Daily Bible Devotionals

“(The Daughters of Jerusalem Speaking) Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with you? (The Shulamite Speaking) My beloved has gone to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.” Song of Solomon 6:1-3 (NKJV)

Perhaps, you have heard that love is not jealous.  In fact, the Bible speaks against jealousy and positions it as opposing true love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. love does not envy, is not boastful. Is not conceited, does not act improperly,…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5a (HCSB)

So, it was confusing to me, as a new believer, young in the faith, when I read how God, Who is love (1 John 4:8), describes Himself as “jealous.”

“You are never to bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14 (HCSB)

Obviously, we are talking about two kinds of jealousy.  1 Corinthians 13 speaks of an irrational, unjustifiable jealousy.  There are some men who become enraged if they see their wives talking to other men in a casual social setting.  Such jealousy is crazy because, in life, we interface with people of the opposite sex several times a day and have interactions that have nothing to do with intimacy.  Yet there are some spouses who become anxious and fearful of losing their husband or wife through such arbitrary encounters. This type of jealousy signals deeper emotional problems.

On the other hand, there is a righteous jealousy.  For instance, show me a man who sees his wife in the arms of another man yet is not jealous, and I will show you a man who does not love his wife!  God is justifiably jealous when He sees His “bride” (the Church) cuddling with the idols of this world.

In today’s passage, we get a glimpse of justified jealousy.  The daughters of Jerusalem ask the Shulamite where her beloved has gone.  Note that these are the same “daughters of Jerusalem” whom the Shulamite directs to look upon Solomon as she searches for her beloved (3:10a-11).  Because her love is exclusive, her answer is kind yet firmly direct.  Essentially, “My man is where he needs to be, doing what he needs to be doing.  Oh, and by the way, he is MINE, and I am HIS.”  

I love that sense of ownership.  I have that with my wife, and she has that with me.  That does not make either of us one another’s slave driver.  It simply reinforces the reality that when I am away, I can trust she is true to her marriage vows.  And she knows the same of me.  I also know how the idea that one’s spouse “owns” them is offensive to some Christians.  Perhaps, we should revisit the “bought with a price” ownership/marriage between Jesus and His “bride,” aka us! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, 'Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night. I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; how can I defile them?'” Song of Solomon 5:2-3 (NKJV)

Early into chapter 5, we enter another of the Shulamite girl’s dream sequences.  Unlike her dream in chapter 3, this one is anxious and troublesome.  We must remember that Song of Solomon is poetry, yet it is historical-literal, written about two actual people, whom Solomon observed and declared that they had obtained the love of loves, the “Song of Songs.”  This was something he had never experienced even though he had 1000 wives and concubines.  

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites - from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.” 1 Kings 11:1-6 (NKJV)

It is easy to understand Solomon’s appreciation for a love so pure and undefiled and why he wanted everyone to know about and imitate it. Because of Solomon’s moral downturn, some suggest this book is simply Solomon’s dirty poetry.  Its description of eros love (passionate, physically demonstrative) makes some people uneasy.  In fact, I have purposely not included its graphic elements because I want to remain sensitive to people’s feelings.  But the graphic nature of certain passages in Song of Solomon brings to mind how our culture has distorted eros love.  James MacDonald identifies these distortions as:  1) Eros Prudish: The idea that eros is bad or dirty. Hey, if you’re married and you don’t have the ability to have fun and smile in the bedroom, that’s Victorian.  Somehow eros, as God designed it, has been stolen from you.  2) Eros Prominent: Some folks ONLY think about eros.  Adult bookstores outnumber Mcdonald's restaurants 4/1. Only ¾ of high school students graduate non-virgins. Our culture has become obsessed with sex.  3) Eros Promiscuous: The idea that the thrill of eros can only come from multiple partners 4) Eros Perversion:  What received capital punishment 100 years ago was locked in prison 50 years ago and hidden because it made people sick 25 years ago is paraded, celebrated and government-funded today.

Song of Solomon is in the Bible for a reason, and it is not simply an example of dirty poetry from a perverse mind.  God does not need to reinforce how depraved Solomon was.  But He does want to show us the example of undefiled Biblical eros.

“Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, going down from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come up from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them. Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, and your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate. Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.” Song of Solomon 4:1-4 (NKJV)

Really? Your hair is like a flock of goats? Your teeth are like shorn sheep after the washing and each one is present with its twin? (Something not everyone in Arkansas can brag about!) Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory?  I suppose these were the best pick-up lines of ancient Israel. But did they work? They absolutely worked because chapter 4 is when the talk moves to EROS love: passionate physical expression.

In chapters 1-3, we witness the verbal exchanges of two youngsters in love. But at the beginning of chapter 3, we are confronted with a fairly steamy dream sequence, the middle of which contains this famous exhortation:

“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” Song of Solomon 3:5 (NKJV)

I can’t recall how many times I’ve quoted this passage to my teenage kids! Dream all you want, but God has ordained certain acts for marriage.

So, we have the dream of the Shulamite girl (in chapter 3) searching the city at night.  

It ends with her depiction of Solomon riding atop the shoulders of his throne bearers. His bodyguards are experts at war and armed with their swords because it is night.  In this statement, we cannot ignore the bravery of a girl whose dreams take her in search of her boyfriend in the midst of the most dangerous conditions. By her description of Solomon, his perfumed couch, valiant entourage, and crown, we may be inclined to think her beloved is Solomon himself. But notice the Shulamite summons all the daughters of Jerusalem to go out and see Solomon while she searches for her beloved alone.  She is saying, in essence, “Ladies, King Solomon is gorgeous, rich and powerful…but I am my beloved’s.” (2:16; 6:3)  Her love is EXCLUSIVE with a sense of mutual ownership.  And so is her beloved’s love for her.    

They may have been dating for the first three chapters, but the dream sequence turns physical in chapter 4. A marriage has taken place. The exhortation to not “awaken love before its time” now echoes as, “I am so glad we did not awaken love before its time because this is awesome, to act on our passion without guilt or shame!” Their love is not only awakened, but (as is the case with healthy newlyweds) love has insomnia! Eros takes over. As one pastor put it, “Where in all of literature does one find a text so filled with eros, yet remain so moral?”

“By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. ‘I will rise now,’ I said, ‘and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.’ I sought him, but I did not find him. The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, ‘Have you seen the one I love?’ Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” Song of Solomon 3:1-5 (NKJV)

Just to review, Song of Solomon is one of the Bible’s Poetic books, and its purpose is to use creative imagery, picturesque language, subtlety, and repetition to teach wisdom with respect to marriage.  The perspective is historic-literal.  Even though the style is poetry, there is no indicator that Solomon is not writing about two actual people whom Solomon observed and exclaimed, in essence, “That’s it!  Even though I have had 1000 wives and concubines, I have never experienced the kind of love these two have!”

Since the style is poetic and there is no structured timeline, per se, we must glean the micro lessons and put them together to get a vivid picture of what God is trying to communicate in the Song of Songs.  Under the banner that marital love is EXCLUSIVE, we learn that exclusivity involves time (1:4) and that quality time demands not just our presence but also our attention (2:14).  For love to be exclusive, there must be a sense of ownership (2:16), and that is exactly what the apostle Paul exhorts us to grasp with respect to our relationship with Jesus; after all, we are the “Bride of Messiah,” and we are exclusively His. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Today, in a dream sequence narrative, we focus on a series of pursuits.  It confirms the legitimacy of female pursuit, at least in an established relationship.  This is quite different from the image we warn our daughters against.  The girl who chases after every cute boy she sees is a sure sign of a poor self-image and signals deeper issues with an unhealthy need for male affirmation.  Again, this is the “Song of Songs” (the love of loves), so this is a proper and real example of the necessity of both the man and woman to affirm that their spouse is worth pursuing.

Let’s be honest.  Those of us who have been married for more than a couple of years have looked at our spouse and wondered what happened to those days of hard pursuit after one another.  Was it just a phase where we wanted each other, obtained one another, and now wonder, “What else…?”  Joyful marriage is not simply a goal or object to be obtained, then brushed aside for the next conquest.  No, it is a choice to wake up every day and communicate to our spouses that we still desire them and that they are still worth pursuing!

We must not awaken love before its time, but we must also never let it fall asleep!

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Song of Solomon 2. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.”  Song of Solomon 1:1 (NKJV)

Today, we embark on a journey through the most misunderstood book in the Bible, second only, perhaps, to the Book of Revelation.  Having recently read the Psalms, it is important to note that the Hebrew title of this book is “Song of Songs.”  While there are some amazing psalms in Scripture, the sum of this book constitutes the best of the best.  Consider that title compared to lordship.  While there are many lords (authorities) who deserve our respect, God is the Lord of Lords. There are many kingdoms in the world, but only Jesus is the King of Kings.  Ecclesiastes recognizes the Vanity of Vanities.  Likewise, many places are considered holy in this world, but only the presence of God defines the Holy of Holies. In short, this is the greatest love song ever.  As such, it deserves our close attention.  

Song of Solomon is one of the Bible’s Poetic books (along with Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations) whose collective purpose is to use creative imagery, picturesque language, subtlety, and repetition to teach aspects of wisdom.  Song of Solomon communicates wisdom that, when heeded, ensures joy in marriage.

Contrary to the opinions of a myriad of well-intended authors and theologians, Song of Solomon is not allegory (a story like Pilgrim’s Progress) or typology (speaking of Messiah Jesus and the Church or God and the nation of Israel).  It is not a dramatic instructive reenactment of an ancient process of betrothal or a marriage ceremony.  The Song of Solomon is historical-literal.  It is simply a series of poems expressing the pinnacle of human affection, the pure love of an actual man and woman who are committed for life, as observed by King Solomon.  Solomon was a man who sought hard after true marital love, yet he never personally experienced it.

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites - from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.” 1 Kings 11:1-8 (NKJV)

If you want to understand God’s plan for Biblical marriage, don’t follow Solomon’s example; take heed to his observation of these two innocent young lovers.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV)

When my children were little, my wife and I noticed that we tended to be negative in how we instructed our kids.  That is, when they were being good, we seldom praised them.  But they sure heard when we observed them doing something they should not be doing!  It seemed that “No!” was heard way more often than “Yes!” in our home.  

So, we decided to institute a practice called “caught being good.”  The idea is the opposite of being caught while doing bad things.  Periodically, when we noticed a child sharing, obeying the first time we asked, or talking kindly to a sibling, we would say, “Caught being good!”  And we would reward them, somehow.  We discovered this to be a very positive motivational practice.  It not only rewarded the behavior of one child, but it also encouraged ALL my children.  The hope was that a positive competition for pleasing Mom and Dad would ensue.  Sometimes it did.

There are many people (believers and non-believers) whose opinion of God is very negative.  They do not understand that when the Bible says, “fear God,” it does not mean “be afraid of God.”  Fearing God means to honor and respect Him as He deserves.  Still, people’s negative opinion of Him remains.  

Yes, God is the Law Giver and Judge of all mankind, but He is also more gracious and loving than people give Him credit for.  He holds us accountable yet offers us liberty.  He commands us to discipline ourselves and follow Him, yet He wants a personal relationship with us, to the point where He considers us “sons and daughters,” co-inheritors with Messiah.

Reading the last words of the book of Ecclesiastes, where the Lord brings into judgment every secret thing we have done, the idea of our sin being exposed and announced to all creation causes anxiety for even the most pious believer.  But what about our good works being exposed, those secret God-honoring moments where we have humbly served people without seeking recognition?  Should we not be motivated to be caught being good more than we are ashamed of being caught being bad?  Let’s strive from this point on to live our lives in such a way that God is glorified and Messiah is magnified through our faith, which leads to good works and humbly leads others to follow Him, as well!  Let’s pursue lives worthy of being exposed!

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16 (HCSB)

"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.  Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity." Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 (NKJV)

I once saw a bumper sticker that read, “Hire a college student while they still know everything.”  As a parent of teenagers and young adults, I resonate with that bumper sticker!  On the one hand, there is something to be admired when young people are filled with optimism and talent and work hard to achieve their goals.  But when youth are endowed with talent, intelligence, opportunity, and grit yet refuse to seek the Lord’s guidance, that is a recipe for a major downfall.  And that is exactly Solomon’s observation.

Notice how he says nothing about youth seeking the Lord.  Rather, he describes youth who walk in the ways of their heart.  That sounds so positive.  But consider what the Lord says about the unredeemed heart:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NKJV)

Or what about those youth who walk in the sight of their own eyes, as opposed to being led by the Spirit.  Sounds romantic, right?  But we are commanded to walk by the Spirit’s leading as we place our faith in God’s Word, not by formulating our own life’s plan based on the world as we observe it.  Walking by faith and not sight is especially compelling because there is a judgment forthcoming.  We will all be held accountable for how we spent our time on earth and to what extent we invested the spiritual gifts He has entrusted to us.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:7-10 (NKJV)

Solomon’s message is very clear: It is time to grow up, time to put away childishness, which is evil and vain for adults to pursue.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;  but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NKJV)

“Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor: so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.”  Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NKJV)

Over the course of my music career, my band Big Tent Revival was nominated for 5 GRAMMY awards.   Of course, each time we were nominated, we dressed up and took our wives to the awards show.  One particular year, the host was comedian Rosie O’Donnell.  These days, Rosie’s name has become synonymous with bitterness and left-wing political views.  But in the mid 90’s, she was well-loved and respected by almost everyone.  She was the voice of one of the characters in the children’s movie “The Lion King” and hosted the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards.  

So, there we were at the Grammys, laughing at Rosie’s good-natured banter and ribbing of the stars when it came time for the first commercial break.  The moment we went to commercial, Rosie let loose (to the audience which contained many children) one of the foulest jokes I have ever heard.  It was so foul that it got only nervous laughter from the mostly secular music crowd.  Then she told another foul joke, and so it went for the rest of the night.  The cameras came on, and she was the clean funny Rosie the world expected, but when the cameras were off, she was a completely different person.  It was years before the rest of the nation would learn of her duplicity, but it was apparent to all who were in attendance that the woman was not consistent with her image.  It was sad because she was so well-loved for her public persona, yet her lack of character eventually shipwrecked her career.

Solomon was talking about a similar phenomenon as the one I experienced with Rosie, a woman whose “perfume” of honor and wisdom was fouled by the “fly” of her lack of scruples.  Perhaps, Solomon was even referencing his own father, King David, who (at the pinnacle of his God-ordained rule, an anointed “man after God’s own heart”) killed a close friend (Uriah) in order to sleep with his wife.  Of course, that woman was Solomon’s own mother.

But what of us?  It takes a lifetime to build a reputation of wisdom and honor.  In order to gain people’s trust, we must display character over long periods of time.  But in a Twitter rant, a viral YouTube video, a forwarded email, or a Facebook post, that good reputation can come crashing down.  Fools let their emotions and feelings override their better judgment.  Bad decisions during a momentary override of the Spirit’s prompting can have devastating results.  Let us heed Solomon’s exhortation and be anxious for nothing, but in all things, through prayer and supplication, we should make our petitions known, seeking to be led by the Spirit and maintaining a reputation of character, as opposed to building a reputation for being a character.  In this manner, we will protect ourselves against forfeiting the respect and honor due the Lord by those who bear His Name.