August 6

Song of Solomon 1

Solomon expresses the beauty of married love.

INSIGHT

Hebrews 13:4 says that the marriage bed is holy and “undefiled.” In his commentary on the Song of Solomon, A Song for Lovers, Craig Glickman writes: “No artist could have fashioned two people better suited for one another. He was the king of their great nation; she, his chosen bride. Spring had seen their love blossom like the flowers in the palace gardens. Their love was destined to be a song for the world. And, in fact, so ideal was their love that the song about them was chosen as one of the books of sacred Scripture. It became the only one of the entire collection devoted exclusively to courtship and marriage.” The Song of Solomon gives us God´s perspective on marriage and love.

PRAYER

Offer the Lord your praise for the unconditional love He gives you as a member of the church, the “bride of Christ”:
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds (Psalm 57:1, 9-10).

Now express any additional thoughts of praise, adoration, or thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel
(Psalm 69:5-6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord as you agree with and submit yourself to the will of God, your heavenly Father:
You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield (Psalm 5:12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• A more intimate relationship with your Bridegroom
• Greater love for fellow Christians
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:8).