Day 156 - The Depths of Love: Exploring Song of Songs (Song of Songs 1-8) - Year 2

06/04/24 • 25 min

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TODAY'S READING:

Song of Songs 1-8

WORD OF THE DAY:

Love

Today, we're diving into the rich and poetic waters of Song of Songs 1-8, a collection of Hebrew love poems that many believe were written by Solomon. This beautiful book takes us through the journey of love, from courtship to marriage, with conversations between a shepherdess, her entourage, the shepherd, and King Solomon.

The Song of Songs is essentially a dialogue about romantic and intimate relationships. While marriage and sexual relationships are central themes, it's important to remember that the Bible also honors celibacy. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, each person has their own calling, whether to marry or to remain single.

According to the Enduring Word Bible Commentary:

“The best way to see this book is as a literal, powerful description of the romantic and sensual love between a man and a woman, observing both their courtship and their marriage.”

Why include such a poetic book in the Bible? Because God created love, marriage, and sex. As Christians, we should engage in healthy conversations about these topics, ensuring they are grounded in biblical truth rather than worldly distortions.

In the Song of Songs, three Hebrew words describe different facets of love:

Raya (Friendship): This term refers to a companion or soulmate, highlighting that our special person should be our best friend (Song of Songs 4:7).
Ahavah (Deep Affection and Commitment): This word signifies a deep, committed love that goes beyond fleeting romantic feelings. It's the kind of love that sustains a marriage and involves making a lifelong decision to be with another person (Song of Songs 8:7).
Dod (Passion): Dod represents the physical, sexual aspect of love, emphasizing passion and romantic feelings (Song of Songs 1:2).

In our culture, people often start with Dod (passion), then move to Raya (friendship), and finally to Ahavah (commitment). In other cultures, such as those with arranged marriages, the sequence often starts with Ahavah (commitment), followed by Dod (passion), and hopefully leads to Raya (friendship).

Initially, I often skimmed through this book of the Bible, but deeper study and discussion revealed its profound themes of love and commitment. It emphasizes that love is an ongoing journey, always deepening as time goes on. This is true in romantic relationships, with our children, and with God.

Song of Songs directs us to the essence of love between a man and a woman, but it also points us to God's perfect love. This book highlights that God knew what He was doing when He created sex, and it underscores the need to reclaim the true meaning of love from a world that has cheapened it.

God designed love with many layers—friendship, commitment, and passion. Each layer is interconnected and reflects the complexity of human emotions, a testament to divine design.

Love, in all its forms, is patient and kind. It protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Whether we look at love through the lens of friendship, commitment, or passion, these verses apply.

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All the info you need to START + the printable schedule + links to the Bible we use is on our website: http://dailybiblepodcast.net!

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TODAY'S READING:

Song of Songs 1-8

WORD OF THE DAY:

Love

According to the Enduring Word Bible Commentary:

“The best way to see this book is as a literal, powerful description of the romantic and sensual love between a man and a woman, observing both their courtship and their marriage.”

In the Song of Songs, three Hebrew words describe different facets of love:

Raya (Friendship): This term refers to a companion or soulmate, highlighting that our special person should be our best friend (Song of Songs 4:7).
Ahavah (Deep Affection and Commitment): This word signifies a deep, committed love that goes beyond fleeting romantic feelings. It's the kind of love that sustains a marriage and involves making a lifelong decision to be with another person (Song of Songs 8:7).
Dod (Passion): Dod represents the physical, sexual aspect of love, emphasizing passion and romantic feelings (Song of Songs 1:2).

God designed love with many layers—friendship, commitment, and passion. Each layer is interconnected and reflects the complexity of human emotions, a testament to divine design.

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Previous Episode

Day 155 - The 30 Sayings of the Wise: Practical Wisdom for Everyday Life (Proverbs 22:17-29, Proverbs 23-24) - Year 2

All the info you need to START + the printable schedule + links to the Bible we use is on our website: http://dailybiblepodcast.net!

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TODAY'S READING:

Proverbs 22:17-29, Proverbs 23-24

WORD OF THE DAY:

Keep

Welcome to today's blog post, where we dive into the rich wisdom of Proverbs 22:17-29, Proverbs 23, and Proverbs 24. These passages are collectively known as the "30 Sayings of the Wise," a treasure trove of advice and knowledge penned by Solomon. Our focus today is on listening, learning, and leaning on God as we navigate life's conflicts and challenges.

Solomon's guidance can be summed up in three simple words: Listen, Learn, and Lean. Here's how we can apply these principles:

Listen: Open your heart to the wisdom in these sayings (Proverbs 22:17).
Learn: Internalize these wise words so they can guide you in times of conflict (Proverbs 22:17-18).
Lean: Trust in God rather than solely relying on your understanding or these sayings (Proverbs 22:19).

By following this triad, we gain knowledge, good advice, truth, and solutions for our challenges, steering us from conflict toward community (Proverbs 22:20-21).

Solomon's words offer guidance through seven critical areas of life: finances, friends, faith, failure, family, fools, and the future. Let's explore each area with relevant sayings.

Wise stewardship of resources is crucial. Solomon highlights five pearls of wisdom to manage financial conflicts:

Poverty Police (Proverbs 22:22-23)
Borrow Barrier (Proverbs 22:26-27)
Sanctified Survey (Proverbs 22:28)
Riches to Rags (Proverbs 23:4-5)
Lawful Landmarks (Proverbs 23:10-11)

The company we keep influences our lives significantly. Solomon advises avoiding:

Anger Danger (Proverbs 22:24-25)
Slothful Man (Proverbs 23:19-21)
Bad Company (Proverbs 24:1-2)
Resist Rebels (Proverbs 24:21-22)

Wisdom in faith connects God's character to our challenges:

Hard Work Helps (Proverbs 22:29)
Bribe Tribe (Proverbs 23:1-3)
Common Sense Counts (Proverbs 23:15-16)
Warn the Unwary (Proverbs 24:11-12)

Failure can be a stepping stone or a stumbling block. Solomon highlights pitfalls to avoid:

Chameleon Complex (Proverbs 23:6-8)
Wayward Women (Proverbs 23:26-28)
Drunken Dodo (Proverbs 23:29-35)
Pressure Pusher (Proverbs 24:10)

A strong family reflects God's love. Solomon offers pillars for a God-honoring home:

Receive Reproof (Proverbs 23:12)
Disciple Discipline (Proverbs 23:13-14)
Secret Agents (Proverbs 23:22-25)
House of Leadership (Proverbs 24:3-4)

Dealing with fools requires wisdom. Solomon provides guidance on this:

Wisdom Wasted (Proverbs 23:9)
Rebel Rascals (Proverbs 24:7)
Slippery Schemer (Proverbs 24:8-9)
Bounce Back (Proverbs 24:15-16)
Weep Over Others’ Woes (Proverbs 24:17-18)

Hope for the future comes from God. Solomon shares ways to embrace this hope:

Envy Evil Error (Proverbs 23:17-18)
Wise Words Win Wars (Proverbs 24:5-6)
Sweet Success (Proverbs 24:13-14)
Wicked Worry (Proverbs 24:19-20)

As we reflect on these 30 Sayings of the Wise, let's commit to listening, learning, and leaning on God. By doing so, we navigate life's challenges with divine wisdom and experience the peace and guidance that comes from keeping our hearts aligned with His Word.

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Next Episode

Day 157 - The Fall of Solomon and the Search for Meaning (1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9, Ecclesiastes 1) - Year 2

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TODAY'S READING:

1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31, Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

WORD OF THE DAY:

Meaningful

In our readings today, we delve into the troubling yet instructive tale of Solomon's fall from grace. Despite his renowned wisdom, wealth, and achievements, Solomon's heart was led astray by his numerous wives and concubines. With seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, Solomon's marital choices defied God's commands, leading him to worship foreign gods and build altars for idols.

1 Kings 11:10 tells us:

"Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command."

This disobedience provoked God's anger, and He declared that Solomon's kingdom would be torn away, sparing only one tribe for the sake of David. God raised adversaries against Solomon, including Hadad the Edomite, Rezon the son of Eliada, and Jeroboam. Unlike David, who waited on God to establish his throne, Jeroboam seized power on his own, and his reign lacked divine blessing.

2 Chronicles 9:29-31 records Solomon's rule, his death, and the ascension of Rehoboam. Solomon reigned for forty years and was laid to rest in David's city.

Following Proverbs, we turn to Ecclesiastes—a book that challenges our understanding of wisdom and life's meaning. Written in a reflective and often somber tone, Ecclesiastes confronts us with the harsh realities of a fallen world. The teacher, traditionally thought to be Solomon, uses the term "hevel" (often translated as "meaningless") to describe life's fleeting and enigmatic nature.

Word of the Day: Meaningful

Ecclesiastes opens with a stark declaration:

“Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless.”

Let's flip this around and consider what "meaningful" looks like. A synonym for meaningful is significant. What does a significant life entail? Solomon, who had all the world's riches and wisdom, offers profound insights.

God intends for our lives to be meaningful by His standards. Our present lives prepare us for eternity. Therefore:

Memorize His word to know Him better.
Read His word to understand His will.
Steward your gifts for His glory.

Ecclesiastes teaches that a meaningful life isn't found in worldly pursuits but in contentment, gratitude, and purpose in the present moment. Solomon, who experienced everything, realized that life’s true meaning lies in knowing and serving God. This perspective aligns with Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6:33-34:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

By the end of Ecclesiastes, we are reminded to:

"Remember your Creator" and recognize that God will judge every deed, underscoring the importance of living a life oriented toward eternity.

Solomon's story and the book of Ecclesiastes challenge us to reassess our values and priorities. True wisdom and fulfillment come from aligning our lives with God's purposes, embracing our roles as stewards of His gifts, and seeking significance in His eternal plan.

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