I Love You… Who, Me?
Opening Prayer
Loving Heavenly Father, sometimes it’s a great mystery to me, but I’m so thankful that You love me so much.
Read Song of Songs 1:1-2:7
[1] Solomon’s Song of Songs. [2]She Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth- for your love is more delightful than wine. [3] Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you! [4] Take me away with you-let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. FriendsWe rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. SheHow right they are to adore you! [5] Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. [6] Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect. [7] Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends? [8]Friends If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds. [9]He I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot horses. [10] Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. [11] We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver. [12]She While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. [13] My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts. [14] My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. [15]He How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. [16]She How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant. [17]He The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs. [1]She I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. [2]He Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. [3]She Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. [4] Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. [5] Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. [6] His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. [7] Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
What is the one caution given here by the beloved?Here is a girl deeply in love, fantasizing about her loved one (2-4). He is clearly the local girls’ favorite (3) but, she asks, how can he love her? Verses 5 and 6 outline her problem. She is dark (not from racial coloring but from the sun); she looks like a laborer rather than a model. So, how can he love her? The first steps in romantic relationships are often fraught with similar angst. Initial attraction can be quickly followed by an intense feeling of worthlessness and insecurity. It’s all too easy to hide, or to back away from the loved one, for fear of rejection. This is a risky moment; have we read the signs right? In this woman’s case, though, she bravely takes the initiative and goes out to look for her love, thanks to some helpful friends (8). When she does find him, what joy to discover that he does think she is lovely (9-11), even if it’s not how we would say it today! When we approach God, asking, “Can he really love me?” we need never fear rejection. He longs to pour out words of love and affirmation to us, and draw us into his embrace.
Apply
Imagine a dialogue between you and God. Hear him speaking lovingly to you. Then tell him how you feel about him.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the assurance of Your unfailing love for me. Help me never, ever to doubt it.
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