On the first post, Laura found that when she looked at the video, unwanted ads were linked to it.
Song of Solomon 1-4
It says of Solomon that he wrote proverbs about everything. In the Song of Solomon it seems that Solomon wrote a love song or poem regarding the events just before and just after his wedding. Most couples do photo albums; they did a song. Some of us might have a problem with this song simply because we know how Solomon's life ends. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 half wives and they led him into idolatry. But in the beginning of his reign, like most of the godly kings, he was following the Lord and had a deep faith. It is thought that this might have been his first wife, an Israelite, whom he married before his first political marriage to Pharaoh's daughter. Or it might be that this relationship was the first where Solomon was genuinely in love and not marrying for what he thought would bring stability to the kingdom.
In the final event, God wanted this love song in the Bible. God created the union between man and woman and celebrated it in Adam and Eve in the garden. Every couple since Adam and Eve have experienced the wonder that God built into the relationship as it moves from the first attraction to marriage. And every couple has experienced the challenge of keeping that relation both romantic and healthy after marriage.
Apart from the raging hormones going on here, you'll also notice that there are recurring themes, words and phrases. As you find them underline or highlight what you see. They will give you some structure and there will be some interesting applications. Generally, we'll look at this song as a poem describing events, not as an allegory meaning something else. The Bible Knowledge Commentary does a good job of describing what's going on in the Song of Solomon. According to the BKC, chapters 1-3 are just before the wedding with Solomon personally taking her to Jerusalem for the ceremony. Chapter 4 then is the wedding night and 5:1 is the afterglow. Chapters 5-8 is the "maturing" of their marriage, or I would say some thoughts during the honeymoon. Who knows.
Song 1
This chapter is part of the days leading up to the wedding and the couple's longing for one another.
V. 4 This can read as a request of longing, "Let the king take me to his chambers."
Vs. 5-7 These verses seem to express some of her insecurity marrying a man like Solomon.
Apparently her brothers kept watch over her, as we'll see later.
V. 9 In our culture, better, in this house, this comparison wouldn't do much for my wife.
Vs. 12-17 Lots of rolling hormones waiting for a wedding night.
Song 2
V. 7 This is a refrain we will see again, and it comes across as good godly advice from the Lord. In nature the mating only takes place at times God has appointed. Her advice is to allow God to be the one who determines when the time is right. In our world we push sexual attraction through the media.
If you ask me, if she had been Solomon's only wife and he had been a focused husband, Solomon might have been a truly great man. Instead, Solomon was a hard drive to right field that looked good, but went foul.
Vs. 9-14 suggest imagery relating to the waiting, and the strain thereof, that she and Solomon are doing before the wedding. The fruits ripening are the image of the time arriving.
V. 15 This is a verse of warning. Here and elsewhere, the vineyard is an image of a relationship or marriage. These little foxes are issues or problems that destroy the marriage and relationship. Apparently she saw things in Solomon's busy life and/or personality that gave her a sense of worry and insecurity. Every marriage has these, but two people who are each, independently, in love with Christ and following Him, can kill the vermin and make the vineyard "foxproof."
Vs. 16-17 We'll see this again. Here, it is the declaration of her love and submission to him. Now, it is just longing, later, it's the prelude to a kiss (and more).
Song 3
Vs. 1-5 This is one of her two dreams of worry.
Vs. 6-11 Solomon is taking her to Jerusalem in a procession for the wedding.
Song 4
This is the wedding night. Notice that it is all Solomon. There are lots of comparisons, images, poetic descriptions, veiled requests and hormones.
According to the BKC, her words at the end of chapter four, his first words of chapter 5, and the words of the "others" (some say God) mark the consummation of their relationship (they make love).
Since we're not in a discipleship group, there is no real avenue here for discussion over keeping romance alive in marriage. In today's climate this is a worthwhile thing to talk about. Christian marriages do fall apart; and for guys, even devoted disciples, the sexual temptations have multiplied with the media and internet. The sad reality is that as long as we've been on this planet, we still don't understand "sex" and so it keeps harming us. People following Christ are just as liable to make mistakes here that hurt themselves and their relationships.
Regarding the romance and health of the relationship, sex is never the issue and the climax is often the enemy of real fulfillment. Generally speaking, for 98% of mankind, when the God-ordained time comes in marriage, God made the sexual side of being one flesh just as vital and irresistible to us, and particularly a man, as breathing, eating and sleeping. The goal is completion and connection, not lust and a climax. This is why Solomon was such a poor man. He was sexually saturated, but had no real completion. It was like drinking water and dying of thirst. Any man who has fallen into the rut of the typical "end of the night, for a few minutes," snuggle with his wife is primed to stay unsatisfied and liable to fall into sin. It is like drinking and still being thirsty and always needing something.
Since this digression is already too long, I'll just say that God has meant the event to take a long time, for her and for him. He needs to make sure it goes as long as possible and focuses on her, and he'll be surprised that the ending is actually anticlimactic. And for both, the depth goes to the soul.
I've known couples that tried to read the Song of Solomon to one another and were seriously hurt when they both fell off the couch laughing at "your nose is a tower of Lebanon, overlooking Damascus."
So, look for love songs. You can find them on YouTube and buy them on Itunes or somewhere. Here are some suggestions: "I Could Not Ask For More" and "A Real Fine Place to Start," by Sara Evans; "Now and Forever," by Richard Marx; "My Valentine," by M. McBride; "Looking in the Eyes of Love," by Alison Krauss; "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg; "We are Man and Wife," by Michelle Featherstone; "When the Stars Go Blue," The Corrs and Bono (studio version); "Then," by Brad Paisley; lots of stuff by Alabama; lots of country….just for starters.
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Vs. 16-17 Notice that Paul is telling the Corinthians that the heart of working for the Lord comes from the heart of God Himself. And in all of this conflict and distress for Paul & Co., God is the one who is creating that desire. Ministry is primarily not a work of man and plans. In all of these instructions you see God's heart in Paul's ministry.
Notice that Paul excludes himself from the carriers of the gift. Instead, he announces that two other well-known and liked brothers would accompany Titus. Even a man like Paul came under intense suspicion and was willing to step back and humble himself. This is an example of what he mentions in 1 Cor. 1:19ff.
Psalm 50
This is an easy psalm to break into sections, so give it a try before you read below.
God coming to judgment
What God desires of His followers
His charge against the wicked
God's warning
Just some observations:
Notice the silence of God that is mentioned in verses 3 and 21. People think God is silent today too. Interestingly, I just talked to a neighbor who missed driving through an accident last night on his way to work, because his motorcycle wasn't running right and had to come back and get his truck. He's the one who mentioned God. God isn't as silent as we think.
V. 5 The call to his faithful followers to gather to Him.
Vs. 14-15 God asks us to praise Him in thankfulness and to make him our only hope.
V. 23 is interesting. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is giving testimony to God for His salvation and mercy. The ordering of our way in Christ involves taking a cross and following Him into the harvest.
I found a song for this psalm, but it didn't cover the entire psalm, but only the part of God coming and the faithful being called to gather to Him. With that thought, I remembered another song where at the end Christ calls His bride to step out of this mess and join Him in the harvest. I'll choose that song for its message to His church and to us as His disciples, to wake up, to separate ourselves from what keeps us from following and to join Him in the harvest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em5gL0Rw4Aw
Proverbs 22:22-23
This really fits well to the psalm.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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