Tag: open
A beautiful love story!
Scripture reading for July 15: Song of Songs 1-8
I first met my wife-to-be at a state science fair in Iowa. Mary had a project right next to mine, but I had another girlfriend at the time. We enjoyed talking for the two days of the science fair. Two years later, we both enrolled at Iowa State University. We had classes in the chemistry building and seemed to run into each other frequently there. (I am sure she plotted it that way!) We began to do lots of things together and found ourselves in love! The summer before we got married, I had to go away for basic training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Mary wrote often and I loved getting the letters. Being apart was hard but the letters, sometimes laced with perfume, brought fond memories and kept love growing! We have been married for 55+ years and still love each other!
The Song of Songs is a love poem or play, the greatest of many songs that Solomon composed. It tells the story of his courtship and marriage to one of his many wives. I have always enjoyed reading this book and have a few favorite passages. “Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out.” Song of Songs 1:3 Perfumes have a fragrance that can bring pleasant sensations and arouse passions. How lovers say each others name or even give “pet” names can be a special form of communication that is pleasant to the ear and heart! “While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.” Song of Songs 1:12 The beloved used her perfume to entice her husband at dinner. Her vision of him was one of pleasant and close intimacy! “He has taken me into His banquet hall, and His banner over me is love.” Song of Songs 2:4
“I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking: Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one.” Song of Songs 5:2a When asleep, we are still aware of our lover even when they are not there . Our heart is awaken with love. This time, the beloved wife fails to respond to the knock and call for intimacy. She hears the call, but her drowsiness delays response. She realizes as she awakes that the fragrance of myrrh is on the door latch arousing her desire for him. “I opened for my lover, but my lover had left. He was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.” Song of Songs 5:6 Love drove her to action to restore the intimacy!
The love story ends with a call to intimacy. “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.” (Song of Songs 8:6-7) “Let me hear your voice”. . . “Come away, my lover. . .” Song of Songs 8:13-14 Listen closely, Jesus is calling!
God loves to answer His children!
Scripture reading for July 7th: Matthew 7
Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:7-11 “”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Is God really listening to us? In our world there are lots of voices and distractions. Not many people really listen closely to others. And we can’t see God so how do we know He is listening? These same questions came to the disciples who followed Jesus. Jesus gave them careful instruction and used examples that everyone could understand. Getting God’s attention is as simple as asking, seeking, or knocking. Those that ask, receive. Those that seek, find. And those that knock find the door opening. These verbs are all in a persistent voice that is full of faith in the answer coming. To help His followers with God’s willingness, Jesus pointed to children asking their parents for bread or fish for satisfaction of daily hunger. Would the parents spitefully give their own children stones or serpents instead? Never! Neither would the Father! He is a good, good Father who always listens and gives good gifts in response!
Luke 18:7-8 “”And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?””
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for being a loving and compassionate and listening Father Who delights to hear and answer prayers. Forgive me for failing to believe this by not asking, seeking or knocking but instead trying to figure out how I can do it myself. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit and empower me to pray even when I don’t know how or what to ask for.
John 16:23-24 “”In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.””