READING FOR JULY 3, 2025: SONG OF SONGS 1, COLOSSIANS 4, PSALM 64 SONG OF SONGS 1 In studying this oft-neglected book, a few introductory words might be in order. This reading-guide writer normally uses the New American Standard Bible (NASB) because of its literal approach to translation. In this case, the New Internation Version (NIV) will be used due to its method of identifying the various speakers in the Song:“The main male and female speakers (identified primarily on the basis of the gender of the relevant Hebrew forms) are indicated by the captions He and She respectively. The words of others are marked Friends. In some instances, the divisions and their captions are debatable.”
The author of this Song is stated as Solomon (1:1) and he, himself, is the male character in the Song (3:7). The woman is identified as a Shulammite (6:13) and the friends as daughters of Jerusalem (3:10). Not surprisingly some modern scholars suggest the lovers in this song are not married: “Human lovers in love songs throughout the ancient Near East appear to be unmarried” (J L Andruska 2021). Yet, Solomon’s wedding day is mentioned (3:10) and the woman is frequently called my bride, starting in 3:8. This song is not necessarily chronological.
This is as good a time as any to remind ourselves that sexual relationships for believers are only to be experienced within marriage between a Christian man and Christian woman:
- “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).
- “At the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’”? (Matt. 19:4-5).
- “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Heb. 13:4).
- “She is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:39). See 2 Cor. 6:14.
At the beginning it is clear that this woman is not the demur, hidden female that some believe always characterized women in Bible times. She is outspoken in expressing her desires but urges the man to initiate physical contact. She seems pleased that her beloved is well respect- ed by others. Her friends chime in to validate that sentiment.
The woman believes herself to be attractive but expresses embarrassment that her skin is so dark due to being forced to take care of her brothers’ vineyards. (It does sound like men exploited her.) She indicates she would like to visit her beloved during the daytime, not secretly behind a veil at night. Her friends support their relationship by providing directions.
Her beloved likens her to a female horse. (Men, let’s try that compliment with our wives.) He expresses eagerness to adorn her with expensive jewelry. Then they trade compliments about their appearance and charm, comparing each other to perfume, flowers, and cedars.
READING FOR JULY 3, 2025 CONTINUED: COLOSSIANS 4, PSALM 64 COLOSSIANS 4 The first verse completes the previous section about appropriate behavior among believers. Bosses need to treat their workers fairly with the awareness that they themselves are accountable to God. Paul then directs the Colossians to pray 1) devotedly or perhaps regularly scheduled, 2) alertly or not with lethargy, and 3) thankfully. This requires equal parts passion and discipline. If we were Paul and in prison, what prayer request might we make? Paul requested that he have opportunities to share the Gospel and do so more clearly. Let’s pray this for each other as well as for teachers, pastors, and missionaries.
Paul’s guidance to the church is similar. He said in their interactions with nonbelievers they should wisely take advantage of every opportunity to (the context suggests) share the Gospel, while being prepared to answer questions graciously. As we will learn, this isn’t Paul’s guidance only to this church but includes others as well, maybe Yorktown Methodist Church. Paul’s final greetings reveal some ponderable details:
- Mark was Barnebas’s cousin and finally got out of Paul’s doghouse (see Acts 15:36-40).
- During Paul’s current prison stay, only three Jewish Christians were helpful. (He seems disappointed.)
- Epaphras, apparently a Colossian, fervently prayed that they would mature and know God’s will.
- Luke, Paul’s travel companion and author of the books of Luke and Acts, was a physician by trade.
- Paul wanted this letter sent to Laodicea and wanted Colosse to read the letter first sent to Laodicea.
- Paul apparently dictated the bulk of this letter but wrote out the greeting section himself.
- For some reason, Paul wanted the entire church to remind Archippus to complete his ministry.
PSALM 64 David’s request to God was unusually precise: saving from the מִפַּ֥חַד (translated fear or dread) of his enemies. Of course, his enemies were a problem, but perhaps a larger problem was his fear of them. Some may remember FDR’s famous words: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Same idea. These enemies were involved in a conspiracy against David. Their weapons were primarily words uttered in a concealed way, perhaps like cyberbullying that takes place today. They believed they were not identifiable and that their plan to bring David down was foolproof. Some of us have been targeted like this and can testify along with David about how debilitating this can be.
Beginning with verse 7, David says that God, not him, will take up the battle. David is assured that his enemies’ downfall will be sudden and that their own words will help bring them down. Their identities will be secret or respected no longer. People will instead fear the Lord and use words in good ways: to declare God’s great works. The righteous who take refuge in God will be glad. There is a happy ending coming, in God’s time, for those placing trust in the Lord.
