210th Week, Song of Songs Chapters 5-8 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

 

Click of Title for Video Intro

Monday, Song of Songs Chapter 5

Song of Solomon 5 

Jane Jones

THOUGHT

The Book of Song of Solomon is really a truly amazing, love story. Solomon was very much in love; and just the fact that it is in the Bible, I think is truly amazing. It is a for sure fact that God definitely wants love to be first and foremost in our lives, first of Him, secondly for our spouse, and thirdly for our children.

Chapter 5 tells us about a bad dream that Solomon’s lover had. Part of it referred to reaching out to her lover in the night, and he was gone. It was like a nightmare to her.  I’m sure we have all experienced nightmares at one time or other about our marriages, partners, or children. No matter what the nightmare, we do wake up in the morning to find that things are okay. That God has not left or forsaken us.

We all have been praying so often, so hard, and so much for the Ruden Family. Our hope was that their house would sell soon, that Alan would find a job he really liked, and that life would be great in Des Moines. So far not all of our hopes have happened, but that does not mean they won’t.  To Alan and Tanya, this may be like a bad dream as in Chapter 5. But down the road, they will look back at all of this. They will wake up to find that the Lord has not left them nor forsaken them.

Tanya and Alan chose a song for their wedding that was called, “If You could See What I See”. The Words are beautiful as typed below.

All of my life, I have dreamed that somehow love would find me.

Now I can’t believe you’re standing there.

If beauty is all in the eye of the beholder, 

then I wished you could see the love for you that lives in me.

Then you would know you have my heart if you could see what I see.

That a treasure is what you are, if you could see what I see.

You’re created to be, the only one for me, if you could see what I see.

I know there are days when you feel so much less than ideal,

Wondering what I see in you. 

It’s all of the light and the grace, your belief drives me to say,

That I promise you a faithful love, forever true.

If you could see, then you’d understand I’d fall down on my knees

And I’d pray my love would be worthy of, the one who gave His love,

So our love could be.

If you could see what I see, if you could see what I see,

You’re created to be, the perfect one for me,

If you could see what I see.

If beauty is all in the eye of the beholder, then I am beholding true beauty. 

PRAYER

We pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for the gift of marriage.  We know that You are with us every step of the way.  Thank You for not forsaking us!!  AMEN

Tuesday, Song of Songs Chapter 6

Song of Solomon 6

Verse 3a

Jane Jones

Verse 3a:  I am my lover’s and my lover is mine.

THOUGHT

The featured couple of this chapter is “Bartman” and Mindy. Wow! This couple has been around for a very long time. Almost as long as the Song of Solomon...HEE HEE – Only Kidding. But seriously, this couple was put together way back in preschool and have grown up together being acquaintances, then friends, then lovers.  The Lord really knew what He was doing, because they have become an institution for the Lord. They have devoted a great deal of time and money to the purpose of living a life for Christ and serving Him. I really admire how they support each other and do so many things together. They are each other’s best friends.

Bart and Mindy have a picture taken of them in Preschool where they were running a race together.  They were doing a relay race then, and they are both still running today. This picture is housed in a frame with a Bible Verse on it...Jeremiah 29:11...”For I know the plans I have for you,”

declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I think it is so amazing that the Lord put these two people together at such a young age and watched them grow into His servants. What a powerful story!

If I were to rewrite verses 1-4 in Chapter 6 about Bart and Mindy, it would speak these words...

Friends:  “Where has your husband gone, Min?  Which way did he head?”

Beloved:   ”Bartman just left to go to Starbucks to pick up some coffee for us, two large, dark, with cream.”

Lover:   ”Min, I’m home. Here’s your coffee.  After we finish up breakfast, let’s go for a run. It’s going to be a great day in His Kingdom today.”

PRAYER

We thank You for Your handy work, Father God.  We thank You for putting these two people together at such a young age.  You have some amazing things left for them to accomplish for they may be small in stature but their back bone is stronger than any I know.  They are marching and holding the banner high for You.  AMEN 

Wednesday, Song of Songs Chapter 7

Song of Solomon 7

Verse 11

Jane Jones

Verse 11:  Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, and let us spend the night in the villages.

THOUGHT

I believe this is the perfect chapter for Heather and David.  If written in today’s Word, it would read like this…

Hey, Heather, why don't you live in New York and I live in Minneapolis?  That way we can travel and see the world.  

Great idea, David, we will have the opportunity to see many great things.  

Heather, let’s travel to California to visit my sister.

David, let’s go to Florida for a weekend getaway.

Heather, I’m going to China for my master’s work.

Hey, David, let’s go out to Seattle and visit Bartman and Mindy.

Heather, why don’t you go to Idaho to visit friends in my absence?

Hey, David, how does the Caribbean sound for our honeymoon?

Heather, are you serious about a family trip to Cancun in August?

Only teasing, Heather and David, but I think it is just great that these two people found each other. What a blessing they are to one another and how they love to travel and see the world. The Lord’s handy work is in all His matches if the Lord is in the midst of each of them. What a great wedding and a super dance couple. TJ told me I had to mention the dance. What a performance! They danced to a song that had words in it that is quoted...

”I had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you...” 

That perfectly sums up Heather and David. They are having the times of their lives. Praise God for this marriage.

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for this love chapter. In today’s language it sounds pretty outdated.  But it strongly emphasizes how strong love is and the comparisons are to the best of everything in life. We thank You for these couples that were featured this week. We pray that their marriages will grow in love for You and for each other. May we all be living examples of what love is all about. AMEN

“Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.

Thursday, Song of Songs Chapter 8

Song of Solomon 8

Jane Jones

THOUGHT

If you are all wanting me to write about towering bosoms, you are going to be disappointed.  I want to be very general.  I felt this book was speaking to me about marriages and the importance of the relationship between spouses. 

Like all of God’s designs, marriage is multi-factored, and multi-leveled. God’s design is always more than we can seem to get our minds around. Just like many things in the world He created, marriage will never stop teaching us things about our God and teaching us things about ourselves. Never stop exploring, Saltshakers. Whether it be with our careers, kids, or our marriages. God’s design is always more than skin deep.

PRAYER

Lord, we marvel at the complexity of Your universe. Help us gain insights to Your awesome power and Your gentle love for us. Help strengthen our marriages so that we will learn not only to edify our spouses, but edify our Maker and Savior. In Jesus Name, AMEN

Friday, Prayer for Married Couples

Lord Jesus,

Grant that I and my spouse may have a true and understanding love for each other.

Grant that we may both be filled with faith and trust. 

Give us the grace to live with each other in peace and harmony.

May we always bear with one another's weaknesses and grow from each other's strengths.

Help us to forgive one another's failings, and grant us patience, kindness,

cheerfulness, and the spirit of placing the well-being of one another ahead of self.  

May the love that brought us together grow and mature with each passing year.  

Bring us both ever close to You through our love for each other.  

Let our love grow to perfection.  

AMEN