Time for Compliments
Opening Prayer
Gracious Lord, how grateful I am for the assurance of Your unfailing love and ready forgiveness. I thank You, Lord.
Read SONG OF SONGS 6:4-13
[4]Lover You are beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, majestic as troops with banners. [5] Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead. [6] Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is alone. [7] Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. [8] Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; [9] but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her. [10]Friends Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession? [11]Lover I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. [12] Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people. [13]Friends Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you! LoverWhy would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim? Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
In what special ways is the Beloved described here (9)?Not all vacations are spent in an exotic location. I’m currently in a kids’ play center and the noise is excruciating. Children run around pink-faced, high on candy and Slush Puppies while young moms carry babies slung on their hips. To all intents and appearances, I’m in Middle England, but sitting here reading the Song of Songs, I’m transported to Paradise Island, where women are beautiful and men sing arias of adoration. It makes me wonder how many of the dads here would talk like this. “You’re as beautiful as Oxford, my darling” doesn’t quite work.
Praise—can you take it without your head swelling? When Jesus was offered perfume and kisses by a tearful woman, he could appreciate the love without taking advantage of her (Luke 7:44-47). Praise—can you give it with no thought for yourself? The woman’s extravagant gesture was offered out of sincerity and gratefulness to Jesus for his forgiveness. Her response was a clear sign that she believed his words. It’s sometimes hard, but always good, to be able to give and receive praise sincerely and humbly.
Apply
Determine how you will show your appreciation of God’s love and forgiveness by serving someone today.
Closing prayer
God, my Lord, may I grow in the ability to reflect Your love into the lives of others—for Your glory.
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