to really know how to love.
LUKE 9 (Amplified)
23
And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself
* [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself]
and take up his cross daily and follow Me
* [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
24
For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].
25
For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?
QUESTION: What does it profit a man or a woman if he or she AWAKENS LOVE BEFORE ITS TIME, WITHOUT WISDOM, and forfeits or loses himself or herself?
Unfortunately, this is happening all around us. Why? Because people are not making the promise to not awaken love until THE TIME IS RIGHT.
*** I PLEAD WITH YOU! If you are single, make sure you walk closely with the Lord and His Word. Also, make sure that when you meet someone you really love and want to marry, that you BOTH agree that the Bible is God’s Word. ALSO, make sure that you agree on what some may consider “secondary” issues such as tithing.
In fact, whether an issue is a Biblical issue or not…the more two people agree, the more they will build each other up.
Of course, tithing or not tithing will not determine one’s salvation. But issues like this MUST be agreed on as much as possible before marriage. Then, when life’s issues come against the couple, they are UNITED TOGETHER IN OBEYING GOD’S WORD. Then they are together in as many issues as possible.
Again,
b.
Many waters or rivers cannot quench human love… but foolishness can. We need God’s wisdom.
b.
What does it profit a man or a woman if he or she AWAKENS LOVE BEFORE ITS TIME, WITHOUT WISDOM, and forfeits or loses himself or herself?
Thus, before we even start—every day of our lives (single or married), we need to pray God’s will in Psalm 51.
I believe the Lord wants us to see Psalm 51 not simply as “damage control” after sinning (THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE !!), but as PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE of our souls! That way, we are PREPARE AND NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD by human emotions or circumstances because we are not grounded in the Lord and in His Word.
Thus, I particularly like versions which translate Psalm 51:10 in this manner: “…Create in me a pure heart, O God, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME. “
A STEADFAST spirit… day in and day out…single or married….COMMITTED TO BE STEADFAST IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
PSALM 51
6
But you desire honesty from the heart,
so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
10
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right [STEADFAST] spirit within me.
16
You would not be pleased with sacrifices,
or I would bring them.
If I brought you a burnt offering,
you would not accept it.
17
The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.
A broken and repentant heart, O God,
you will not despise.
Vance
======== Vance:
Song of Solomon 5 (NKJV)
8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick!
NOTE:
I like this from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on this verse, and on the concept of Heavenly Love-Sickness!
There is a twofold love-sickness. Of the one kind is that love-sickness which comes upon the Christian when he is transported with the full enjoyment of Jesus, even as the bride elated by the favor, melted by the tenderness of her Lord.
Another kind of love-sickness widely different from the first, is that in which the soul is sick, not because it has too much of Christ’s love, but because it has not enough present consciousness of it; sick, not of the enjoyment, but of the longing for it.
Their love-sickness breaks out in two ways, and may be viewed in two lights. It is, first of all, the soul longing for a view of Jesus Christ in grace; and then again, it is the same soul possessing the view of grace, and longing for a sight of Jesus Christ in glory. In both these senses we, us accurately as the spouse, may adopt the languishing words, “If ye find my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love.”
Song of Solomon 5 (NKJV)
16
His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!
NOTE:
Surely this is a picture of God’s view of love between a man and a woman.
“This is my beloved, and this is my friend”.
It is a very good thing to determine to be true friends first, and then marry as a couple in romance and love. Then, to read God’s Word together and pray together to build the spiritual strength and foundation of God’s Love is a very special thing, indeed.
Pertaining to interpreting this passage as a picture of our love for the Lord Jesus, I really like these words from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon:
Better to have a glimpse of Jesus, than to see all the glory of the earth all the days of our life. If we fail on this subject we may do better than if we succeeded upon another; so we will pluck up courage, seek divine help, and draw near to this wondrous text, with our shoes from off our feet like Moses when he saw the bush aglow with God.
This verse has been translated in another way: “He is all desires;” and so indeed Jesus is.
May we not just learn about our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus. May we truly take the time to really ask the Holy Spirit to seal us in the Love and Enjoyment of Jesus.
~~~
I like what Andrew Murray says in “With Christ In The School Of Prayer”:
“It is in the adoring worship of God, the waiting on Him and for Him, the deep silence of the soul that yields itself for God to reveal Himself, that the capacity for knowing and trusting God will be developed. It is as we take His word from the Blessed Book, and bring it to Himself, asking Him to speak it to us with His living voice, that the power will come fully to believe and receive the word as God’s own word to us.”
~~~
I see Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842 – 1919) pastor and statesman saying the same thing in a different way, and I find his words to be most excellent:
“Righteousness is our health; and the first point of righteousness is that we allow ourselves to be bound by God so that our spirit no longer desires its own freedom.”
Amen.
2 Corinthians 9 (NIV)
5
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9
As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”[ Psalm 112:9]
10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
NOTE:
I really like these verse in the New International Version of the Holy Bible. These verses contain the very clear mind of our Lord about giving.
a. verse 5
plan and prepare to give in advance – though worship can be spontaneous, the predetermination to worship is powerful and it pleases God
b. verse 6
how much we give in our act of worship from the heart will determine how much we are blessed. “whoever sows generously will also reap generously”.
“How much we give” cannot be truly seen by you or I, or anyone else on the earth. The woman who gave less than 1 penny greatly impressed our Lord Jesus, even though she gave a tiny fraction compared to how others gave.
This woman greatly impressed our Lord because she gave all that she had (though appearing to be a small amount), and so she gave more than all others combined!
Mark 12 (NKJV)
43
So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
44
for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
c. verse 7
God truly loves a cheerful giver. So, when we give without thinking about it as a ritual or simply “as our duty”, we are not giving in a way that pleases God.
d. verse 8
God’s grace (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) is free. Obedience allows grace to flow fully to us in greatest measure. This is not at all “salvation by works” in any sense of the word.
This is the surrender of ourselves—our love, money, time—as living sacrifices to the Lord.
Giving out of worship cheerfully (verse 7) is obedience and places us in the position so we are fully opened up to all of God’s grace!
Giving is a key way that allows us to be like God and to receive what we need to do His will.
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
e. verses 9 – 11
As we faithfully give our time, money, and love to the Lord, God blesses us in every way in His timing so we can be a blessing to others.
Jesus, our Lord, served us and give us salvation so we can be saved in order to serve others!
9
As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”[ Psalm 112:9]
10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Note Psalm 112:9 and surrounding verses which the Holy Spirit gives to the Apostle Paul to quote from in 2 Corinthians 9:9:
Psalm 112 (NKJV)
1
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments.
2
His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3
Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
8
His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9
He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor.
10
The wicked will see it and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 51 (NKJV)
10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11
Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
NOTE:
A life without a clean heart is a confused and tormented life. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Jesus, Matthew 5)
O Lord, may Your Presence, Your Word, and Your will be the most important thing in our lives.
Vance
======= Jim:
I really enjoyed the posts today, but let’s not suggest Christians have it easier (or aren’t daily responsibile to make a stand – it was a lack of such a stand that evil first entered the world… blame was not given to Eve or even Satan, but to Adam for his, perhaps, “waiting on God”).
God never gives us more than we can carry – so if we find the load getting lighter… it may be God is just not impressed (see Job). Max Lucado (senior pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio) did a sermon April 20 about “false” Christians, criticizing how they boast of vague insider information with “’God LED me to say to you.’” Act’s ten conversion stories included audible instructions from God, Holy Spirit, or angle as core to a genuine conversion process. We are to learn from today’s scripture that real Love is about waiting on God as sincerity is never enough (we will always mess it up: for instance, Paul said he did nothing he was supposed to) without first “opening the door.”
Political scientists agree the greatest cause for hunger and violence in Africa is specifically the support efforts by Christian relief funds (run by people who are clearly not waiting on God to love). When food shipments stop and doctors fighting disease go home even more children die as it is like removing morphine injections from the body of an addict. And, governments are far more violent and poorly organized from the corrupting influence of removing their moral obligations for social services. Sadly, Christianity (without the desire to wait on God) seems like a plague on the Earth.
> “We are to keep away from angry, short-tempered people”
Did that include Martin Luther, who was known for his quick temper?
Finally, I was unexpectedly unimpressed with Mike’s suggested reading of Willard’s Renovation as being unscientific (being completely unaware of the field of spiritual theory) and unbiblical. Things simply don’t happen to us because we deserve them (it rains on the good and the bad) and our vertical relationship with God is of little importance compared to our horizontal sharing of His grace (see Cloud and Townsend’s “How People Grow”) – including our social and legal rules. Willard suggests the true Christian is a person of pure character. Where have I heard this before… oh, yea! Communism is based on the idea that if the “evil” system is removed, then a perfect Socialist Man will emerge. Democracy, on the other hand, is based on the idea that no person is safe without good checks and balances. “Real” Americans believe character is thusly essentially a SYSTEM of accountability (and economist Steven Levitt has successfully shown we are quite poor on our own at avoiding temptation). I personally believe this is why there is no “I” in the Model or Lord’s Prayer. Sadly, our churches (especially after America’s Great Awakenings) have little fear of wrong answers with great self-assurance while routinely spouting novel and pedantic dogma.
Christ once noticed two people praying in a temple: one who could not face God and begged forgiveness for doing everything wrong and another who thanked God for not being greedy, dishonest, an adulterer, while fasting and tithing regularly (Like 18:9-14). Which more closely describes you: 0-Doing everything wrong or 0-Regularly praising God for not being greedy? Christ said only the everything-wrong person has a right relationship with God.
And then, remember who Hosea was commanded to marry…
Jim
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