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

HERE

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 2

1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

Sharon was a Mediterranean coastal plain and was known for beautiful flowers. The bride here feels that Solomon's love has singled her out from among all others.

To our Lord, Christians are the "beauty of beauties" in the field of the world.

The bride is expressing the purity she feels at the love Solomon gives.

The lily is white and pure and reflects the purity given to Christians by the cleansing power of the Lord.

2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Solomon speaks saying that she may consider herself only a lily, but to him she is outstanding among "thorns."

God looks at those who surrender to Him as outstanding in the world.

3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

The bride is speaking here through verse 6. She feels that Solomon is outstanding among all others and what he has to say is "sweet" to the taste.

The bride of Christ, Christians, consider Him to be the MOST OUTSTANDING of all. And Christians pursue the Word of God as delightful.

She says that when Solomon brought her to the "banquet house" his "banner" over her was "love." In those days, a banner was a large flag on a tall standard used to designate troops. In other words, she feels singled-out because of his attention.

The Christian is brought to the "banquet house" of God - the church. There he/she is fed the strengthening Word of God, and the fellowship of other saints is also an encouragement.

The Christian feels that the love of God is displayed in his/her life. He makes His love known to all people by showering it abundantly upon His chosen.

5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

"Flagons" were raisin cakes which were used for snacks. The wonder of the love displayed by Solomon has made her feel weak, and she needs strengthening. Her desire is expressed that he should also hold her and keep her from falling.

God's love for the saved person is a miracle of love. When we first learn of it, and repent from sin, we are left WEAK - "born again," - as new born babes. And we need the strengthening of God's parenting and help. We need Him to hold us up, lest we fall. We are babies and need the constant attentiveness of our Parent God.

7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

This charge, given to others, is to not try and "awaken" love, but to let it develop naturally. Love is best and strongest when it is GIVEN. The Shulamite has found that Solomon's love was poured out to her, and she is overcome with the greatness of it.

Christians realize that one cannot invoke the love of God, for God's love is ALREADY miraculously expressed in the cross of Jesus Christ. God needs no awakening to our attention. He has "commended" His love toward us (Romans 5:8).

The love we have for Christ is because His love is already expressed for us. This love develops naturally and becomes the vital main-stay of our lives.

8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. 10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

The Shulamite now sings a beautiful song telling of how she was wooed by the love of Solomon. His beauty to her was as a deer dancing in the field. He came and called her to enjoy the beauty of spring.

Christ comes and calls to the heart of man to have an "abundant" life (John 10:10). The "winter" represents deadness, when plants and trees are without leaves and look barren. The life of a person is barren and desolate without Christ.

But when Christ comes into the life, the spring is born! New life begins! Fruit is put forth (verse 13).

14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Solomon speaks to her and calls her a "dove" - the symbol of love. Even though she is hidden among the cracks of the wall, or the upper portions of the stairs, he desires her company and fellowship.

Christ desires to have genuine fellowship with the saints.

15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

In this song, I believe this portion is sung as a duet. Both resolve to not allow anything to spoil the relationship.

It is the duty of God to come seeking the fellowship of His chosen. It is the duty of the saints to seek continuing that relationship in purity and holiness.

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. 17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Her commitment is shown. Even though Solomon carries out his daily duties, she knows the purity of their relationship is SURE. At the end of the day (verse 17) he will again return to her.

The Christian can be SURE of their relationship with Christ! When we commit to Him, He commits to us (Revelation 3:20).

The "day break" here refers to the evening. The day is often hot in Jerusalem, and the evening brings a cool breeze. The life here on earth is often filled with difficulties. But one day Christ will come and bring the express image of Himself to gather His saints into the cool refreshing eternal home of heaven (1Corinthians 15:51-57, 1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

What a beautiful and wonderful Christ of LOVE we have!
What wondrous GRACE He pours continuously upon us!
How marvelous is the special and pure relationship we have with Him each day!
And, OH! How wonderful it will be one day, when we are brought into our eternal home without sickness, without death, in perfect bodies, and no presence of sin!

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.