Lessons on Relationship From Solomon, Lesson 1
Introduction
Doesn't God have the annoying habit of hitting you just where it hurts?
He's been speaking to me a lot lately about our relationship. He's been showing me its magnificent potential, its impending power, its prospective glory; and He's been gently pointing out to me that the only thing standing in the way of the beautiful relationship He wants with me is . . . ME!
I've been listening with interest, for I desire more than anything else to have a close relationship with God. But just how am I to get beyond-ME?
That's when He directed me to read Song of Solomon.
"Song of Solomon???" I sputtered. "Lord, I've read it a hundred times! It's all mushy - and - and . . ."
"Read it again!"
Why is it that I always argue with God? "But Lord, I - I've NEVER learned anything from this book before . . . It - it embarrasses me! There CAN'T be anything in there for me!"
"Read it again!"
Sigh. Why is it that I always seem to be "resigning" myself to what God wants me to do? Why can't I look forward to these "annoying" commands with anticipation? Why . . . "Well okay . . . If I have to, but don't expect me to LEARN anything!"
Of course, you know that you wouldn't be reading this devotional right now if I HADN'T learned anything. God has this habit of ALWAYS being right, doesn't He?
Before I delved into the book, however, I decided to take a look at what has been said about the Song of Solomon over the years. What I found was many potential interpretations. Some say the book is a love letter between Solomon and one of his wives, many believe it may have been written for the Queen of Sheba or perhaps for Pharaoh's daughter. Others view it is a model for every human relationship, and still others say it's how God views the church, His bride, as a whole. There are a few, however, who see this book as a model for our personal relationships with God.
Hum. Just which interpretation would I take?
Though I suspected that all points of view were valid, I couldn't deny the growing conviction that God's purpose for me in rereading what I considered to be a distasteful book was because He wanted to take me to another level in our PERSONAL relationship! And that's exactly what happened. What I learned, I want to pass on to you, so that you, too, can reach a new level with your relationship with God!
This could potentially be a VERY long devotional series (and some would say that at 28 lessons, it still is!). However, what I found in each and every verse could have filled an entire sermon, sometimes two, so with this in mind, 27 suddenly seems quite short! I found three primary themes repeated throughout the book, and I have attempted to organize these into three large categories: God's part in the relationship, our part in the relationship, and when God seems far away. The outline of the upcoming 26 lessons is as follows:
1. Unit 1: GOD'S Part in the Relationship (Lessons 2-14):
a. Part 1: How God sees us (Lessons 2-4);
b. Part 2: How much God desires to be with us (Lessons 5-8);
c. Part 3: How God cares for our intimate thoughts and feelings (Lesson 9);
d. Part 4: A Relationship full of gifts (Lessons 10-12);
2. Unit 2: OUR Part in the Relationship (Lessons 13-20):
a. Part 1: WE must desire God (Lessons 13,14);
b. Part 2: WE must see Him as our dearest friend (Lesson 15);
c. Part 3: WE must desire to spend private time with Him (Lesson 16);
d. Part 4: WE must cry out to Him (Lesson 17); and
e. Part 5: WE must tell others about Him (Lesson 18)
3. Unit 3: The Truth About Where God is (Lessons 19-26):
a. Part 1: Where God is, ALL the time (Lesson 19);
b. Part 2: How to find God (Lessons 20-22); and
c. Part 2: When God Seems Far Away (Lessons 23-26)
The lessons will be appearing in the upcoming Saturday editions of The Nugget. I encourage you to read the entire book of Song of Solomon on your own as you go through this study; and I also encourage you to take the time to meditate upon each Truth presented. Ask God to make each lesson REAL to you. Take quiet time to prayerfully ponder each point and what it means to YOU! If at anytime you find you have missed a lesson, you may view previous publications at:
lessons_on_relationship_from_solomon.htm
My hope and prayer is that God, through that the world's wisest man, will teach you as much as He taught me, and that as a result, your personal relationship with Him will deepen.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, author and moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets website,
www.sermonillustrator.org , Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org .