Time for Love!
Opening Prayer
Lord, I’m glad that I’m welcome in Your presence and that You want me to be with You. Here I am.
Read SONG OF SONGS 8:5-14
[5]Friends Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover? BelovedUnder the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth. [6] Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. [7] Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. [8]Friends We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for? [9] If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. [10]Beloved I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. [11] Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. [12] But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. [13]Lover You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! [14]Beloved Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains. 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
How is love described in this passage?How do you feel as you come to the end of this songbook? Are you inspired, moved, frustrated dissatisfied? In terms of the “plot” we are not much clearer than when we started, although finally the girl can say she has a vineyard of her own, and it can’t be bought or sold (12). There’s no mention of God, when surely we would expect to see his name on every page.
However, we are left with amazing words ringing in our ears. Like the force of fire or flood, love “is as strong as death” (6), which, of course, finds its echo in Jesus (John 15:13). Although God’s designer logo may not be instantly visible on all he’s made, the songs of everyday life remind us of him. This need not be a brief vacation romance; it’s a love to last our whole lives. You might expect now to be told to pack your bags and get back to reality, but the call of this song is the call of stags and gazelles, of mountains and spices. It is time to run away with the one who loves you most.
Apply
Ponder how you can keep your love for God fresh and alive. If it needs refreshing now, what will you do?
Closing prayer
Loving Lord, hold me close to You and keep my love and faith alive and strong. Refresh me now, I pray.
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