Bible Pathways 07/31/04
July 31
Read Song of Solomon 1 - 8
In Today's Reading:
Virtues of married love - symbolic of Christ's love for the Church
The wholesome enjoyment of married love between a man and a woman is expressed in The Song of Solomon. It sets forth with categorical language the delight of the bridegroom in the bride and of the bride in her husband. The bride describes her wonderful memories as her bridegroom tarries. The whole narrative has a dreamlike quality. The circumstances are vague and not such as occur in ordinary life. The longing, the wondering, and the searching represent the images of dreams. The bride was asleep on her bed, but her thoughts were continually about her absent bridegroom. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves: I sought him, but I found him not (The Song of Solomon 3:1).
Every believer is assured that my beloved is mine, and I am his (2:16), for Jesus Christ has entered into our very lives. Our love relationship continues to grow and deepen as we listen to Him speak to us as we read His Word. We become different persons by virtue of our relationship with the coming Bridegroom. With Paul, we too can say: I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
Sometimes we enjoy a very close sense of the presence of Christ. But, all too often, His presence seems far away. Yet our love for Him continues to grow as we wait expectantly for that first glimpse of Him when He welcomes us home as His bride (John 3:29; Ephesians 5:22-33).
As the bride, we also wait with great anticipation for the return of our Bridegroom Jesus when we too will be able to say: He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love (The Song of Solomon 2:4).
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3).
Christ Revealed:
As the chiefest among ten thousand (The Song of Solomon 5:10). Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).
Word Studies:
1:3 savour = fragrance; 1:11 borders = ornaments; 1:12 spikenard = perfume; 1:16 our bed is green = we recline on a grassy field; 2:5; stay me = invigorate me; flagons = with delicacies; sick of love = overcome, lovesick; 4:4 bucklers = shields; 5:4 bowels = heart; 8:5 raised = awakened.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John A. Hash · Government Officials: Rep. Adam Putnam (FL) and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC) · Country: Lithuania (4 million) eastern coast of Baltic Sea in northeastern Europe · Major languages: Lithuanian and Russian · Limited religious freedom · 80% Roman Catholic; 5% Russian Orthodox; 1% Protestant
Prayer Suggestion: Do not worry about anything, but pray about everything (Philippians 4:6).
Optional Reading: Hebrews 8
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 3:23
