Old Testament reading: Song of Solomon 7-8
Our inspired “chick flick” comes to a beautiful conclusion. The Beloved again reaches into his pouch of praises to sing of the Shulammite’s beauty. Drawing from some of his accolades in chapter 4, chapter 7 repeats some of the earlier descriptions and adds more that seem just as odd: “Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies.” Others are not as difficult for me to decipher, “How beautiful are your feet in sandals,” (no man wants his girl to have ugly feet!) and, “your navel is a rounded goblet,” and, “your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon.” Finally, “Your hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses.” I don’t think I shall attempt to flatter my wife with any of these! In chapter 8 we see the Shulammite and her Beloved coming home together. Whereas she had begun this journey in the chambers of the king (1:4), she now arrives as home, passing through the wilderness, leaning on the arm of her one true love. True love triumphs in the end! Someone grab me a tissue.
New Testament reading: 1 Thessalonians
“He can’t get along with anyone.” This was the sad commentary on the life of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. How much more tragic is it when an entire nation of people can’t get along with anyone! Such is Paul’s description of Israel in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15. Paul encourages the brethren by letting them know that their sufferings at the hands of their countrymen are not unlike the Christians in Judea. Paul explained that the Jews killed Jesus and their own prophets, as well as persecuting his company. Paul put the nail in the coffin when he said of them, “they do not please God and are contrary to all men.” The Jews couldn’t get along with anyone, not even themselves. Like a churlish man who is continually embroiled in controversy, so also were the Jews. Finally, Paul speaks to the fruit of the Jews’ graceless lives, that “wrath has come upon them to the uttermost” (2:16). This may be a reference to their recent history of subjugation, but is more likely an allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem soon to be accomplished. Contrast this with followers of Christ who, exercising the wisdom of God, are “peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (Jam 3:17).
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