THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
Song Of Solomon
CHAPTER 6
1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
The bride had dreamed that the bridegroom had left, and she had wandered about trying to find him (5:2-8). Then she found herself (still in the dream) looking for him, and talking to other women (5:9-16). Now, they ask her where the bridegroom had gone (6:1).
Their request is to know where he is so that they might also see the beauty of this bridegroom.
Friends, when we begin to talk about the wonder, majesty, glory and beauty of our Lord, Jesus Christ, other people want to know how they might find Him too!
2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
The bride's response is that he is gone to his "garden." The bridegroom had described her has his "garden" (4:12).
When we become saved, our Lord abides WITH US! ((See John 15:4-7, 1John 2:27-28, Revelation 3:20))
When we surrender to Jesus as Lord of our lives, truly we can say, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!"
We may, at times, feel the lack of God's presence in our lives like the Shulamite felt the lack of her bridegroom's presence in her dream. But we are confident of His love for us, and cannot help but confess openly that He is with us!
Now, watch the following. As soon as she realizes the realness of his presence, he begins to assure her of his love.
4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. 5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. 6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them. 7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks. 8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. 10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
The bridegroom awakens her and begins to describe his love for her.
Christ speaks to our hearts and awakens us to the reality of His presence and assures us of His love.
Notice how the bridegroom describes her (verse 4). She is as beautiful as "Tirzah," which means place of delight. He says she is as "comely as Jerusalem," which is the beautiful city of God. He also says she has the eloquence and power of a full army, marching in step under "banners."
Friends, saved people, are the people in which God delights! We are the place in which He chooses to dwell. And to His people, God grants POWER.
There are others (verse 8) in the world, but Christians are the "choice ones" (verse 9).
Others see the uniqueness of Christians and are amazed (verse 9).
God says that Christians "looketh forth as the morning," or they shine as the morning light (see Matthew 5:14).
11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. 12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
Now she is assured of his presence and love. And she speaks to remind herself that when she herself came to the "garden," he was already there.
Friends, Christ is ALWAYS abiding with His people. We have but to acknowledge His closeness and go to Him in prayer. Then we shall know the awesome power of His love and nearness.
13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
This chapter ends with two requests. The first is the request of the other women for the Shulamite (bride) to return to them so that they may gaze at her.
The desire of the world is to see the realness of God's relationship with His people. It is indeed a miracle!
The second request is of the bridegroom to the women. "What shall you see when you gaze upon her?"
Indeed, what DOES the world see when they look at Christians. They see the REALNESS of God's presence in the life of the Christian. It cannot be explained, but nether can it be denied!
CHAPTER 7
1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. 2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. 3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. 5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. 6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
Again, the bridegroom extols the beauty of the bride. And again, in terms we might not ordinarily use today. Nevertheless, they are terms that are significant to express his desire for her.
Her feet are beautiful. Notice he describes them "with shoes." The Bible teaches us that we should have our feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). God says also, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.." (Isaiah 52:7).
The bride's feet were shod with shoes ready to do the bidding of the bridegroom. Because of this, he said her feet were beautiful. When Christians are ready to share the gospel with others, they are indeed beautiful to God!
Perhaps a little known and somewhat humorous description lies in verse 4. Her "nose" is described as "the tower of Lebanon." INDEED!! Her nose must have been very prominent to say the least!
However, we must realize that even in our UNcomely nature, we are beautiful to God when we are surrendered to Him!
10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
Again, she is comforted by the assurance of His love for her. And she realizes that her commitment to him is rewarded by his desire being toward her.
In chapter 2, verse 12, it was spring. They were courting. Now they are married, and it is spring again. Apparently this is their anniversary.
The anniversary of our surrender to God is important. It reminds us of the JOY of His forgiveness, the WONDER of His presence, and the POWER of His faith within us.
Their anniversary reminded her that they needed to REVISIT the vineyard and gardens in that spring. She wanted to refresh her memory and to rejoice in the beauty of their relationship.
It is good for the Christian to REVISIT his/her salvation experience. It rejuvenates, inspires and motivates us.
You can REVISIT your salvation experience today. Just TELL someone what it meant to you the day you came to know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Master of your life!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.