Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3

Dear RTB’ers,

Now that I have read the STS introduction and Carol’s posts from a few years back, it’s hard to read these verses without imagining her Beloved as a shepherd and the king as her pursuer. So in today’s reading I see the shepherd knocking and calling her out (Song 5:2), then leaving before she could get to the door. That sounds like she was dreaming of him. Then she goes on to describe him (Song 5:10-16), a parallel to the king describing her yesterday.

But if I go back to my original plan of “She” being me/us and “He” being God, then the whole of today’s reading is She seeking Him, searching for Him, yearning for Him, describing Him, engaging others to help her in seeking Him. He is her every thought, even dreams at night. Would that I were so forceful in seeking God as if He were my Everything!! Yet, I know that I am His child and that I have His enduring love.

So, with all that, the one verse that captures those thoughts best for me is I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine… (v. 6:3, spoken also in in 2:16 and 7:10). And that is a bond that will never be broken! Thank you, Lord!

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 27 (2022) / Song of Songs 5 (again)
• November 28 (2022) / Song of Songs 6

Song of Solomon 3:6-5:1

Dear RTB’ers,

John S. scanned me Search the Scripture’s introduction to Song of Solomon. Their focus is one that Carol also looked at a few years back, “She”, the Bride in love with a shepherd and a king seeking her affections. It’s a compelling argument, quite distinct from the one which I have taken, “He” being God and “She” being me/us. Our last study in this Book is an STS “Revision”. I think that I will take that opportunity to re-read the Book using the triangular Bride, shepherd, king analysis.

So, for today, again, “She”, the Bride as me/us… First the king’s procession in chapter 3, then the king proclaiming the Bride’s beauty in nearly the whole of chapter 4, then her reply at the end of that chapter and his reply at the beginning of chapter 5. What to make of it?

The Bride’s beauty (my/our beauty) is captured from her top down in chapter 4, mostly reflecting the beauty of nature – its animals in the first five verses of the chapter, then comparisons to fruits and spices in the later verses. So, “He” (God) speaking all those descriptors – animals, fruits, spices – He formed me from my mother’s womb (see Psalm 22:10, 139:13) and knows me fully, better than I know myself! If He can describe all of who I am so completely, then I need to be asking Him for guidance in my life, not just going forth on my own reasoning.

Moving from love poetry to real life applications – that’s quite a leap! Not my strength! It would be great if others would chime in!

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 25 (2022) / Song of Songs 3 (again)
• November 26 (2022) / Song of Songs 4
• November 27 (2022) / Song of Songs 5

Song of Solomon 2:8-3:5

Dear RTB’ers, 

I made a brief comment yesterday on Song 2:7, that some scholars argue that a main emphasis in this Book was on sex and marriage, specifically waiting until it’s time (after marriage, not before). Today we see that refrain repeated: I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. (v. 3:5) We’ll see it one more time, near the end of the book (Song 8:4).

My own verse for today: On my bed by night I sought Him whom my soul loves; I sought Him, but found Him not. (v. 3:1) Many wise leaders tell us that we should set aside a certain, fixed prayer time during the day, during daylight hours, with an intentional focus on seeking God at a higher level. I have never been good at that, but at night (most nights, unless I crash immediately) I do pray, seeking God all the more. So I can relate to this nighttime, bedtime verse.

But I also like another twice-repeated refrain (He speaking): Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away… (vv. 2:10b, 13b). If I see “He” as God, in these verses I see Him seeing me as beautiful and calling me to Him. I’ll leave you with that nice thought.

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 24 (2022) / Song of Songs 2:8-17
• November 25 (2022) / Song of Songs 3

Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

Dear RTB’ers,

I am out of my league in trying to comment on Song of Solomon. I am not well versed in poetry – American or other – and certainly not in words that were written thousands of years ago in a culture far removed from us today. In addition, I do not have our companion book, Search the Scriptures with me, so I don’t even know what questions they are asking for today and the rest of this week. So after reading all last week about our wasted efforts (all is vanity), I will move on with whatever comes to mind for me. Please bear with me!

Different scholars have different opinions in interpreting this Book. Most agree that the Song of Solomon is about love. But whose love? Some suggest that the “He” character is God and the “She” character is Israel – or maybe the “She” character is us. Others suggest that the “He” is Jesus and the “She” is the Church. Others agree that the Book is about love, but with a major focus on sex and marriage. See today especially verse 2:7, I adjure you…that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. Don’t stir up or awaken love until it’s time!

Not knowing any better, I think I’ll stay with “He” being God and “She” being us. So with that in mind, a verse that stood out for me, with “She” speaking, His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me! (v. 2:6) It’s a beautiful picture of God’s protection with His left hand and His love with His right hand.

What are your thoughts? Your verses…? Let’s have a number of us weighing in on this Book!

Blessings!

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See also:

• Introduction to Song of Songs
• November 21 (2022) / Song of Songs 1:1-7
• November 22 (2022) / Song of Songs 1:8-17
• November 23 (2022) / Song of Songs 2:1-7

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:14

Dear RTB’ers,

So today we finish our week in Ecclesiastes. It’s been an unusual week, an unusual book. I had read that many leading Christians over the years had wanted to exclude Ecclesiastes from the Bible, yet it continued to prevail. It’s closing, alone, should give anyone pause before throwing it out: The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (vv. 12:13-14) I recall my own research paper during that Old Testament class that I took back in 1972. Scholars had argued that these words were written by an editor who wanted to keep Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible and not throw it out. I had argued that there were many passages in the book that were consistent with these closing verses. For example, we see “fear God” (or related words) in Ecclesiastes 3:14, 5:7, 7:18, 8:12-13. I had also found justifications in other verses, probably regarding good and evil and judgment.

So Ecclesiastes remains in our Bible today. Like Job, it offers great fodder for group discussions and personal reflection. In one of his links from a few days ago John had suggested that we re-read all the earlier chapters before getting into that day’s reading. Maybe that’s a good suggestion for us today. Read the entire book again. Maybe we’ll find that we agree with the Preacher’s main point that “all is vanity”. Or maybe we’ll find that we disagree. Still, I’m confident that a lot of what we do is, in fact, “vanity”!! A striving after wind…

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 19 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 11 (again)
• November 20 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 12

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11:8

Dear RTB’ers,

My “choice” proverbs for today…

…if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. (v. 11:3b) Once it’s done, whatever “it” is, whether good or bad or indifferent, it’s done and there’s no changing it back. Move on. Often, easier said than done…!

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. (v. 11:6) I like what this proverb says explicitly – that the farmer does not know whether it is better to plant in the morning so that the seed gets the warmth of the sun all day or to plant in the evening when the cooler earth allows the seed to germinate better. But as an application for us, what to do in choosing between two reasonable alternatives? Well, if they are mutually exclusive, then you’ve got to choose. But if not and they are both good, the Preacher says to do both. So yes, do RTB and also join in with whatever your Homegroup wants to read. Good advice!

Your favorites…?

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 17 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 10:1-11 (again)
• November 18 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 10:12-20
• November 19 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 9:1-10:7

Dear RTB’ers,

More proverbs from the Preacher today – and his reflections on various thoughts. He always seems to come back to “vanity”, as I had suggested in my first post over Ecclesiastes. All that we do is vain – the good and the bad, the wise and the foolish, no gain for our efforts. Everything seems to be a waste of time to him, except seeking God – that is worthwhile.

So for today, more on those thoughts of wasted effort… It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. (vv. 9:2-3a, 11-12a) No matter what we do, same outcomes to us all.

So, my dozen years of post-high school education and nearly forty years of classroom teaching, all a waste of time? I hope not. But maybe C.T. Studd (1860-1931) had it right: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Your thoughts?

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 15 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
• November 16 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 9:11-18
• November 17 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 10:1-11

Ecclesiastes 7-8

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s reading is mostly a set of proverbs, some of which are just one verse and others which span a couple of verses. So, a few that I enjoyed or that spoke to me… First, Better is the end of a thing than its beginning… (v. 7:8a) I don’t expect others to agree with me and I don’t know why I am this way, but I like things to end – even happy, good things! Give me a 90-minute movie, not a three-hour drama! I’m always a “What’s next?” guy. Sorry, nothing very spiritual about that one!

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other… (v. 7:14a) I left off the “so that” last half of the verse, not that the last half is not important, but it was the first half that spoke to me! It’s long been a maxim that I try to live by, to be content in all things, knowing that God knows my situation better than my own understanding.

 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not go well for the evil person and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God. (vv. 8:12-13) Yes, It will go well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. Maybe not fully in this life, but eternity is certain. Yes, fear God.

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 11 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 7:1-13
• November 12 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 7:14-29
• November 13 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
• November 14 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 8:10-17

Ecclesiastes 4:9-6:12

Dear RTB’ers,

I must comment on today’s introductory verses, even though I probably have in the past: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (vv. 4:9-12) Our pastor let us choose our readings for our wedding, and we chose this section as our Old Testament reading. Obviously, I can’t read these words without going back 43+ years! Glory to God, thank you!

A lot is said in today’s readings about wealth and riches, most of it decrying excessive effort to gain more, plus hoarding it when you have it. See Ecc. 5:10-16; 6:1-2. But all wealth is not bad; in fact, it is God’s gift, to be enjoyed! Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (v. 5:19) It’s an attitude thing. Anyone seeking excessive riches is surely failing to seek God in the measure in which God would like his/her attention. So we ask ourselves, what do we have, what do we do with it, and what more do we seek? Yes, it’s an attitude thing…!

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 7 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 4
• November 8 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 5:1-9
• November 9 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
• November 10 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:8

Dear RTB’ers,

My natural self-centeredness quickly connected with So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. (v. 3:22a) And I thought that I enjoy teaching so much that Carol and I are back over here again even though we retired more than a decade ago. And I thought it sad that many people work just to make a living, to pay the bills, without much real enjoyment in what they do.

Then I turned to chapter 4 and my self-centeredness vanished: Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! (v. 4:1a) And I thought of the millions of people in Africa and Asia who are oppressed for their faith and even more millions who are oppressed because of their lack of work, of their inability to provide for their families. Oppression around the world, and no one to comfort them… As I’ve said and posted so many times, God knows each and every one of them, to a degree that we cannot comprehend. And He is God, I am not.

It all makes me want to be the absolute best that I can be for my students this semester, thinking of the ending of the first verse that I quoted above, Who can bring him to see what will be after him? (v. 3:22b) Whatever I am for them can have serious impact on the rest of their lives. And that also goes for anything that any of us does today. Be the best that you can be, to God’s glory.

Blessings!

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See also:

• November 5 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• November 6 (2022) / Ecclesiastes 3:9-22