SONG OF SOLOMON: Lesson 2

This past Sunday, we completed Song of Songs (Solomon) and the Wisdom Book Series. During these past few weeks we have all seen that the wisdom literature books are replete with valuable principles, truths, and instruction aimed at helping us live our lives with God's blessings. We will forfeit much loss if we let apathy and disinterest  keep us from further pursuit of the riches found in these five books.

In our last lesson in SOS we looked at LOVE. We looked at the physical love that is emphasized in SOS; the spiritual love that is reserved for the believers who are walking in God's will; and the eternal love that the regenerated believers will enjoy once "...the marriage of the Lamb has come..."

Next week we will begin a new and exciting study. Here are a few questions to prime the pump.

1. Can you be a Christian forever and never become a disciple of Christ?
2. Why are the number of Christians and cultural strength of Christianity both declining in the United States, even in the Bible Belt?
3. Why do only 35%, on average, of Southern Baptist's show up for their church's primary worship meeting (usually on Sunday morning)?

Pictures from the "prayer walk" on Sunday afternoon. We had a good group to walk through the school and pray for teachers, students, staff, and every need.

TABLES OF LOVE

Tonight, the You & Me Class sponsored two TABLES OF LOVE.

1. The Busy Mom
2. Passionate Relationship with Jesus

It was a BIG success with over 150 women in attendance... even with the messy rain!

 The Busy Mom

  

Passionate Relationship with Jesus

 

SONG OF SONGS: Lesson 1

In our introduction to the short little book, Song of Songs (SOS), we learned that of King Solomon's 1,000+ songs (poems), this is considered to be the finest of them all!

The Song of Songs is one of the most beautiful books of the Bible. The beauty of this theatrical song is greater than that of the words of Shakespeare.

There are four main perceptions of this book. Two are literal interpretations that look at the young woman who is at the center of this theatrical song. The most common understanding is that this is a courtship and marriage of Solomon and the Shulamite woman. The name Solomon and Shulamite are similar and have a common meaning of "peace." The other interpretation pictures a love triangle between the beloved woman, her beloved shepherd, and the king appealing to her. The other figurative interpretations of the book include either the relationship between Israel and God and, or the Church and Christ.

The video created by The Bible Project is the best, and fastest way to summarize this book.

 Surprisingly, Song of Songs has a very strong messages for both those that are married and for those that are not married. Firstly, sex is good, not bad, but ONLY when it pleases God. Therefore, we must guard the beauty of sexual love. We must guard each other in any way that might lead another to sin. We are cautioned three times in the book (2:7; 3:5; 8:4) that sexual love is only for the time which God has set: "...that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases [God]."

When released, love and it's passions hold powers stronger than any man or woman can resist. This is why we are cautioned NOT to stir it or awaken it until such time that it pleases God. The Message Bible states this in a clear way: "Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing--it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out." (8:6-7)

Secondly, for those that are not married, SOS is about true love and choosing the right mate; about waiting for love; and teaching our young women and men what is most important about marriage.

Next week, by popular request, we will hear Helders Part II. Nolan and Kasey will complete their introduction... and more. The following week we will complete Song of Songs and the Wisdom Books Series.

In our last lesson on SOS, we will unpack more specifics in this amazing little book that will point us to the wisdom God wants to show us.

I'll leave you with the short clip I showed in class from the Disney/Pixar 2009 animated film, "Up". In this scene not a word is said for almost five full minutes. Only a haunting musical theme plays as we watch two people (Carl & Ellie) build a life together. As short as it is, these five minutes are some of the most emotionally powerful ever committed to film, certainly in any Disney picture.

Entering my 60's and having been married for 40 years, I found this short little scene to be most effective in capturing the journey we call "life". It is never predictable and not always easy. As we learned in Ecclesiastes, without God, life is nothing but a vapor/smoke. Everyday is a gift and an opportunity to get to know our Savior better as we prepare for our eternal home.

"Jesus wept."

"When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, 'Where have you laid him [Lazarus]?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept." (John 11:33-35)

During the past few weeks we have seen tragedy [from our perspective] disrupt the lives of two of our dear families in our class: Justin & Jacqueline Smith and Malcolm & Tilly Brooks.

On Friday, January 20th, Justin and Jacqueline Smith were given the heart-breaking news of the sudden death of Justin's step-brother, Jonathan Murray. After graduating from Northview High School in 2002, Jonathan attended Huntington College before joining the U.S. Army. By the age of only 32 years old, Jonathan had sacrificed a part of his short life defending our freedoms as a soldier twice-deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. We owe all of the veterans and those who are currently serving in our military our sincere gratitude for their bravery and sacrifice.

In the early hours of Saturday morning on January 28th, God unexpectedly took Jurnee Makayla Brooks from Malcolm and Tilly Brooks. Less than three months old, precious Jurnee returned to be with Jesus.

Today [February 4th] we stood by the Brooks family as they mourned the loss of baby Jurnee in one of the most moving, Spirit-filled services I have attended in some time. My heart was blessed by being there.

It is times like these that we often ask "Why, Lord?" We must remember that God's sovereign plan is much bigger than we can see. He is always in control. Psalms reminds us, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalms 34:18)

As these two families grieve the loss of their loved ones, let us all "...weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15b) and be in prayer that God might comfort them. God has placed them in our fellowship for a purpose. Ask God what He would have you do to show love to these families. Jesus commanded us that it is our responsibility to "...love your neighbor as yourself..." (Mark 12:31). In doing so, you will be blessed through your obedience.

ECCLESIASTES: Lesson 2

The key to understanding the wisdom found in the Book of Ecclesiastes is hidden in three words: "Under the Sun".

 

At a time when Israel was a peace, King Solomon, with all his wisdom and wealth, decided to dedicate his life to find the answer to the question: "What is the purpose of life?" To do this, he attempted to experience all that life had to offer--good and bad.

"And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:17)

The Teacher in Ecclesiastes makes it clear that life "Under the Sun", without God, is a paradox--in pursuit of what is believed to be the answer when it is not (Proverbs 14:12). It is vanity. It is vexation (a grasping for the wind). It is meaningless. It is hevel!

This brilliantly written book takes the many ways man attempts to find meaning and purpose apart from God (wealth, pleasure, status, career, etc.) and shows how they are all like chasing the wind. A hamster spinning mindlessly on a wheel within a cage going nowhere. Hevel!

In the end Solomon summarized his findings in one simple, yet powerful verse:

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Regardless of our particular trials and struggles we are to "fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being."

ECCLESIASTES: Lesson 1

Ecclesiastes - "How to enjoy life"

There are two voices in the book of Ecclesiastes--the author (son of David) and the teacher (Qohelet: Hebrew word for one who gathers people, or a teacher/preacher).

 

Another Hebrew word, HEVEL, is used 38 times in the Book. It means smoke or vapor (sometimes misinterpreted as "meaningless"). Life is hevel, not meaningless, but confusing, disorienting, and uncontrollable.

As you read the 12 chapters in Ecclesiastes, the voice of the "teacher" draws you towards three very disturbing, hopeless conclusions--each an apparent attempt to support his thesis: "You think using Wisdom will bring you success...you'd better think again because life under the sun is meaningless (hevel)."

1. TIME: Generations come and go and in the end you, and everything you have done, will be forgotten. The march of time will eventually erase you and me and everything we care about.

2. CHANCE: Life is random and nothing can be controlled. Since you can't control your life you should stop trying.

3. DEATH: Death is the great equalizer and it renders meaningless most of our daily activities. It devours the wise and the fool; the rich and the poor, no matter who you are, what you've done--good or bad--we're all gonna die and it is inescapable.

The teacher seeks to answer one main question in this book: "What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?" (1:3)

Even with his hopeless outlook, the teacher knows that learning wisdom and living in the fear of the Lord is the right thing to do. The author collects the teacher's words and at the end of the Book summarizes everything.

The two main messages found in this book are:
1. The vanity of life under the sun (life purely from an earthly perspective);
2. The importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments.

Ecclesiastes is a very effective book designed to show us that we need to stop worrying and choose to enjoy the simple things of life--both good and bad--which are gifts from God. Learn to hold things with an open hand. Your attitude toward the present moment is really the only thing you have control over.

PROVERBS: Lesson 3

This week we completed Proverbs--the 3rd book in our Wisdom Book Series. Next will be Ecclesiastes. We will not have class on Sunday, December 25th, but will have one church service at 10:30. The decision has also been made that we will continue with one church service through the month of January. Bible study will be from 9:15 to 10:15 with one church service beginning at 10:30.

In this week's lesson, I looked at how prayer, belief, and faith are interconnected.

PRAYER: Last week, in preparation for class, I began meditating on one very simple verse in Proverbs--actually it was the second part of a verse: Proverbs 15:8(b) - "...the prayer of the upright is His [God's] delight." I cross-referenced the verse in several translations and commentaries which enlightened me further on the amazing truth that Almighty God finds delight when those who are called by His name pray. God not only answers them, He finds delight in them! (Note: Genuine prayers are the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer).

BELIEF: As we approach Christmas, Christians celebrate a series of supernatural (events attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or laws of nature) events. A baby boy is born to a virgin woman named Mary. This baby boy grows up and accomplishes numerous supernatural acts. He turns water into wine. He walks on water. He heals the blind and the deaf. He brings dead people back to life. He, Himself, resurrects from the grave after being crucified and sealed in a tomb... and more. The Christian faith is undoubtedly founded on supernatural events.

Listed below are over 260 supernatural events (including 8 dead people being brought back to life) recorded in Scripture. This is not a complete list of the miraculous events and supernatural occurrences. John tells us that there are many more things that Jesus did but if they were written the world could not contain them all (John 21:25; 16:12; 20:30).

As I continued to think about belief, it challenged me further. Why do most--who claim to believe the supernatural events to be true--chose to live in the natural? Isn't the supernatural God of the past and the future the same supernatural God of the present? Can't we assume that our supernatural God expects us to have a supernatural belief?

How does what we truly believe affect how and when we pray? If we choose to walk in the natural, our prayers will, at best, be nothing more than hopeful pleas of desperation during times of personal crisis? Prayer is our opportunity to develop a relationship with the living, supernatural God. Remember, He delights when we come to Him in genuine prayer (Proverbs 15:8).

A wonderful example of belief is found in the story of Lazarus. Martha was pleading to Jesus to heal her sick brother, Lazarus. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus, but He delayed two days before going to Lazarus. During that time Lazarus died. Later, after Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, we see Jesus telling Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:1-44)

Without the supernatural, the Christian faith would have no basis. Although the Christian life is based on a belief in the supernatural, most Christians live their lives solidly grounded in the natural. The Christian who walks daily with our supernatural God understands the supernatural power of prayer and desires to develop a growing relationship with Him through prayer. Interceding for those God puts on your heart becomes an exciting opportunity to strengthen ones faith and grow closer to God. 

"For those who live according to the flesh (natural) set their minds on the things of the flesh (natural), but those who live according to the Spirit (supernatural) set their minds on the things of the Spirit (supernatural)." (Romans 8:5)

FAITH: Our belief drives our faith. What we believe directly impacts the depth of our faith and how we act. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances." (Oswald Chambers)

What do you really believe?  We need to be honest with ourselves as we contemplate the answer to this very personal question. As Christians, we say we believe the supernatural of the past and hope in the supernatural of the future. If so, do we walk daily with a supernatural God? Do we believe that He delights in our genuine prayers? Do we believe that our prayers--given to us by the Holy Spirit--have supernatural power? Are we eager to come together and pray so that God might show us His delight as He answers our prayers?

During this Christmas Season, I encourage you all to think about the supernatural events upon which validate your identity with Christ and secure your place in Eternity. When you abandon the natural for the supernatural, you will finally be able to walk in the fullness of God's purpose. Why would you want anything less?