READING FOR JULY 8, 2025: SONG OF SONGS 4, 1 THESSALONIANS 3, PSALM 66:1-12 SONG OF SONGS 4 This chapter seems to describe the couple’s wedding night just before they enter into physical union. Most of the chapter consists of the newly married man praising the beauty of his new wife. He does so in a way that calls forth the most meaningful figures of speech of his culture. This likely fills his new spouse with joy and confidence as she is about to surrender her body fully to her husband.
There is no animal plunging into the sex act without the husband first expressing his deepest feelings. Perhaps new husbands today might want to choose different aesthetic expressions, though, rather than calling their bride’s hair like a flock of goats. But the principle of praising the beauty of each of the wife’s features at this tender moment still seems like a good idea. Then in verse 7 he praises the totality of her being: “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” Guys, we may need to be more observant and poetic.
The man then asks his wife to come with him from several sites and natural landmarks found in the north. This seems to be a figurative request for her to leave her home area emotionally to join him permanently in Jerusalem. (Obviously, she is literally present with him at that moment.) He confesses she only needed a single glance to capture his heart—no great effort on her part. An interesting feature is that he says that not just her appearance, but “her love” is beautiful. How can we make “our love” more beautiful? That’s a question worth pondering.
He associates her with all the most exquisite sensory experiences available to humankind. Yet, at this most romantic moment possible, he importantly praises her virginity before their marriage: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride, A locked spring, a sealed fountain.” No doubt this greatly added to the respect he felt toward her, even calling her his “sister.” He concludes his description of her by likening her to all the most wonderful scents and scenes he can name. He likes her a lot, but will he feel the same years after the honeymoon?
She responds by seemingly calling on all her physical charms to bring as much joy as possible to her husband. Remarkably, the Apostle Paul, a bachelor, later suggests this same attitude for all Christian couples: “The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife” (1 Cor. 7:4).
READING FOR JULY 8, 2025 CONTINUED: 1 THESSALONIANS 3, PSALM 66:1-12
I THESSALONIANS 3 Have we ever been desperate to learn how someone is doing? Paul only had three weeks in Thessalonica before he had to leave. In verses 1 and 5 he says he couldn’t wait any longer to learn if they were still believers, so he sent Timothy to find out. His relief in learning that they were walking with God is overwhelming. Do we care for others’ faith in God with such intensity? In verses 7-9 Paul suggests that all his pain and hardships were worth it for the joy he feels over their faith. Let’s pray the Lord gives us that level of love for others.
This doesn’t mean that he thinks they’ve now arrived spiritually. Once again, he tells them he’s praying for them and hopes to see them soon for a spiritual follow up. Then he offers a prayer that their love and holiness increase so they might be ready for Christ’s return. BE READY!
PSALM 66:1-12 The Psalmist begins with a blast. There are times for quiet reflection and sorrowful contrition, but here at least is a time to let loose with a joyful shout to the Lord. He even tells exactly what to say to God: “Your name is glorious, and your works are awesome.” How interesting that even God’s enemies are aware of His power, making them to pretend to be obedient. This appeared to happen recently when a national church leader proclaimed His total obedience to the Bible while advocating against what the Bible clearly states. In verse 4 it says all the earth will worship God, but the verse before suggests God’s enemies are faking obedience. Is this a contradiction? Perhaps, their praise is also fake. Perhaps this includes future praise that is forced but too late, as in Phil. 2:10-11: “So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Or perhaps the reference to “earth” means the material creation: “The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). The Psalmist invites us all to examine God’s works, including miracles. One in particular is the Red Sea crossing. He reminds us God is watching and ruling everything, so those who rebel against Him should not feel too great. Verses 10-11 reminds us that God has tried us by bringing severe difficulties our way and that this process has served to refine our faith like silver. DO WE BELIEVE THIS? CAN WE REFRAME OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS THOUGHT IN MIND?
