This is truly a sensual book, containing nothing but love and endearment between the bride and the bridegroom. His love for her is undeniable and you get the picture that there is no mountain too high or ocean too deep to keep these 2 people apart. I like to think about this concerning the love I have for my wife, but it goes deeper than that. The ultimate expression of this love is between Christ and the church. How can I claim that this is a higher love than that of a couple? The love of Christ is eternal, whereas the love I have for my wife is only temporal, and confined to this present earth.
He knows all about her. Every detail of her body is recorded down to the finest of details. He knows all about her, and she knows all about him. Not only is this a good example for me and my wife, but it shows how much Christ is taken up with his church. God knows all about us, and he still receives us as his own.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Ecclesiastes
There's an old Beatle's song that has the words of Ecclesiastes as its focus. Truly the has made everything beautiful in his time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end (3:11).
What an amazing thought that God has set eternity in our hearts. At the very core of our being, the Lord has placed eternity. The very thing that we have been searching for (purpose) has already been placed in our lives. Eternity isn't so much about the golden streets and the crowns of rejoicing. The central focus of eternity is Christ. His life, his ways, his thoughts, his actions and his ideas. And yet, we are so frail and feeble that we cannot grasp it. We jump and try to grasp that which is ungraspable in the natural. Only by faith do we see the eternal. We need a new set of lenses, spiritual ones, to recognize the work that God has performed. It's so measureless and unfathomable. The natural man has no grasp on the eternal. Only the spiritual man can assertain what is from God. May God grant us the ability to see his hand in our lives.
What an amazing thought that God has set eternity in our hearts. At the very core of our being, the Lord has placed eternity. The very thing that we have been searching for (purpose) has already been placed in our lives. Eternity isn't so much about the golden streets and the crowns of rejoicing. The central focus of eternity is Christ. His life, his ways, his thoughts, his actions and his ideas. And yet, we are so frail and feeble that we cannot grasp it. We jump and try to grasp that which is ungraspable in the natural. Only by faith do we see the eternal. We need a new set of lenses, spiritual ones, to recognize the work that God has performed. It's so measureless and unfathomable. The natural man has no grasp on the eternal. Only the spiritual man can assertain what is from God. May God grant us the ability to see his hand in our lives.
Proverbs
This book is simply written for me. I know countless people that have taken refuge in these words, but there is definitely a focus on young men learning wisdom and keeping himself pure. 9:9 tells us to "Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will ad to his learning." I want to be wise. I want to be simple. I want to simply walk with God. I don't want to be pulled and tugged by every wind of doctrine. I want to be steadfast in my walk with him. I don't want to falter and fail. I want to learn to learn to walk with him on a daily basis. I want to learn to throw all of my cares and concerns on him. I want to be able to stand against the temptations of this life. I don't want to walk down the way of the harlot. I don't want to have my vision clouded or allow my defenses to be broken down. Lord, help me be aware of my surroundings. I don't want to fret. I want to walk by faith and not by sight. Proverbs communicates all of these thoughts to his people, to instruct them in the way everlasting.
Psalms
Psalms is becoming more and more my favorite book in God's word. We read of the trials and tribulations that the Psalmist goes through (most notably David) and then we read of his testimony and triumph that ensues. David has a unique ability to sing and to play. To worship the Lord in word and music. I believe that the book is a perfect compliment to the ways of the law and sacrifices that promotes religion rather than relationship. God is not happy with the shedding of blood for sacrifices. He is happy with the free and full worship that erupts out of his people. One verse that sticks out to me is "My soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation." (35:9) We ultimately praise him eternally for his salvation. He has saved us from the valley of the shadow of death...I will fear no evil. When we see his hand that provides, we are encouraged and we're able to rest in him. He takes care of his own, and punishes those that fall away. To God be the glory.
Job
We are all very acquainted with the life and times of Job. The oldest book in the bible certainly has a definite message: continue to trust in God and do not question his authority.
It seems like Job in the beginning of the book could not have a worse thing happen to him. Literally everything is taken from him, eventually even his health. The enemy is out to test Job's faith. Will he curse the Lord (like his wife suggests)? Or will he press on? He and his friends have a long debate on the attributes and actions of God. There is foolishness communicated and there is wisdom. In the end though, Job finds himself broken and contrite before God. We know the end of the story: God returns to Job all that he had taken, multiple times over again. The Lord, in his infinite wisdom knows what's best for us. Do we have the audacity to complain or question his authority in our lives?
It seems like Job in the beginning of the book could not have a worse thing happen to him. Literally everything is taken from him, eventually even his health. The enemy is out to test Job's faith. Will he curse the Lord (like his wife suggests)? Or will he press on? He and his friends have a long debate on the attributes and actions of God. There is foolishness communicated and there is wisdom. In the end though, Job finds himself broken and contrite before God. We know the end of the story: God returns to Job all that he had taken, multiple times over again. The Lord, in his infinite wisdom knows what's best for us. Do we have the audacity to complain or question his authority in our lives?
Esther
Esther is a beautiful woman, queen of the land. However, her true beauty was not on the outside, but on the inside. She was a woman of character, depth and wisdom. God used her in an amazing way to accomplish his work. She is able to have access granted to the king, and he asks her what her petition is. Her response is for "her life to be saved, and for her people to be freed from slavery, destruction and annihilation." (7:3-4)
The king is well pleased with her request and asks who is the man that is causing all of these issues? Her response is "this vile Haman." Haman is then hung. I"m reminded that we too have access to the king and he hears our cry of help. He takes care of our enemies as he declares, "vengeance is mine" thus sayeth the Lord. We need not be fearful of what can destroy our body, only the one who is able to destroy our soul.
The king is well pleased with her request and asks who is the man that is causing all of these issues? Her response is "this vile Haman." Haman is then hung. I"m reminded that we too have access to the king and he hears our cry of help. He takes care of our enemies as he declares, "vengeance is mine" thus sayeth the Lord. We need not be fearful of what can destroy our body, only the one who is able to destroy our soul.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah, in part is a book about rebuilding. He has the vision to see that when something is in disarray, God uses his people to help rebuild something that is broken down. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down to the point that it was a "disgrace." (2:17). He knows that God is "gracious" and that God is the one that can provide the success on this project.
Nehemiah 4:3 "what they are building - if even a fax climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones." And then we read after the rebuilding project that (12:31) "the leaders of Jerusalem got up on top of the wall."
What God mends and what he fixes is always better afterwards. We can claim this for our own lives if we sense that there is a wall broken down, and we've let down our guard. When he mends, it's a perfect work. God is good.
Nehemiah 4:3 "what they are building - if even a fax climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones." And then we read after the rebuilding project that (12:31) "the leaders of Jerusalem got up on top of the wall."
What God mends and what he fixes is always better afterwards. We can claim this for our own lives if we sense that there is a wall broken down, and we've let down our guard. When he mends, it's a perfect work. God is good.
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