Sunday, June 23, 2013

Extolling her Beauty (Song of Solomon 4:1-7)



SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/23/2013 8:40 AM
My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Extolling her beauty
Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Song of Solomon 4:1-7
            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶ “How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead. 2 “Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young. 3 “Your lips are like a scarlet thread, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate Behind your veil. 4  "Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with rows of stones On which are hung a thousand shields, All the round shields of the mighty men. 5 “Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle Which feed among the lilies. 6 “Until the cool of the day When the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense. 7 “You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish in you.”
            If a young man would say these exact things to a young girl whom he was in love with in our culture today she would probably think that he was not all there.  However expressions of love differ from one culture to another culture and from one nation to another nation.  Solomon was saying exactly what was in his heart, and that was that he was head over heels in love with this young lady.  We see in verse three there is a mention of a veil and so I want to quote a verse from Genesis 24:65 to show how the veil was mentioned there and how it was still looked upon in the time of Solomon, and probably to some extent looked upon today:  “She said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "He is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.”  Here is an endnote from Dr. Wiersbe to further help explain the significance of the veil:  “In modern weddings, the lifting of the bride’s veil is symbolic of the sexual consummation of the marriage that will later take place. ‘I am his and he is mine.’”
            The following quote helps us to understand exactly what some of these “strange” terms that Solomon uses to show his love for the Shulamite:  “Doves’ eyes would reflect peace and depth.  The bride’s teeth were clean, even beautiful.  When you remember that ancient peoples didn’t quite understand dental hygiene, this ws an admirable trait.  Healthy teeth would also affect her breath (7:8).  She had a queenly neck and a posture with it that exuded control, power, and stability.  She was a tower of strength!  The ‘mountains of myrrh’ refer to her breasts, which he would enjoy all night until the dawn would break, and she would also enjoy his expressions of love.”  Dr. Wiersbe uses the KJB of the Bible for his commentaries and I use the NASB so that explains why some of the words are a bit different.
            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  My love for the Lord and for my wife should continue to grow in depth the longer that I live.  It is much easier to express these kinds of things when one first meets the woman that you are to marry, but worthwhile to continue to have your love grow as the years pass, for they pass by very rapidly.
My Steps of Faith for Today:  Seek to have my love grow  for both my Lord and my wife.
Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 46:1-3
            1 God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the mountains slip into the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Thessalonica” (Acts 17:1)
Today’s Bible Question:  “What Gentile girl decided to serve God because of her love for her mother-in-law?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
6/23/2013 9:08 AM  

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