Bible Reading:
Song of Solomon 1:
1The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
Devotional:
The Bible is the Book of books. Christ is the King of kings. This poem is the Song of songs! This is the language of superlatives.
Yet this book was in the early Christian era an embarrassment for both the rabbis and the Christian divines. Probably influenced by notions that associated the body with sin, they were apologetic for its openness in handling the romantic theme and the physical aspects of love. Out of their position they were forced to support Scripture. This book, however, strained their orthodoxy. So in their dilemma they invented fanciful explanations for the Song, according to which the references were said to allude exclusively to the relationship between Christ and the church. In fact, the Authorized Version inserts this interpretation into the chapter headings, which are not part of the original text. We can presume that these chapter headings have been through the years in a large measure responsible for the persistence of this extreme interpretation.
And indeed this purely allegorical interpretation does persist. One of the current commentators compares the two breasts mentioned in chapter 1:13 to the Old and New Testaments and he compares the 'bundle of myrrh' lying between them to Christ. If you picked up this book without previous bias, would you diink of this figure in that light? Does this explanation satisfy you? Does God wish to establish an elite who alone can interpret Scripture to the masses? There are doubtless difficulties in understanding this book, partly because it is not always clear who is speaking. But as you read this chapter, is it not evident that God is saying that sex is good and that manifestations of romantic love are good and acceptable between those who are entitled to them?
God made man and woman to desire each other and enjoy each other physically. We do not apologize for the presence in the Bible of a book which plainly indicates this! Rather we may be glad that He saw fit to reveal to us His approbation of romantic love.
We will read this entire book together. Let us struggle to see what God is saying here for us today, for this husband and this wife!
We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."
Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.
Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.
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