I AM DARK AS THE TENTS OF KEDAR
KEDAR IS ASSOCIATED WITH ISHMAEL, WITH
BEING IN THE DESERT, OUTSIDE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
YET I AM LIKE THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON
SOLOMON IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEMPLE,
WITH BEING INSIDE, CLOSE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD
THIS IS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
THE SONG OF SONGS:
DARK, YET LOVELY
OUTSIDE, YET BROUGHT INSIDE
SEALED WITH A COVENANT
AND THE GOSPEL IS
NOT JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
NOT JUST THE WEDDING;
BUT THAT ALSO
THE GOSPEL IS MATURING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
THE GOSPEL IS THE MARRIAGE.
This week is The Labor Day weekend, so it will be a lighter week in regard to homework, but not in regard to importance. Many of you are still in wonder that this book could really be primarily about God’s love for you, and so I want to reinforce that. Mike Reeves, in quoting Puritan Richard Sibbes, says:
This book is about the love of Christ for His Bride and the love of the Bride for Christ.
As you know, this is not the predominant view in the last two centuries, but I have been encouraged so by reading godly theologians of old like Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Hudson Taylor, and the Puritans. But there are also godly theologians today that take this view like Mike Reeves, Scotty Smith, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I feel like Elizabeth expressed, that this is the redemption of The Song of Songs. I know that marriage and the marriage bed is a wonderful gift, but I think it twists the book to make it the primary focus. I agree with Nanci that the enemy would want to keep us from seeing the most important thing — Christ’s love for us AND our love for Him.
Laura suggested I listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss on The Song of Songs and I was so encouraged when I did. She is a godly woman and does a wonderful job with The Song of Songs. Perhaps because she is single, she is able to see The Song of Songs more clearly. It is easy for us who are married to be quite preoccupied with our marriages. Though I have never met Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I have had the impression that she is much more conservative than I on the role of women, so she surprised me by taking a bold stand on this book, even admitting that it was a hard for her to disagree with men she respected like John MacArthur on the primary focus of The Song of Songs. YET SHE DID IT, fearing God more than men. I’d like you to read or listen to one of her talks on The Song of Songs — and it may whet your taste to listen to more. She too sees stages of love in The Song of Songs, and I love the application that the gospel is not just for getting into Christianity, but all of the Christian life.
It’s not just the wedding, but the marriage.
I know my earthly marriage was rare because of Steve’s constant love for me — and I know many of you do not have that. But you do have it in Jesus — and The Song of Songs wants to show you that. Philip Yancey says that though it is hard to picture God as a broken-hearted lover, that is how He portrays himself in the prophets.
And then, in The Song of Songs, He shows how He loves us and how He wants us to trust this love. In Michael Card’s song, Arise My Love, he has verses from the first love stage through the invincible love stage. I quote an interview I did with Michael Card in Idol Lies where he talks about the importance of men grasping the bridegroom image as well as women, though he was glad there was finally a metaphor that was easier for women to grasp concerning their relationship with Christ. Listen, and as you do, pray for your love for this magnificent Bridegroom to mature, so that you may come out of the wilderness leaning on your Lover.
LISTEN TO ARISE MY LOVE AS THOUGH JESUS WERE SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU:
“Arise, My Love” Michael Card
Arise, my love, my lovely one come,
Winter is past and the rains are gone.
The flowers appear, it’s the season of song,
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Who is it that appears like the dawn?
As fair as the moon, as bright as the sun?
Show me your face, let me hear your voice.
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Set me like a seal on your heart,
For love is unyielding as the grave.
The flash of it is a jealous fire,
No flood can quench,
For love is as strong as death.
Arise my love and come with me
Before the dawn breaks and the shadows flee.
You ravished my heart with just one glance
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Do not arose or awaken love
Until it so desires.
Arise, my love, my lovely one come,
The Winter is past and the rains are gone.
The flowers appear, it’s season of song,
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
I am my love’s, my beloved is mine.
Arise and come with me.
Sunday/Labor Day Icebreakers
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
Tuesday/Thursday: Read or Listen to this from Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again. Then listen or read: Link
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
Friday: Review
4. Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again and share any new insights.
I appreciated how Nancy Leigh DeMoss said we must give the Word (and Jesus is The Word) priority over other shepherds, radio programs, and blogs. She was not afraid to disagree, and we too must be cautious. I welcome disagreement here, and we can be like iron sharpening iron.
Saturday: Take-A-Way
5. What is your take-a-way and why?
236 comments
I haven’t had a chance to read yet but have something to share.
This morning I was drawn to my Bible first rather than to the blog for study questions. I thought about how today is the first of the month and the beginning of marriage week for my son, about heart preparation more than the physical things. There are four portions of scripture scheduled for today in the One Year Bible. One of them is Psalm 45! I am quite blown away by The Lord speaking to me to loud and clear. I pray I will understand all He is conveying to me.
That’s amazing!!! I love how God does that, and He seems to be doing that a lot in this bible study!!! 🙂 Happy Dance!
Staci yes! How He is speaking to us. So exciting!!!
Staci, I have a feeling you will be with us for a while-Yeah! I am thrilled about that-so love your heart.. I love it..You are so right- His presence is here and in Dee’s studies.
I didn’t realize this was the beginning of your son’s wedding week. Wow. Will be praying so.
Thank you so much for praying Dee. Psalm 131.
I really like “the message” translation…
1 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.
2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
my soul is a baby content.
3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!
You are inspiring, Anne. I will keep you and yours in prayer.
Anne, Just love what I see coming from you-how God is moving in your heart so encourages me. You are asking us to pray more for heart preparation..love that. I am always blessed by you.
Oh Anne…your son’s wedding week…will be praying and keep us posted!
I will pray too Anne, for peace and understanding for you.
Thinking and praying for you and your son Anne. How appropriate; Psalm 45 🙂
Also, it seems no coincidence to me that we are so focused on marriage on the blog right now. Speak to us Holy Spirit. Open our eyes. Lift the veil.
SO GOOD. Have had minimal Internet access …reading and pondering.
Renee, Can’t wait until you have more internet access for I would love to hear your pondering!
Me too!
Hey there,
I actually posted this back on the blog for the former week…but decided to repost it here today considering this is the present blog for this week….a response to Joyce and her inquiry…
I’m doing well…just taking some time to stay focused on the work of personal healing right now. However, I am peaking over your shoulder in the study (so thank you for allowing me to do so). I have actually taken the time to record myself (on my phone) reading the SOS passages…I don’t know why but God seems to work through this process for me. Hearing my own voice, the inflections, my emphasis on certain parts, it seems to strengthen my understanding (of myself in relation to the passage) and solidify things that I have never really SEEN or IMAGINED before. I know this idea (and its magnitude) is kind of abstract but actually, I can be an abstract thinker so it works well for me (God is a mystery, so I just go with it)…applying all the senses really allows the Word to seep into my heart in new and fresh ways. Reading, hearing (my own voice in particular), looking for examples in real life, it all plays a part in allowing the scriptures to be exactly what God describes when He says, that the Bible “is alive and active”….I love the image of the veil being removed…it is the very moment of finality…we all know what to expect! The announcement…the kiss…the “IT FINISHED” moment, and as the song says, “NOW YOU CAN ENTER IN”…it has so many scriptural overtones! I love to see the visual represented in real life…I think it has a deep impact on me because it isn’t something I see EVERYDAY…a wedding tends to make us more reflective…it is a few moments out of the ordinary…I think that is why most people love weddings so much! It may be one of the closest moments we have (in this life) to the splendor of Eternal Glory….just a thought to consider!
I keep little Jay in my prayers (he seems to stay on my mind), thank you for the updates….and thank you all for sharing and allowing many of us to be observers (as needed)….my prayers are with you all too!
Great to hear from you Rhonda and to hear that you are doing well and learning wonderful things from Song of Songs.
Love knowing you are reading, Rhonda!
oh this is beautiful, Rhonda. Love how you recorded your voice to listen to Song of Songs–praying the healing continues.
Nice to see you Rhonda!
What a good idea, Rhonda…recording yourself reading the SoS passages; might have to give that a try. Love this thought…”applying all the senses really allows the Word to seep into my heart in new and fresh ways.” Glad that you are “with us”…thanks for your continued prayers.
Praying for you Rhonda!
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
I was struck by the contrast of the two pictures of the black tents of Kedar and the ornate temple… dark yet lovely. I remember when my daughter married she expressed the excitement of being the center of attention and being all dressed up and beautiful for the probably only day of her life. Many of us love beauty, but do not consider ourselves beautiful particularly, and even are shy about wearing what we consider really beautiful things lest we stand out too much. Modesty and humility are becoming in their own right, yet there is a place for splendour and great beauty. God created much eye popping beauty. He considers us beautiful and it is acceptable to revel in our beauty before the Lord.
It is acceptable to revel in our beauty before the Lord!
“lest we stand out too much”–so much wisdom in all of this, Diane. The “dark” of the woman, spoke to my insecurities about my appearance–and as the world has listened to the enemy’s definition of beauty–I have too. But here, beauty is re-defined, by the Creator of True Beauty–oh, to let that sink deeper in!
And He thinks we are so beautiful Elizabeth! On this He has shown me His heart. At least in a dose that I could take.
I am glad for you in this Anne.
Diane, love this-and yes..I tend to struggle thinking I am beautiful because of my wicked heart-yet this morning I am so encouraged to see He doesn’t gaze upon my darkness but calls me lovely-He covers me in His beauty for I am His, sealed..oh my. You help me to take it to the next level-“It is acceptable to revel in our beauty before the lord.” This helps me.
Diane I wondered as I read if this ” He considers us beautiful and it is acceptable to revel in our beauty before the Lord” was a place of belief you had to struggle to get to or if this came more naturally to you?
Oh, Chris. Having read of your “visceral reaction of pulling back” when you read the lyrics of Michael Card’s song, I just want to cry over your question to me. PLEASE DO NOT THINK I have “arrived” when I say “He considers us beautiful and it is acceptable to revel in our beauty before the Lord”. I am as one “seeing through a glass darkly” (1 Cor. 13, KJV) on this one. I am only too aware of how my default reaction is to pull back when it comes to relationships — to protect myself, to live on the surface rather than risk going deep with its accompanying hurts.
Many of us here have walked through some form of abuse which causes us to pull back and protect ourselves … from vulnerability in human relationships, from vulnerability in relationship with God. I am on the journey as well as you. For today, hopefully it is enough for me to see that God considers me beautiful and wants me to revel in His love for me. I know that He wants me set free to love Him in wild abandon, and that is my goal, even though today I may be loving with a limp and a still fearful heart.
Chris I have not arrived in this either. The Lord spoke to me once in a dream of His love for me, but it faded. I was thinking here of a time when He spoke to me over a large group of women. He thinks you are beautiful. He thinks I am beautiful but I have to keep speaking this truth to myself for it is so hard to believe. I am steeped in the enemy’s lies in regard to that. Each of His creations are beautiful to Him but even more those who desire Him as we do. And don’t think that you don’t desire Him enough for your desire, as that of all here on the blog, is greater than most anyone I know!
Thanks so Anne & Diane. I was limping for sure when I finished posting here yesterday.
I felt/feel like I am missing some important part that I need to love and trust in God’s love well, as others seem to be so much farther down the path in this.
I prayed asking that my mind and heart be protected from the lies, the heaviness did lift.
I appreciated too Anne when you shared that you were not sure you could let down the walls on your own.
Perhaps I am too impatient.
Such a good and helpful discussion here in response to Diane’s post. THANK YOU!
I feel so alone in this struggle, and all of your posts are providing me with perspective, helping me focus on how He sees me. It’s easy to let my walls trap me in my own distortion that I am better off banging my head against my walls than running into His arms, going away with Him. Oh Lord, remove my blinders.
What a gift we have here. Thanks again, Dee, for providing this place of fellowship for us.
Renee, I totally agree with you. I am also grateful to the discussions in response to Diane’s post.
There are times when I also feel alone in my struggles, but I also have come to the realization that in this group I am not alone. Even just reading other posts has been helping me to turning my thoughts to Him on a more regular basis. I am really behind in the study and life has just gotten in the way, but I am finding that just thinking of the Song of Songs as the ultimate love song from the Lord has made such a difference to me and I can only thank Dee for that change of perspective.
I am also thankful for the gift of fellowship here.
So true Mary-Canada–this fellowship here is such a blessing, as we encourage one another to replace the lies with His truth
It is amazing to me how reluctant I always am to confess my struggles. It is hard when I feel like I am not walking in victory to write down my honest feelings and press ‘Submit Comment’.
It does open doors that our enemy would like us to keep shut and sparks others who feel less than confident to also be honest and real.
We are not alone, we need to wash one anothers feet, and submit to letting ours be washed as well.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
OH TEARS!! Started with seeing the bride photo—your Mom, right, Dee? I love that one. And anytime I read about Steve, I cry—not sure why that is! I just feel the Spirit’s presence and it overwhelms me…and then listening to Michael Card—wow. What a beautiful blessing this post is to me today. Thank You Lord.
Also loved what Anne wrote above—and it brought to mind what we sang this morning—“Speak O Lord”—I think this is beautiful (Getty): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGg40zKRvAg
Wow! Beautiful song, Elizabeth. Such a beautiful prayer about God’s Word!
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
Multiple places spoke strong to me–
“Show me your face, let me hear your voice.”—He wants to see me. So much of my life I felt invisible, forgettable…and in many ways my default security was to not be noticed. But that hurt, too. To hear that He WANTS to see me—oh, the tears again!
“The flash of it is a jealous fire, No flood can quench,… I am my love’s, my beloved is mine.”—I like these lines too, they remind me of a long time favorite verse—Isaiah 43:1 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name you are Mine.” I have always loved the “Mine” part—that’s how I see His holy jealousy for me—I am HIS and no one can snatch me from Him. Oh thank You, Lord.
“Before the dawn breaks and the shadows flee.”—He wants me before the dark shadows of fear and disappointment are gone, before I am all pulled together—He wants me broken. And He calls it beauty.
You always bless me. Love the parallel with “you are Mine.” Yes, my mother! Good memory.
“before I am all pulled together—He wants me broken. And He calls it beauty.”~ I love this, that really spoke to me. I know God loves us in our darkest ours. But this is so beautifully put by you. He wants me broken and yet calls it beauty…to me that represents our most vulnerable and weak state and yet its beautiful to God.
This brought tears Elizabeth.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
“…the gospel is not just for getting into Christianity, but all of the Christian life. It’s not just the wedding, but the marriage.”
It’s not enough to accept the gift of salvation, that Jesus paid it all in His death, but we have to live it day by day, committed, enduring.
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
“For love is as strong as death.” Death from an earthly perspective is final, unstoppable and unchangeable. Once it is done there is no going back. It happens to everyone. Love being that way also, is a new thought for me. I’ve never experienced that sort of unconditional love. I doubt that it is completely possible for any human except Christ.
You answer to 2 is thought provoking Dawn.
“Once it is done there is no going back.” Thinking about Gods love for us in this way…hmmm
Dawn, how was your son’s wedding?
Nanci, It was beautiful. Aside from a few bumps it went well. All of the last minute pieces fell into place, through God’s grace. Their love for each other and the Lord was so apparent. Their first kiss was after they were pronounced man and wife (they were committed to purity). We are going to miss them terribly as we live in Michigan and my son is going to Moody Bible College in Spokane, Washington. I couldn’t ask for more!
That is beautiful, their commitment and love for one another. Moody Bible college too, I was accepted to go there last Fall, but did not have peace from God. Only because we had just become debt free and paid off old student loans and I wasnt ready to go back down that road. I still think about attending some sort of Bible college.
I am so happy for you Dawn!
Your skin, your rash was cleared up?
Yes, finally!!
LIKE!!!
“It was beautiful…it went well…Their love for each other and the Lord was so apparent.”
Excellent, Dawn!…so, SO happy for you all. I didn’t realize that Spokane had a Moody Bible College…you’ll just have to email and skype to stay close, and visit each other as often as possible…:)
Dawn, so happy to hear about your son’s wedding, that all went well! It sounds lovely!
You are so blessed Dawn, to have such an amazing son.
Dawn happy to hear the wedding was beautiful and that your rash has cleared up.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
~What stood out was how all the photos from beginning to end tell a story.
~I like how the marriage is not just the end, but the beginning of a relationship with Jesus. I think sometimes women think that is their ultimate goal, to get married and their life is complete. But its just the beginning of a life full of memories, ups and downs and growing and maturing in love for one another. To me this is a metaphor of a wonderful relationship with God as well. Ups and downs, but God is faithful at all times, and His love remains constant, when human love does not. Another reason ‘Christ and the Church’ love need to be sought first…
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
“Show me your face, let me hear your voice.”~ I love this line, God longs to see my face ( for me to be in his presence) and longs to hear MY voice. God wants me to talk to Him. He cherishes our times together and my thoughts and prayers. He wants me to communicate with Him.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
Again, this is an amazing study-and I knew it would be! I love how Dee has given us so much evidence that the Song of Songs indeed is about God and us. I knew it was, but since we started this study-Dee has given us solid evidence in the Song of Songs that SO points to it now. Take the hammer satan!
Dark being outside the presence of God and the Temple being close to the presence of God. Outside, yet brought inside. (I didn’t know Kedar is associated with Ishmael-wow!)
I have always loved Dee’s picture of her mom-She is so beautiful and it reminds me of being face to face with Him-the Lover of my soul-and He put the wedding dress on me and is making me beautiful.
I also like that Nancy Leigh DeMoss feared God more than men and saw the Song of Songs as God intended for us to see it! I agree. I do think, as in Idol Lies, that God is waking us up and the Song of Songs is being redeemed.
I loved this: “Christ’s love for us “AND” our love for Him”. So many scriptures come to mind in regard to God’s desire that we love Him back-when Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and what Jesus says in John 15 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” He wants us to abide in His love.
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
This is His love song to me! I so need this!
“Arise, my love, my lovely one come,”-“My beautiful one, arise and come with me.”-He never speaks of my darkness. Wow, I just saw this…This is so meaningful to me.
“Show me your face, let me hear your voice.”-He wants me..He longs to be with me-and He wants me to come out and love Him back.
“For love is unyielding as the grave. The flash of it is a jealous fire, No flood can quench, For love is as strong as death.” OH MY..His Love for me is final like the grave-it is sealed. The depth of it is so deep that nothing can quench it, not satan, not any dark days, not my idols. His Love is as strong as death.
and this SO BEAUTIFUL, “Do not arouse or awaken love Until it so desires. Arise, my love, my lovely one come, The Winter is past and the rains are gone. The flowers appear, it’s season of song,”-HIS LOVE THAT IS AS STRONG AS DEATH..His waiting for me to come out of the cleft all these years-He loved me when I hid and He waited and pursued me until the right time and He didn’t gaze on my darkness as I hid behind the rock-He is a seal over my heart..The true lover of my soul..this made me weep.
“and this SO BEAUTIFUL, “Do not arouse or awaken love Until it so desires. Arise, my love, my lovely one come, The Winter is past and the rains are gone. The flowers appear, it’s season of song,”-HIS LOVE THAT IS AS STRONG AS DEATH..His waiting for me to come out of the cleft all these years-He loved me when I hid and He waited and pursued me until the right time and He didn’t gaze on my darkness as I hid behind the rock-He is a seal over my heart..The true lover of my soul..this made me weep.”
What you shared above spoke to me to, but I didnt know how to put it into words, you did it so beautifully!!! Yes, Jesus waited on us and courted us with so much patience, gentleness and love. He only saw our beauty, not our darkness or past and HE is a seal over my heart…love that!
Dawn, Staci, and Rebecca — I woke up to this — and your excitement flames my own. Thank you!
Last week I listened the first two messages in Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ series on Song of Songs; great overview and I really look forward to listening to more! I’m still finishing up last week’s lesson…listened to the rest of Mike Reeve’s on “Who is she?”
My daughter has a bad cold and my son, Ryan, up in PA, is also sick with some kind of respiratory illness-has to wait until tomorrow to make an appt. with doctor there. He says he kind of feels like he did last spring when he had pneumonia…praying it’s not that.
Oldest son is home for the long weekend…having a quiet weekend and Labor Day.
Susan, wow will pray for Ryan..I so hope it isn’t pneumonia again! Wonderful that you have had a quiet Labor Day weekend. 🙂
Will pray for Ryan to get better soon.
What stood out to you from the above and why?
“pray for your love for this magnificent Bridegroom to mature”
I have been thinking a lot about relationships, I heard some one say last week that the best marriages are those in which the spouses continue to discover one another over the years.
I listened to a Keller sermon recently in which he talks about relationships and our relationship to God, how it will grow and change because it is a relationship and not a static thing.
I want my relationship with the Lord to mature, I don’t want to hide from him, I want to stop looking so much at me and my shortcomings, to stop protecting myself from discomfort so that I will arise and go wherever He leads.
Oh and one more thing, the picture of the couple walking hand in hand, I first read this on my phone yesterday and that was what gripped me first. I am not usually a visual person but that picture brought tears.
I so agree!
Mellany
Chris, This is really good that you brought this out- “pray for your love for this magnificent Bridegroom to mature”…This was like a balm to my heart and it brought to mind stones of remembrance of His faithfulness and long suffering toward me despite me.
You have been on my heart a lot lately Rebecca, I have been praying for you.
Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
My first reaction when I read the lyrics yesterday was a visceral reaction of pulling back. I wish it were not so but that is what I felt. It is so very hard for me to believe that God very God thinks of me that way. I would like to progress in this.
I am thinking it is because I think too much about me and not enough about Him. I think of David’s faith that if God would cleanse him he would be whiter than snow.
I so long for the Lord to help you (and all of us) believe this is true. What an unusual God we have — to be such love.
Thanks Dee, it is hard to admit my resistance, I am tempted to keep quiet rather than be true and real about this stuff.
It is hard for me to reconcile my sin so bad that Jesus had to be crushed for it, and the love so strong that He was willing to be. Sometimes I think I have made progress, other times I feel so crumpled and full of shame.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
“It’s not just the wedding, but the marriage.”
In our relationship with the Lord, it seems like “the wedding” would be synonymous with confirmation (confirming ones self in the Christan faith and specific denomination), often viewed by the confirmand as the end of religious education rather than the beginning it truly is. I view “the marriage” as the relationship with the Lord that gets richer and richer moment-by-moment, day-by-day, month-by-month, etc. through times of learning, discovery, and experiences (struggles and joys). I recall being confirmed as a teenager and thinking “yippee! no more Wednesday night studies”. So much more learning and a higher level of devotion has occurred for me since that time…in my teenage mind I never imagined… Years later (early 30’s) the effort was not tedious or obligatory, but thoroughly enjoyed and oh so valued. I look forward to time with the Lord in devotion, study, prayer, and just “being” in His presence….words cannot adequately express.
By the way, Dee…your mother looks like an angel in the wedding picture…lovely!
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
“It’s not just the wedding, but the marriage.” I guess it stood out to me because I think especially today so much money and effort, drama and special effects are put into the weddings. The wedding is over quickly and the main benefactors seem to me to be the guests at the wedding. However, the marriage is to last for the lifetimes of the participants — the husband and wife. It always pains me to see a young couple get married, sinking so much of their money and that of their parents into the wedding and the reception, and then the couple starts out their marriage in near-poverty. The financial strain can have a detrimental effect on the marriage relationship.
Of course, relating this to the main message of Song of Songs, our coming to Christ is not just the flash-in-the-pan at the time of our conversion, but it is the relationship that is built over the long-haul that matters most.
I agree Deanna about the over emphasis in our culture on the Wedding Day and not the marriage. While my place of employment is a pretty reasonably priced place to have a reception, there is a lodge nearby where not a single reception this summer is priced less than $25,000.00. That is just for the venue, food and beverages, and doesn’t include the dress, rings, flowers, music, cake, favors, invitations, tuxedos, gifts for the bridal party, honeymoon, etc.
The cultural expectations of what a wedding and reception should be have gotten out of hand.
Yes.
I have a missionary friend whose daughter asked people to bring a pie instead of a gift and they were FABULOUS pies. Her wedding reception was a few hundred dollars. And of course, many people gave gifts too.
My brother John probably doesn’t even remember that he said or did the following, but the Lord just reminded me of it as I pondered this week’s study.
John was perhaps 20 and I was perhaps 23. He was talking to me about the rapture of the church. John was very impressed with the fact that Jesus was not sending an angel or an ambassador to come get the church, but that He was coming Himself. When John told me this he broke into tears.
I suppose this is emblematic of Jesus’ sacrificial nature. In the first coming, death could not prevent our bridegroom from winning us.
Song of Songs 8:6 – “Love is strong as death…”
Isaiah 53:12 – “…he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors…”
In the second coming, Jesus will once again “enter our world.”
Wednesday night is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the marking of the Jewish New Year. Israelis all over the world will blow the shofar (ram’s horn/trumpet) in their temples, unknowingly performing a sort of “wedding rehearsal” for when The Messiah will blow His Shofar. This will be the invitation to the ultimate wedding. Hallelujah!
JR–this post so moved me, thank you. Love the “wedding rehearsal” horn–yes, Hallelujah!
Amen Elizabeth….
All Glory to Him! 🙂
Yes, the Shofar is so beautiful. We have some messianic Jews we know and now I understand the significance of the Shofar, thanks for sharing. It even has more meaning now when I see or hear about it.
Yes…I have one myself and plan on blowing it Wed Night 🙂
J.R. Maybe D. can video tape it and email it to me?? I would love that.
J.R. Loved this: “I suppose this is emblematic of Jesus’ sacrificial nature. In the first coming, death could not prevent our bridegroom from winning us.”
This reminds me of the Michael Card video we watched last week-that He so passionately wants to dwell with us that He came for us and was willing to die for us.
Oh and yes..the Shofar-Hallelujah!
Rebecca….
Yes….
I am always comforted when I hear the Shofar.
That sounds like JOhn. Love this story.
Dee, you are so blessed to have such wonderful christians sons….and they are blessed to have you for their mother:)
Johns emotion at this thought moved me too, He is coming Himself for us…
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
The Winter is past and the rains are gone.
The flowers appear, it’s season of song,
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Forgive me, as I realize that is three consecutive lines, not just one! However, it all hangs together for me. Winter and rains to me are the things I endure in my life — we might call them the rough spots or trials perhaps. When those are behind us, then the wonderful consequence happens — flowers bloom — my life blooms — I have grown in my faith. It is time to praise God (the season of song). Then I am ready to respond to His call “My beautiful one, arise and come with me.”
love this Deanna–blooms only after the rains…
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
Dee’s line:
And then, in The Song of Songs, He shows how He loves us and how He wants us to trust this love.
To trust God’s love is wht God is teaching me through all of this and I think even before hand.
About 3 years(whn I came back to the Lord) ago I was doing a bible study on the book of Revelations.
Somehow in the conversation it came out that “God is good”
I remember coming off the couch and being excited b/c it answered so many of my questions.
Re: my past and my past choices.
It was the answer to all my questions “God is good”.
Trust Him and Him alone kind of echoes in that stmt.
Even Jesus said it, that God is good and
Jesus is wholly God and wholly man.
That is so amazing.
Kind of like whn I first heard the sermon about Job.
The pastor in New York that Dee speaks about.
Whn I first heard his sermons on suffering – my reaction was the same way-.
That is my answer from God
God is good and He is God and I can trust Him and Him alone.
Or another example for me that came to my mind (probably from the precious Holy Spirit – a good friend of mine -He is always standing by)this is a joke b/c another name for the precious Holy Spirit is Standby.
Anyhow… the scene that came to mind is from Mighty Ducks (hockey movie)
and there is a kid that is trying to be a goalie and he is afraid of the puck coming at him. (goalies happen to be a favourite player for me in hockey) Who remembers Fyr? Billy Smith? I have a signed jersey with Martin Broduer on it. It is Chuck’s but I still like it.
Anyhow… again I digress but here it is
The goalie is in the net (ducked taped there) and pucks are shot at him.
Eventually the fear is gone and he has the attitude of “bring it on”.
That is me now -but it was not me “ever”.
I was a shy fearful child and a quiet solemn woman.
Kind of like when Nazerth sings “broken down angel”-that was me.
Even my name is Greek -it means dark, melancholy one- but it also means that when I make up my mind and stand -I do so- one of resolute courage.
Kind of a contrast but there it is.
When I am in Christ I am powerful
I am safe and I am home
but
when I am in my past I am pitiful
God is showing me and teaching me that when the enemy is shooting arrows at me.
I lift up my shield of faith not pride.
Put on my breastplate of righteousness and I stand.
“Bring it on” is what I am learning.
My prayer is teach me Holy One.
How to love like u do.
To not keep offenses or remember them.
To forgive as I have been forgiven.
I am really thankful for that book “kisses from Katie”
It made me smile, cry and everything.
I have read it twice and bought extras to give away.
I am also doing the 30 day devotional from John Bevere’s book as well as others.
Looking at offenses as “bring it on”
Instead of personalizing things -realize that u can love even more-
Jesus is teaching me that God is good
That He loves me, that He will never leave me nor forsake me, that nothing will separate me from the love of God.
I can love and love fiercely b/c He loves me the same way.
I definitely do not want offenses to stand in the way. I will apologize first.
I will always try with God’s help to bring about reconciliation and restoration not isolation or condemnation.
Even if my sincere efforts are meant with anger or resentment -like John said, just love more-
I am going to order his c.d.’s and I share them.
I love giving away and sharing.
I will love and pray first.
Following the leading of the Holy Spirit not jumping in where angels and fools fear to tread.
After all it is the precious Holy Spirit that is doing all the work
All He requires from me is surrender.
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
For love is as strong as death.(someone else chose this as well)
When I die to self and live to Christ His love is stronger than the death of self/my sin nature.
I am stronger for trusting Him.
God is teaching/showing me that I was seeking His hand and not His face. I had a devotional in Is 58 today. I was rocked to the core.
When I worship and I do.
This is a gift from God
but am I truly worshipping God if I am not helping the poor or the orphans or pursuing justice and mercy.
When I surrender/submit to God (die to self and live to Christ)
That is my gift to God.
That the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness and self-control and when I yield this comes out of me.
Like the last prayers that Jesus said ( John Chpt. 14-17)
It is Jesus in me and not myself.
As I yield to Christ and give Him a piece of my heart He changes it.
I love the prayers of Jesus
He prayed for me.
In the book of John He prays for all the Apostles and then all future believers which includes me.
It is kind of cool and amazing to know Christ Jesus prayed for me/for all believers.
He sought me first.
That when He was going to die for my sins He prayed for me.
Very sobering for me to think of.
I don’t mean from drinking ( chuck and I are not drinkers at all)
That is why it is kind of funny/ironic to think of (whn Chuck and I went to that church they thought we were alcoholics b/c of all the crying we did)
I am not laughing at alcoholics here but I just think it is ironic.
I think it is wonderful and amazing
That He is my High Priest constantly interceding before the throne room of grace for me and other believers.
I know that Father God is pleased with me b/c He sees me through the shed blood of Jesus
The perfect Lamb of God
I have a question for all of u:
Is the description in the book of Daniel and the one in Revelation.
Jesus or Father God?
A favourite quote that I have had for decades.
…But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
A Russian writer wrote this (Solheytizen sp)
I loved it whn I first read it and now even more b/c God is showing me He needs my heart.
All of it.
Broken yucky pieces, harden pieces, evil pieces, good pieces
All of it
I believe/know that I am giving Christ my heart – all of it for the first time – and trusting Him with my heart.
Before I would hold something back or run from Jesus.
My long w/e has been a good and fruitful one.
Chuck and I sent a card and a book to his daughter(kisses from Katie).
I wrote a short sincere apology and Chuck signed it as well.
The peace and joy I experienced made me want to do more but
instead I will treasure it in my heart and write it down and ponder it and remember it.
Like Mary did in the bible.
Our pastor said it is good to keep a book of answered prayers and I will do that, starting with this one.
I have others as well that I will write in the journal as well but it will start with this one b/c it was a difficult fight/surrender for me.
I thank u so much ladies for your prayers and this blog.
A special shout it out to Dee b/c
w/o this blog and bible study I do not know where I would be.
Chuck got a silver in the senior games. I was quite proud of him.
He is a soccer player and I am beginning to understand the subtlety of the game.
I still love hockey but I am beginning to appreciate soccer
My husband is a different man on the soccer field and a pleasure to watch.
My husband and my dtr.s over the years have repeatedly said to me at different times that I need to stop beating myself up emotionally and to stop remembering bad things or bad choices.
I am not bad/evil anymore. I am not that child of rage or pain, trying to stuff tears back in her eyes, hiding in a closet.
I am a new creature in Christ
Of course the first step is choosing/allowing God to preform open heart surgery but I am choosing to do so.
God is such a perfect gentleman and His timing is so perfect.
I am going
To trust and believe Him and His love.
To trust the fact that my husband loves me as well as my dtrs.
It is that simple yet so difficult for me to do.
but
I am going to do it.
I am resolved.
I do not want to be an offended carnal Christian
but
A surrendered, Christian who glorifies her Lord and Saviour in all she says and does.
A grown up Godly woman
blessings to all
Guess what a Canadian (Graham Delaet is 5th in the standings for the Fed Ex cup).
Mellany
Mellany
Reading the first parts of you post I kept thinking of the hymn Trust & Obey:
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.”
I loved this from you today:
“God is showing me and teaching me that when the enemy is shooting arrows at me.
I lift up my shield of faith not pride.
Put on my breastplate of righteousness and I stand.”
Chris,
I kept thinking of this song last week 🙂
Mellany, can you tell me more about what book/devotional you are using by John Bevere?
Also, I love the quote from Sol…(the Russian guy) and how you describe giving your heart to Jesus. I’m glad you have peace in sending the letter and book to Chuck’s daughter.
I can’t believe I am going to say this, but here goes…..I kind of like (ouch!) the Norah Jones song now :/ here’s what happened:
I’ve only heard the song probably once before I played it on the blog last week. Then yesterday I went into a store with my sister in law and wouldn’t you know it was playing in the background??? As I listened, I tried to think of it as God talking to me. I really kind of got emotional right there!!! It was a different song when I thought of it that way. Now I can’t get it out of my head! I still wonder though, if she wrote it with God or man in mind 🙂
🙂 Isnt it like God to have a sense of humor, yet He spoke to you. Aww, that is such a great testimony. He just have you a big embrace. I think of regardless of why she wrote the song, God is singing it to you. Soak it in, He loves you!! I pray many more embraces from God to you!
Laura-Dancer, lol! :)))) Loved your post.
This is great, Laura! You were ambushed:))
🙂 Love this story.
I imagine she wrote it with man in mind, but God is the author of every good gift. There’s a passage that says Cyrus freed the Jews even though he didn’t know the Lord. Remember the video movie of Lewis and Tolkein and their talk — how every good story that touches our hearts, whether the authors meant it to or not, does so because it echoes the true story.
Respond to this, Laura-dancer so I know you read it! Love you so!
Dee, thanks for reminding me of Tolkein and Lewis! How true it is 🙂 would like to read the passage you refer to here with Cyrus. Will have to go searching for it. I am definitely reminding myself each minute how dark I am but how he sees inside of me and loves me anyway. It is hard to believe it, but I do.
Have been thinking a lot about people and judging others. PLEASE PRAY- thank you Jesus for helping me stay away from my idols when the devil was prowling around this evening. Thank you for being with me. I can’t go into details but I really need prayers for my husband and Sarah tonight; for discernment, peace, and safety. Thanks everyone.
Laura, just seeing this now, but praying.
Laura, just seeing this now, too…Lord, You know…please help Laura’s husband and Sarah with whatever it is they are struggling with or needing help with. Please grant them your discernment, peace, and protection.
Thanks so much Laura!
I’m late Laura, but praying now for them~
Thanks everyone for prayers. We have a bad situation with one of sarahs roommates. It is ongoing and Sarah needs prayers. She is slipping and needs to remember to keep focused on school.
Joyce, I miss you. I hope all is well….
Praying, Laura dancer. Sorry this is happening.
Yes, Joyce. Miss you. Are you well?
oh Laura–I am so sad to hear this, will continue to cover you and Sarah with prayers–trusting He has this. So sorry.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
I love the picture of the bride; I think we have seen her before? Your mom? My grandma had beautiful wedding pictures. She was married in a time when lace, sequins, and fringe were popular. She is lovely on the outside.
Also, “And then, in The Song of Songs, He shows how He loves us and how He wants us to trust this love.” this is hard because I do trust the love and yet Satan moves in as well. So hard! It is sometimes difficult to remember that.
I love the picture of Dee’s mother. She is so beautiful and beautifully adorned for her groom! This is how He sees us! Whether we can believe it or not, it is fact. I pray Lord that You will help me to believe this.
It is a new understanding about the dark tents of Kedar and Ishmael. To be outside, unworthy and brought in by a lover able to redeem is breathtakingly healing! How great His love must be!
The picture of the man and woman walking together, as if out of the wilderness blessed me. I can lean on Him. How He has proven this to me in the difficulties of life! Yet still I default to thinking I am alone. It is very hard to let down the protective walls around my heart. Actually, I even wonder if it is something I can do. Lately I have made it a matter of prayer because I just don’t think I can do it by my own willpower.
Something else that stands out to me is taking the focus from the wedding to the marriage. I am always blown away by how The Lord shows up at weddings. It is easy for me to see what blessed, important events they are in His eyes. Yet I think the human tendency, at least in this society is to make the event perfect but give little effort in caring for the marriage. We do tend to see the ceremony as the finish rather than the start of something infinitely more fragile than the events of one day/ceremony.
I am blessed by what JR shared about Rosh Hashanah. I love looking at Jewish holy days and festivals to see how they point to Christ’s finished work. My son chose this date for his wedding because they go to a Jewish school and would be on break now but how God is in the midst! He flies in on Wednesday. Holy Spirit place Your words on my lips.
Speaking of the Shofar….This is a hilarious video that Dianne found….
A Rabbi is blowing the Shofar, and in the midst of the demonstration a dog blows his own shofar.
http://www.dogheirs.com/george/posts/1997-dog-unexpectedly-joins-in-on-rabbi-s-musical-demonstration-video
Oh JR! The Shofar! Rosh HaShana and the shofar. I have never been so burdened to pray as I have today. I told a friend that I need clarity and you have given it right here.
I looked for the meaning of the shofar on Rosh HaShana and it is for spiritual reawakening. This is my prayer for my son, getting married on Saturday. May he not be spiritually asleep on his wedding day Lord!
Thanks JR! I will check out the link in a bit.
Anne,
According to Jewish tradition, the bride would not know at what time the groom would come and call her to the wedding. When he would arrive, he would stand outside her house and “shout” to announce his arrival.
I Thess 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Your son will be “flying in” on the eve of Rosh Hashana to meet his bride…I think I’m seeing a bit of symbolism here. 🙂
God Bless,
J.R.
Yes JR the symbolism is beautiful. I am so glad to have direction for this prayer burden.
Thanks for sharing all these thoughts about the shofar and Rosh Hashanah and its connection to Christ’s finished work. Great food for thought! Loved the video, too. The shofar does rather sound to me like a dog howling. LOL! I wonder why the Jews chose the ram’s horn for this symbolism. I know they had other instruments – lyres, etc.
More thoughts on the shofar. I suppose it was useful because its sound would travel a great distance to call people to attention in the days before mics, telephones etc.
With today being the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, I will try to deliberately pray for the Jews today. Both politically and spiritually, they need the Messiah so much. As I read about Paul’s aching for the salvation of his people, the Jews, last week from Romans, I was struck anew by the deep sadness of their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
Even the rocks will cry out! Love it.
Oh that was so funny!!
I was refering to JR’s video of the horn and dog!
Praying for them Anne!
Wow — just listened to Michael Card’s song. SO POWERFUL (when my heart is right!!).
Dee, I love seeing that pic of your mother again. It is so intriguing. And they didn’t even have Photoshop to make the veil like that.
Have to get back to work. More later.
Dee, I just clicked on your mother’s wedding picture again to look at it more closely. She is beautiful, and the photo is amazing, too. Did she every tell you how the picture was taken? The lighting? The veil? (a fan? or stiffened fabric?) The process she experienced to be photographed? I haven’t ever seen a wedding picture anything like it — quite amazing.
Isn’t it? It was natural light for it was in the early 1930’s. No touch up either. We saved the dress but it is so tiny none of us could get our hips in!
Just listened to Michael Card’s song 4 more times. Like Chris wrote, I tend to pull away when I read the lyrics on the page, and I do resist reading them aloud. My response to the song changes each time I listen. The second time I listened tonight, I paid more attention to individual lines and wanted to lock myself in a closet when I read the words “Show me your face, let me hear your voice.” But the 1st and 3rd times that I listened tonight (as well as when I listened before), the music helped the words penetrate more fully. The power and extent of God’s love is starting to sink in — a bigger picture. When I start to sense the bigger picture and begin to rest in His love, the specific lines seem more meaningful, more loving — less threatening.
I’m not quite at the point at which I can write my thoughts in a way that makes sense. Some of the words are coming together to form pictures in my brain. I am very familiar with winter (seemingly unending winter) and the relief when spring comes. (If I believed in reincarnation, I’d want to come back as something that hibernates all winter). As I thought about winter being over, spring being here (in July this year), the word “Arise” became more meaningful and more hopeful. Also envisioning Narnia here.
Finally, the 4th time I listened, I realized that I am very tired and will soon do the opposite of arising. The word “arise” now reminds me of a radio station jingle I heard every morning for a several weeks a few years ago. People sang over and over “Time to get your butt outta bed, time to get your butt outta bed, time to get your butt outta bed or you’ll be late for work.” I know the strange connections that I make, and now I may hear that jingle in my head whenever I read the SoS passage. The good news is that I also will think of SoS if I ever hear that radio station again.
I do pray it will penetrate your heart.
And listen when you aren’t so tired!!!
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
“Set me like a seal on your heart,”
This has me thinking of a song I love by Natalie Sleeth called “write your blessed name.” it is a favorite of mine. Here are the words that have always touched me:
W”rite Your blessed name, O Lord, upon my heart / There to remain so indelibly engraved / That no prosperity / That no adversity / shall ever move me from your love.”
The words “indelibly engraved” have always moved me to tears…..put there forever. I love you Jesus.
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
1. I liked how Nancy brought out that she didn’t have concern about her darkness until she got close to Him-It is in His light that our darkness is revealed. Yet the contrast of how she saw herself and how He saw her is so beautiful. While she saw her darkness He saw her clothed in His righteousness-He saw her as the fairest of all.
2. The contrast of how her brothers treated her and how He treats her. They are angry with her and make her labor-He brings her into His chamber and gives her rest.
3. The Vineyard-“The demands of the law and the delights of Love”
The demands of the law result in my labor to serve others in duty, fear and with no love. When I serve under the delights of Love and Grace, service is gladly given out of love. It results in freedom and joy. She is not attending to her own life, she is worn out serving others and neglecting personal communion and fellowship with Christ, but THIS BRIDE SEEKS HER BELOVED- I LOVE that! She seeks Him for nourishment and rest-she needs Him to restore her soul. She sets a new priority-get to the feet of Jesus and let Him tend her vineyard.
So there is this tension..I know my darkness yet I am lovely covered by His righteousness. The tension will be there on my side, but just fall to His feet and let Him tend my vineyard for while he knows I have darkness and even knows what it is-He sees me covered by His righteousness..I am dark but He calls me lovely. I want to be the bride who seeks Him-abandons myself to Him daily and lets Him tend my Vineyard.
Thanks, Rebecca. Such good notes. I haven’t listened yet, but I see parallels from your notes and what I am experiencing now.
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
I am being surprised by seeing for the first time “the gospel according to The Song of Songs”…I never knew it was hidden in there…dark, yet lovely; outside, yet brought inside.
I agree with everyone else – a simply stunning picture of your mother, Dee. She looks almost ethereal.
The Gospel is the marriage. Wow. This is a whole new concept for me. And I confess I struggle with it – not in believing it to be true, but because earthly marriage can be so marred, as mine is…more bad times than good times. It is hard for me to picture that kind of “perfect marriage” that my Heavenly Bridegroom wants to show me. The Song of Songs wants to show me this kind of love, this kind of marriage and I want to see it.
Mike Reeve’s said, “(Song of Songs) it’s drawing you in to taste, to savor, to sample, this love. To enter into the enjoyment of this beauty.” I want that. I’m a little afraid to dare to hope I can experience this.
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely the Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
First, I think it is powerful to simply sing Scripture…not words of men, but God’s Word.
Just savoring the phrases He uses for His Bride…”My beautiful one…my love, my lovely one…show me your face…you ravish my heart…”
Such tenderness, such pursuing love, such REASSURANCE as He keeps telling her she is beautiful, lovely.
Thinking of love being as unyielding as the grave. Death is so final, permanent, silent.
It makes me think of Jesus yielding Himself into death’s grip, into the grave. Such was His love for us. Yet, the grave could not hold Him. Love is as strong as death. Death was no match for His love.
How I pray for this for you dear Susan — esp in your earthly circumstance.
2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.
No flood can quench,
For love is as strong as death.
I have loved this song for a long time. I especially love the flute accompaniment rising like a lark in the background. It was hard to choose one line that is meaningful as there are many. This line strikes me because of my circumstances, of course. . Again, the water imagery speaks as I see myself in the midst of a pitched ocean storm. Sometimes I fight my circumstances and am in great confusion and angst wondering why God would allow this turmoil and pain of my daughter’s divorce and nasty custody battle So, I very much need the comforting and reassurance that “no flood can quench” God’s love for me. He is stronger than the flood.
In this imagery also, His love is as inevitable and sure as death. Death is something that we prefer not to think about, something we generally do not want. I noticed in Blue Letter Bible website, in its Hebrew lexicon that sometimes the word for “death” means Death personified. This got me musing about how, if Death is personified here as being a very strong, inevitable “person”, then it is saying that Love is also a person and He is as strong as Death. Actually, God is Love and He is stronger than His greatest enemy, Death.
So good Diane. You often have such good thoughts. Quoting you next Sunday!
Diane,
Thanks for your post. The two lines about death, “For love is unyielding as the grave” and “For love is as strong as death,” stood out to me, too. But I couldn’t explain why they stood out to me.
What you wrote– “Death is something that we prefer not to think about, something we generally do not want” is helping me think about why/how the Gospel as presented in the Song of Songs is sinking in now — and why I’ve had a hard time reading it in the past.
I was exposed to enough death when I was young that the only way I knew to cope was to “not think about it” (and develop a crush on the funeral director!!) Although my “not think about it” walls haven’t prevented me from functioning for decades, I’m seeing that I still have remains of those walls that hinder me from letting Love penetrate to my core.
Somehow, a more legalistic approach to life is more consistent with keeping those bricks in place. Someone said to me this week (and it felt “out of the blue”) “I KNOW you’re not legalistic” — but I AM legalistic when it comes to unexamined areas of self-protection.
Even though I know the answer in my head, I’m asking “Is it safe to let Him in to those places in my heart where I don’t even go, the areas I prefer not to think about?” Acknowledging that He sees me as beautiful (and even writing these words) seems to be steeping over those bricks that are remnants of my mega-walls from the past.
Please pray that this message will saturate my soul. Last night was strange — I had nightmares in which I was doing everything I could to avoid trusting. At the time, I thought it was a spiritual battle, but it also could have been allergies, or possibly even forgetting to take medication (I think I took it?) — maybe even all three. The sobbing — due to fear, realizing my sinfulness and shame, people hating me — during the nightmare cleared my sinuses 🙂 One of the reasons that I think this was, at least partly, a spiritual battle related to trusting Him is because many of you also were mixed in with people I feared in my nightmare (and I don’t consider people on this blog to have contributed to traumas in my life!!)
I do feel as if I were run over by a truck during the night, and I am SOOO tired. But I also am trusting Him more today than I did yesterday, and more yesterday than I did last week.. This will sound sorta nuts — but I’m seeing this as evidence of God’s faithfulness and His persistence in loving me. I do have some remnants of garbage from the past; most of the garbage is ancient history. 98% of the time, I don’t even experience hints of that garbage. I’d prefer to “get on with my life” — not think about hard stuff right now. Maybe He is working in those really deep areas in my heart when I sleep because those areas are beyond my comprehension, beyond my energy level during the day, and beyond my ability to clearly describe.
For someone who tends to intellectualize, this is seeming VERY, VERY strange
I’m sitting at work realizing that it is very difficult to describe the extent and depth of the work of a boundless God when I am limited by my own perspective and abilities. It really is soaking in that I can trust this amazing God totally and completely. Before, I would have described myself by saying “I don’t trust like that.” Maybe that description isn’t true.
You’ve had so much stress at work — but I am so glad that it is soaking in that you can trust this amazing God!
When I got home tonight (and was wandering around watering parched flowers), I was awed by God’s work in my life and His timing — that He is inviting me to trust Him more now. Because of the stress during the summer, I experienced some PTSD issues that hadn’t surfaced for at least 10 to 15 years. At work recently, I mostly have been trusting people who have been wronged by the same person/people or those who have seen the behaviors in action. Work has been so bizarre that if I hadn’t experienced some things, I would have had a hard time believing what happened.
It’s almost as if I have been telling myself “Do not trust.” And in the midst of this, just like in the Bible: “But God …”
God’s trustworthiness is soaking in one drip at at time. I don’t think I could handle a fire hose, but I think I could use a few more drips 🙂
ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE!
David is making this website mobile friendly and making some other changes — so it will freeze Friday night at 9 and unfreeze Saturday night at 9. Just wanted to give you a heads up!
Oooh… Like mobile-friendly. This blog has its very own browser on my phone — the only site I visit directly on my cell phone. Other sites (usually news) only get visited through links from apps.
Diane, as I read comments I saw that you mentioned praying for Israel today. I thought of this and thought it might be helpful as you pray. It helps me to see what Israel is up against and how prophecy has been fulfilled. It is a bit old and today there is much more to add. http://www.acwitness.org/psalm83english.html
Thanks so much for this, Anne. The Psalm was visualized very well in the video and the music was beautiful. My heart aches for the people of Israel to come to know and serve their Messiah Jesus.
Anne, thanks for that video…so sad as much has happened since then.
Every time I listen to the song I am blessed by some new facet of it. This morning it is the visual of spring following winter combined with the picture of coming out of the wilderness leaning on my beloved. This is our future, our blessing.
The words ‘set me like a seal on your heart for love is as strong as death’ really stand out to me. I can’t really understand it. Lord, help me to comprehend.
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
She didn’t realize what she was really like until she was around Him. His holiness highlighted her imperfections, that brings tension in us. In His light, our darkness is revealed. Yet, she is lovely—because of her righteousness in Christ. We are dressed in fine linen—because of His righteousness. By virtue of her relationship with Christ—she is becoming something new—lovely. Romans 7, Paul says nothing good dwells in me—I am dark. We desire to delight in His law (lovely), but are flesh is dark. By nature in Adam, our flesh apart from Christ is dark, depraved. But we have a new nature in Christ—our spirit quickened, and we are chosen to become lovely.
I liked the quote from Andrew Bonar—I had come across him a few weeks ago for our study—he has a book called “Christ and His Church in the Book of Psalms” that I found (free) online. Also interesting to me—he is Horatius Bonar’s brother (who wrote one of my favorite hymns—All Things New
Nancy said “we’re often crushed underneath the millstone of our sense of our sin, but should we not have an even weightier, heavier sense of His divine grace?” LOVED that. Not many people express it that way—the heavier weight on His grace rather than our sin.
Also this spoke to me; “You can be doing a lot of good things for the Lord…but you can be doing it under the burden of law’s demand and experiencing no joy in it.” “The solution to that condition is not to stop serving others but to find rest and refreshment in Him so that we can minister to others out of fullness, out of the delights of love.” To live not under the demands of the law, but the delights of His love.
OK, the harder part (for me)…She said “Let the Lord shape your view of yourself… He sees the darkness…You are the most beautiful among women.” His is where I have some tension. I instinctively hesitate to let Him shape my view of myself because I have that innate sense that I should not have a “high” picture of myself. There is still a slight disconnect. I know, I have said it here, the focus is His righteousness—that is how we are beautiful. I can type it-it’s just that it still feels like it doesn’t add up…and it’s not supposed to—it’s all “unfair in our favor” (Keller), just hard to allow myself to feel that ‘good about myself’—AH, but it’s not about myself—it’s peace in who He is. Have to keep flipping it. Yes He calls me beautiful—not my actions, not my thoughts, but when I am humbly clothed with His robe of righteousness, because I can wear nothing else—then I am beautiful. Sorry—processing out loud!
This is so profound, elizabeth.
“I instinctively hesitate to let Him shape my view of myself because I have that innate sense that I should not have a “high” picture of myself. … it’s all “unfair in our favor” (Keller), just hard to allow myself to feel that ‘good about myself’—AH, but it’s not about myself—it’s peace in who He is.”
Why do we struggle so to have a “high” view of ourselves? Why do we have no problem understanding our unworthiness, but so much problem understanding and believing that God adores us, that we are most beautiful among women?
Nancy Leigh DeMoss certainly touches on this in her talk when she contrasts the bride’s view of herself (dark) with the King’s view of her as the “loveliest” of women. I have a hard time accepting compliments from anyone, but especially about myself from my husband. In the tape in my head, I am constantly berating myself. It sounds like a lot of us have this problem here.
How can I constantly belittle myself when God has forgiven me, and adores me. He covers me with His sacrificial righteousness given on the Cross of Calvary. “Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.”
There is a sense in which we cannot really worship until we accept more fully that we are “dark” YET “LOVELY”, lovely because HE makes us lovely. God doesn’t see the “dark”. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” What would change about our life if we fully accepted that we were completely beautiful before God?
As Elizabeth said above, it is not about us but about HIM.
oh Diane–another “print-worthy” post of yours. “How can I constantly belittle myself when God has forgiven me, and adores me. He covers me with His sacrificial righteousness given on the Cross of Calvary.’
Thank you for this.
I am working out the same thoughts, wrestling with knowing my sin and believing I am loved.
It seems to go against humility to rest in the thought that He sees me as lovely. It is hard even to write that sentence down.
I just keep thinking that my reluctance to embrace this is rooted in my self absorption. I cannot keep my focus on me.
Lord help us believe truth and not lies.
Set us free
Chris,
“It is hard even to write that sentence down.” So true for me, too — I haven’t written many (any?) sentences that include the words “me” and “lovely.”
BUT I do believe God is answering our prayers. You are posting!! Those thoughts are sneaking into my mind now. That’s something new. I’m starting to experience a feeling of relief, knowing that God is at work and that He will bring about the changes in my thinking as I yield my thoughts to Him. I so often attempt to control my thoughts. Sometimes that seems appropriate, but I like it better when He changes my heart and then more godly thoughts “sneak in” and I gradually change.
I’m learning more and more that EVERYTHING is about Him/knowing Him and that leads to change. I often get it backwards.
Been doing some reading this morning and came across this–from Richard Sibbes, also a quote from Jonathan Edwards. I really thought the Sibbes was helpful–hope encourages others.
Jonathan Edwards: “The enjoyment of him is our highest happiness, and it is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here: better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean” (from “The Christian Pilgrim,” in The Words of Jonathan Edwards)
This from Richard Sibbes: (http://www.apuritansmind.com/puritan-favorites/puritan-favorites-richard-sibbes-1577-1635/the-spouse-her-earnest-desire-after-christ-a-sermons-by-richard-sibbes/)
Christ condescended so far unto us, to such a near league, as to take us to be his spouse, who hath all things. What then can we want when we are at the fountain of all things? We can want no protection, for that is the covering of this well. We can want no good thing but he will supply it. We have free access unto him, as the wife hath to her husband. Who hath free access to the husband if the wife hath not? So who hath free access to Christ but the spouse?
Obj. Yea, but we have infirmities.
Solution. True, indeed; but shall man bear with his wife because she is the ‘weaker vessel,’ 1 Pet. iii. 7, and shall not Christ much more with his spouse? Herein then is our chiefest comfort, that this union, this contract, is not for a time, but for ever: ‘I have married thee unto myself for ever,’ Hos. ii. 19. And therefore we shall never want protection nor direction, nor anything that is good for us.
2. Now, the duty on our part is to love him again with a mutual love, and obedient love; to honour him as Sarah did Abraham, by calling him Lord, 1 Pet. iii. 6; and manifest it by doing what he would have thee to do, and by suffering what he would have thee to suffer.
‘Let him kiss me.’‘Me’ is here the speech of the whole church, and so of every particular member which is the spouse of Christ. ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,’ that is, let him shew me further testimony of his love by his presence’
Elizabeth — thanks so much for that website. I loved this:
Doct. 1. First, that every Christian soul and the spouse in general hath a sweet taste of the love of Christ even in this life.
Doct. 2. That after this contract and taste of this love, she hath ever springing up in her a further desire of the increase and manifestation of it.
I’ve been doing Galatians with my daughters and they are hit and miss and I can get discouraged by that, so the above encourages me. He who has begun a good work will complete it. I know they are very busy young moms.
I loved it too, –I smiled “Who hath free access to the husband if the wife hath not?” and when he says “Yea, but we have infirmities.” because my mind had just jumped to that “objection”. So thankful Dee you have listened to Him and led us into this journey–I am still in awe of what He is showing us here. Thanking Him for you~
Thanks for posting this, Elizabeth. I was so hit with the “objection” this morning…”yea, but we have infirmities”… yes, I did something really, really stupid this morning-made a bad judgment. Oh how quickly came the feelings of rejection, of wanting to hide and never come out, of feeling unworthy, unloved, a failure.
Jonathan Edwards: “The enjoyment of him is our highest happiness, and it is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here: better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean” (from “The Christian Pilgrim,” in The Words of Jonathan Edwards)
Love this, thanks for sharing. I will have to read this book, I wonder if I have it? I have a kindle app on my ipad…
Love Diane’s wisdom. I feel a need to “dig” in this insecurity, in-acceptance of how He sees me. As I read some of Sibbes–his assurance of Christ’s love..for some reason hearing it from a voice from the past–a deceased puritan, it helped..but still, do I let it change me, or do I have these thoughts here and then default back to my usual ways, with an attitude that really is rooted in how I have performed. Is it the enemy that my brain cannot turn off the belief that how He sees me is altered by my own actions? Is it pride that we naturally believe what we do should/does alter how we are perceived…and so to accept that His view of us has nothing to do with “us”–is too humble for my nature? I believe it is a false humility that says “I’m not good enough”–that’s basing it still on my own behavior.
Diane’s words above reminded me of when my husband used to struggle much with self-condemning statements (he’s a recovering perfectionist!) and I would say to him, in all honesty, ‘don’t talk about my husband that way’–because it hurt, ME, to hear him belittle the one I love. On such a grander scale–how it grieves Him that I won’t accept fully His robe. And I want to wallow instead in my inadequacies.
OK, so maybe this is turning into my take-away (should have word-docked first, but too late now!)Here is where I am. What would change in me, if I really believed and rested in Him–that’s what I am pondering today. What would that look like? No defensiveness. More patience with others because I would not see whatever it is that I was already engaged in as more important than their interruption! Humility. Not the down on myself false, belittling as Diane called it—but a humility that smiles. That is peaceful, a still lake—so still it reflects only His beauty. I love lakes like that—you see nothing of their own beauty—all a reflection of the sky, the sun.
To let Him kiss me–I think of His Word–His Word is from His lips, His kiss. I know not to make this a “to-do”, but I want to confess here how I rush through reading His Word.I do not meditate much these days. I want to. To meditate on it more, that is the kiss to me. ‘Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,’ that is, let him shew me further testimony of his love by his presence’ (Sibbes)
Reading carefully your posts and Diane’s. I feel as if I need to be hammered over the head with this truth – so hard to get it to penetrate!
“…or do I have these thoughts here and then default back to my usual ways, with an attitude that really is rooted in how I have performed. Is it the enemy that my brain cannot turn off the belief that how He sees me is altered by my own actions? Is it pride that we naturally believe what we do should/does alter how we are perceived…
and so to accept that His view of us has nothing to do with “us”-is too humble for my nature?”
The problem is that in reality-in “real life” day-to-day, how I am “seen” IS altered by my own actions. What I do-especially if it’s wrong, or what I fail to do does alter how I am perceived. So it is very hard to believe (by experience) that God’s love is so unconditional.
I have to ask myself, too, how many times do I allow the behavior/actions/failures of those around me to change how I perceive them; to make them feel that my love is based on their performance?
Susan, I just read your post and my heart aches for you. I am praying for you. Living with constant condemnation and “conditions” set on you by others, who are supposed to love you, does make it hard to believe in God’s unconditional love. Do not let your heart condemn you, dear Susan. You are precious and adored by the One who counts the most.
It is a sombre question you ask, “I have to ask myself, too, how many times do I allow the behavior/actions/failures of those around me to change how I perceive them; to make them feel that my love is based on their performance?” We all need to ask this of ourselves and learn to give others (and ourselves) grace.
Such an important discussion between you three. Praying for each of you — the enemy will not win!
Thank you Diane. I know you are in the middle of a terrible storm with your family. It encourages and inspires me how you persevere. I listened to another of Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ messages on Song of Songs (a different one than we are doing this week) and another translation of from chapter one, his name being like perfume or oil poured out, is “ointment”, and she asks in follow-up questions how Jesus has been an “ointment” to you. I love the thought of that – of Him being like a healing ointment or salve.
Dear Susan–you are in such a battle field, daily.I pray the truth that you know, that He has shown you–will reign over your thoughts. Praying for you dear sister, so much
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
For me, the most important note from Nancy Leigh DeMoss was this one: The antidote for burnout, the solution for burnout is not to focus on myself. “I need more time for me.” It’s to focus on Christ.
Other notes:
And we’re conflicted, aren’t we, at times that we would be qualified to be married to Him, to have a relationship with Him, that He would love us? How can it be?
She felt that the “daughters of Jerusalem” represented other believer who are less mature.
The Bride sees two aspects of herself, and they conflict with each other, and so she is a conflicted woman….She feels she is “dark.” His fairness and His loveliness had been revealing her unloveliness to her by contrast….It’s in His light that our darkness is revealed. She also says she is lovely like the curtains of Solomon. This speaks of who she has become and is becoming by virtue of her relationship with Christ.
There is no intrinsic worth or beauty in us, but He chose us, and He loves us just because He is love.
The demands of the law result in our laboring out of obligation, duty, and fear. But under the delights of love and of grace, service is freely given, gladly given, out of love, and it results in our blessing and freedom and joy.
You can be doing a lot of good things for the Lord — being a good mom, being a good wife, being a good worker, doing a lot of ministry, leading Bible studies, counseling other people, discipling others — all the things that are part of your service, but you can be doing it under the burden of law’s demand and experiencing no joy in it.
This is a picture of trying to serve others while failing to nurture our own hearts.
Don’t expect your husband, your pastor, your friends, books about Christ, radio programs or podcasts about Christ — don’t expect them to meet needs that only Christ Himself can meet.
The solution to burnout is not to stop serving others but to find rest and refreshment in Him so that we can minister to others out of fullness, out of the delights of love.
great notes Deanna. I thought this was so good from Nancy as well “Don’t expect your husband, your pastor, your friends, books about Christ, radio programs or podcasts about Christ — don’t expect them to meet needs that only Christ Himself can meet.”
That was so good about burnout!
Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again. Then listen or read: Link
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
~I like the explanation Nancy gives, I have about 3 pages of notes, but I like her take in the beginning on the daughters of Jerusalem. The daughters of Jerusalem were young believers, yet they were drawn to the beloved who was dark. NOT because of her darkness, but because of her heartfelt desire for the King. Even in her darkness, people could see her desire and love for the King. That really spoke to me, even in our dark times, do others see our love for God? Do we even see our love for God? Do we see ourselves as God sees us? To me for other believers to distinguish her as dark, and yet there was something in her that they didnt have or hadnt experienced YET…God’s true love or to desire it like no other..
~The beloved never realized how dark she was, with sin, until she was close to God. To be in God’s presence changes us, it rids sin. It changes our heart to be like His heart.
~ I like something she quoted “Crush our Hearts between these two millstones-a sense of sin- a sense of Devine Grace.” God’s love, changes our hearts. God’s love is true, pure, and honest. Unlike ‘worldly’ love. Which comes with strings attached, dilemmas,and sometimes ultimatums.
~World “demands of law”-obligations, duty and fear.
~Love/God’s Grace- service out of love, freedom, joy, peace
~Are we serving under laws demands or loves delights?
-A good example is Martha and Mary in Luke 10. Mary chose to sit at Jesus feet, where Martha chose to labor under laws demands.
-IN return laws demands produces emptiness,fatigue, tiredness, coldness of heart, weariness and burnout.
-I like Nancy said the antidote for burnout is to focus on Christ love. We keep our vineyard by resting in Him.
~Matt. 11:28-3028-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (the message bible translation)
~ I also like Nancy’s statement, following men/women of God is inferior to following God.
-No one can meet our needs, not even our husbands, like Christ can.
~WE are the most beautiful of women in God’s eyes, he sees us, as He made us to be,not as we are or what the world has heaped on us or judged us to be.
~When we love Jesus first, it creates in us to want to help others, it flows out of us, service for others. We are not just focused on self. We begin to have the Father’s heart and love towards others.
~I know Im guilty of being a Martha in the past, always busy doing what I thought God wanted me to do, to gain His love and acceptance, all the while neglecting my own personal time with Him. When we become like this, we really are working out of flesh instead of God’s love, there is no win win in any of it. Not for our own self or others we are trying to help. Thank God for God’s grace…He leads us back to Him. Learning a lot about myself this week. I do not need to gain God’s love or approval, HE already loves me…not to just accept that, His word…speaks Truth in Love.
Such good notes Staci!
love what you have highlighted, Staci–“Even in her darkness, people could see her desire and love for the King.”–inspiring!
Fun to see this morning the One Yr Bible OT rdg for today is the start of Song of Songs–such timing! I thought of you Anne, I know you read the One Yr as well (and keep it up far better than I!)
4. Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again and share any new insights.
Verse 3 “your name is oil poured out;”
I think I found a little gem buried here. Am I off track? Let me know what you think. “Poured out” in verse 3 is from the Hebrew which means: “to make empty” or “to be emptied out”. As soon as I saw this definition, a bell went off in my head. I immediately thought of Phil. 2:7-8 where it says that Jesus “emptied himself” and became a man. He “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (vs. 8). I couldn’t find any other commentaries where anyone made the connection, but it seems obvious to me, if this is a picture of Christ in Song of Songs. The Philippians passage is amazing and seeing the link in this verse in SoS just makes my heart sing.
Here is the Philippians passage:
Phil. 2: 5-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a]6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I love your ‘Poured Out’ revelation…that is beautiful!
oh diane–I am smiling!! This morning as I read Song of Songs 1–my eyes too fell on the “poured out”–and I thought of the Cross–His blood poured out–I thought of Lk 22:20 “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is lthe new mcovenant in my blood.”
the oil–I think of healing–poured out as His blood–and it is His Name–Christ, our Savior. So beautiful!
Remember everyone to get your notes in by 9 as the website freezes from 9 tonite to 9 tomorrow nite. Sorry about that but hopefully you will like the mobile friendly website!
I am behind, but have been chewing on the message and the discussion here.
Thank you David for looking to improve things here, we appreciate you!
Yes, Thanks David for all of your hard work-Dee’s blog is such a refreshing well to us and we are so grateful for you! 🙂
3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?
*There is tension in us as we realize how wonderful He is and our darkness in comparison.
*Left to our own devices, we would not seek the Lord…the nature of Jesus has quickened our spirit (praise God!).
*Trying to serve others while failing to nurture our own hearts equates to soul fatigue, emptiness, coldness of heart. The “one thing that’s necessary” is to get into the Lord’s presence, “let Him tend your vineyard”…focus on Jesus rather than self.
*No one but Jesus can meet needs that only He can meet…don’t expect others to meet those needs.
*Seek Him for rest and refreshment…Seek Him for serving out of love’s delight (rather than “law’s demand”).
The last point really stuck out…a “pure heart”…doing good deeds for the right reason, allowing our “yes” to be yes and our “no” to be no. I still have Psalm 51:10 around my wrist for a continual reminder of my desire/plea for a “pure heart”.
All day I have been turning the thoughts of “poured out” in my mind. This song came to mind and I had to share it. It is Steve Green’s “Broken and Spilled Out”. It touches me in a very deep place. May it bless you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pklUAB4E4nA
Diane–this was LOVELY. Just perfect for this study, thank you for sharing it. Praying for you.
Diane, that song is so beautiful, but the crucifixion makes me always cringe and cry.
I do not want to get into many details right now, but I need prayers please. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, again, by my ex. The lies he tells others, including his lawyer and on legal documents, sickens me. Makes me look like this crazy, horrible, unfit mother. The twisting of words and blatant lies made me soo angry and hurt. This man who supposedly loved me. It just sickens me. He will not take responsibility of his own, but makes it all out to be my fault.
I’m in a bad place right now. I’m very angry right now at him.
Lord, we come to again and ask that You hold Krista. Be her Protector, her Rescuer, her shield and Comforter, Lord. We all ache for the pain she, the boys, Diane, the whole family is suffering. Please Lord, bring Your healing peace. Please cover Krista with assurance of Your power and love. Please protect the boys from all that is going on–cover them in Your arms. Oh Lord, I do not know even how to pray, but please–help. Thank You, thank You that You hear us and You have this. Amen
Amen to Elizabeths Prayer, Thank you that you hear us and you have this Lord.
I will continue to lift all of you up too.
Hold fast to hope.
Oh Krista, My heart is heavy for you. Jesus I stand in agreement with Elizabeth and Chris and cry out for Krista!
Praying for you, Krista.
PRAYING KRISTA.
Thank you so much. I appreciate the prayers. Doing a bit better today, though it’s still very hard to let go on the anger I feel towards Jeff and his lies, twisting words, etc.
My heart goes out to you Krista, having gone through a divorce and the lies that were said about me….but something God told me way back then and continues to tell me, when people are not truthful…GOD is truthful…and HE will prevail on your behalf. We may not see it now, but God is working for you and not against you. God is not the author of confusion or lies, the enemy is. I pray for peace, God’s love, mercy, grace and rest to surround you in your heart and mind. I pray that God would turn all the lies back towards the accuser and the truth shall prevail. One thing that helped me when lies were said towards me was to get in the Word and quote what God says about me…in that is truth, and power. It got me through a really rough time and gave me peace that only God could do through all of it. Many hugs to you dear sister. I will be praying for you and your kids.
Thank you so much for your words, Staci. Though I hate that others have been through the pain I am going through, it is helpful. Your words truly encouraging. I have been telling myself a lot of God’s truths last night and today. It does help.
Dear sweet Krista, I want to say…been there, done that…but that’s not helpful at all. All I know is that God knows the real truth of your battle and who is lying and who is not. And only God can work out everything for the best….lean into him now and trust him to work it all out. I’m praying for you and your family and your three precious little boys.
Dear Krista,
I’m just seeing this now…I am so, so sorry for your pain and will be praying for you, your family, the boys.
4. Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again and share any new insights.
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine.” –I am seeing the focus on His Love-on Him-not on what He can give her. She is delighting in Him–She has tasted Him and wants more. Love this!
Out of town again, back on cell. Taking away SO much…and so much more that I am excited about experiencing — heart and senses as well as mind.
SO GLAD, RENEE.
Renee, Have you tried to post a gravatar pic?? Would love to see a pic of you! 🙂
WEBSITE WILL FREEZE AT 9 TONITE AND UNFREEZE IN 12 TO 24 HOURS. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
THANK YOU DAVID!! Would bake you brownies if I could 🙂
I’d eat your brownies if I could 😉
Yes Elizabeth-I would eat them too! :)))
The website is back up and running and you can make comments!