Chapter 9: Five Unique Books: Job to Song of Solomon

Five Unique Books

Job to Song of Solomon

These five books are especially valuable because they cover many aspects of human life: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Job and his friends tell us that living involves discussing and even debating, while the psalmists teach us that living involves discovering. The psalms are like rich mines filled with gold, silver, and precious stones. King Solomon’s collection of proverbs presents us with wisdom that involves our deciding, and laying hold of the truth in his Ecclesiastes involves discerning. The beautiful story in the Song of Solomon offers preparation for and an invitation to delighting in the beauty and love of the Savior. What a rich spiritual meal they set before us! If we don’t rejoice in this spiritual dinner, perhaps we have been nibbling at too many cheap substitutes between meals!

Job: Living Involves Discussing and Debating

It’s remarkable how we take for granted the fact that billions and billions of words are spoken, written, or published in our world each day. Some teach us, others entertain us, and still others encourage and heal us, while some are so foolish or profane they should never have been created. I wonder how many questions are asked and answered or ignored each hour. The book of Job contains over three hundred questions, some of them from the Lord Himself! Job’s friends accused not only Job but also his children (8:4) of having been punished by the Lord for being sinners. Their erroneous conviction was that God blesses the obedient and punishes the disobedient.

Job the believer. Job was not disobedient and worthy of punishment! God made that clear when He pointed Job out to Satan and commended him (Job 1—2). Satan, the accuser, believed Job would curse God (1:5). Job maintained his integrity and defended himself against accusations of being disobedient and deceitful (6:28–30; 23:10–12; 27:1–6). The friends who accused Job and argued their case were wrong from the very beginning. “Why do the righteous suffer?” is not the book’s theme. We know from the beginning why Job suffered: God was using him to defeat the devil! Satan is a bargainer: “Do my will and I will make you happy” (Gen. 3:1–8). God is not a bargainer; His children obey Him because they love Him and want to please Him (John 14:15). Jesus obeyed His Father, yet on the cross suffered greatly for that obedience!

When Satan falsely accused Job, he was actually denying the cross and attacking the Lord’s character. Satan was discounting grace! “God cannot save you until you earn it!” he argued. God commended Job and rebuked Satan. Whenever God chastens His children, it is for one of three reasons: to correct them (Heb. 12:1–17), to perfect them (1 Pet. 5:10–11), or to protect them (2 Cor. 12:1–10). God’s people do not live on explanations but on promises. Comfort and peace are not found because we have won an argument but because we have trusted God’s promises and surrendered to His will.

Job the sufferer. All Job sought from his friends was some compassion and sympathy (Job 16:1–14), yet their observations and arguments only made him feel worse! “But you forgers of lies,” Job said to them, “you are all worthless physicians” (13:4). The harsh words of his friends gave Job more pain and sorrow than did his physical afflictions. When I was serving in pastoral ministry, often members of the church family asked, “Pastor, why is this happening to me?” Not being God, I couldn’t give them inspired answers, but I could give them inspired promises and encourage them to have faith. The next time you feel desolate and defeated, remember what Job experienced. He lost his wealth, his children, his health, and his friends’ respect! The neighbors avoided him, and he even lost his wife’s love (2:9)! Perhaps the most painful burden was that, in spite of his praying, he heard nothing from God. When the argument ended, then God spoke and began to solve the problem. But ultimately, God gave Job far more than he had before, although He may not do the same for all of His children. Read Hebrews 12:1–11 and especially note the “nevertheless, afterward” statement in verse eleven. When Jesus washed Peter’s feet, Peter objected and resisted; but our Lord’s answer settled the matter: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this” (John 13:7). As I said before, we do not live on explanations; we live on promises. The life of Job is a perfect example of this truth.

Job the intercessor. In the last chapter, God makes it clear that Job’s four visitors had interpreted the situation wrongly and would not be forgiven until Job had prayed for them. They also had to present sacrifices. Job interceded for them, and they were forgiven. Is it stretching a point to see here a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ? He suffered on the cross, died, and rose again, and He now offers forgiveness to all who come to Him and trust Him.

Job also forgave his friends, and so should we when people sin against us. We don’t need to offer expensive sacrifices because Christ’s sacrifice has taken care of the problem. When we carry open wounds in our hearts because of what other believers have said or done, we disobey the Lord and rob ourselves of blessings. James 5:11 tells us Job is an example of endurance, and he is; but he is also an example of forgiveness and obedience. The prophet Ezekiel classified Noah, Daniel, and Job as examples of righteousness and persistence when the going was difficult. Do you and I belong to that distinguished company?

The Psalms: Living Involves Discovering

Only seventy-three of the one hundred and fifty psalms specifically mention David as their author, but we usually associate the book with him. However, the book of Psalms is indeed a treasury of praise, prayer, and promises, and no growing Christian would ever want to be without it. The writers of the Psalms remind us that living involves discovering. The Psalms offer us a treasury of truth and a wealth of worship that enriches our lives. We must all be discoverers!

Discovering the God of creation. When we read a psalm and meditate on its truths, we should discover the majesty, beauty, and generosity of our great God. Our view of God largely determines the life we live and the work we do. For one thing, knowing, loving, and trusting the Lord enables us to get to know and love others and want to encourage them. When J. B. Phillips wrote Your God Is Too Small, he identified the basic need of most Christians: to really believe in the greatness of the God of creation. We take it for granted that the sun appears each morning and sets each evening, and we forget that it’s all part of a gigantic system our great God called into being and that it is He who keeps it functioning day after day.

When we read the Psalms, we discover the world around us and the God who created it, and we bow in worship: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Whether we look up, down, or around us and feel the sun or the wind or the rain, God is in control. Those who worship nature are blind idolaters; those who worship the God who created all things have eyes to see the bounty and beauty of God’s universe. In His teaching, Jesus often referred to the things of nature, including birds, seeds, soil, harvests, light, darkness, storms, and drinking water, to name only a few. David was an outdoorsman, and when he heard thunder, he thought of it as the voice of the Lord (ch. 29).

When you read Psalm 19, you first meet the works of God in creation (vv. 1–6) and then the word of God in divine revelation (vv. 7–11). David concludes with a personal prayer, for the Word of God and prayer go together (vv. 12–14; John 15:7; Acts 6:4). God’s world around us and His Word before us instruct us and help us to know God better. They also help us to know ourselves better. Read Psalm 139 and note how David marveled at his own conception, birth, and physical being. David was good-looking (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42), a gifted poet and composer, a brave soldier and leader, a faithful friend, and a godly believer. Psalm 119 magnifies the Word of God. The writer would rather have the Scriptures than food (v. 103), sleep (vv. 55, 62, 147–148, 164), or wealth (vv. 14, 72, 127, 162). Have we discovered the nourishment of the Scriptures?

Discovering His people in the Scriptures. God has always had His people on this earth, even if only a remnant. According to Hebrews 11, their faith in the Lord characterized them, for the only way to be saved is by faith (Gen. 22:1–19; Rom. 4). Abraham’s family multiplied, and, from it, the nation of Israel was formed. The people of Israel often disobeyed the Lord, but a remnant of true believers who carried on the life of faith always remained. In Psalm 32, David expresses the joy of forgiveness that all godly people can experience. The Old Testament teaches us much about the Christian life, so we must not ignore Genesis to Malachi. The inspired New Testament writers used Old Testament people, events, promises, types, and prophecies to enrich their own writings and our Christian experience.

Discovering the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus walked with the Emmaus disciples after His resurrection, He opened up the Old Testament Scriptures that speak of Him (Luke 24:11–35). The people who read only the New Testament rob themselves of this Emmaus experience and rarely—if ever—experience the “burning heart” the Emmaus disciples felt. The Psalms contain much that can enlighten us this way. For example, the psalmists wrote about Jesus the sacrifice for our sins (Ps. 22) and Jesus the Shepherd (ch. 23). They crafted the royal psalms (ch. 2, 20, 24, 32, 45, 61, 72, 89, and 101), which honor the Lord as King, Savior, and Protector. The Messianic psalms are rich in their information about Jesus (ch. 2, 8, 16, 22, 40, 45, 72, 89, 102, 109, 110, and 132). It’s important that we pause and ponder the Old Testament verses that are quoted in the New Testament, especially those that refer to Jesus.

The psalmist can also give us a poet’s viewpoint on Old Testament history. For example David’s “exile psalms” (ch. 7, 11–13, 16–17, 22, 25, 31, 34–35, 52, 54, 56–59, 63–64, and 142) intimately detail his experiences in exile. In Psalm 18, David celebrated his deliverance from his enemies, and in Psalm 104 and 106, we have songs of creation and history.

There is always more to discover in your Bible, especially in the Psalms. You may want to add to your library different translations of the Psalms that shed light on the truths they convey. Paraphrases can be helpful, but be sure they maintain accuracy in translation.

The Book of Proverbs: Living Involves Deciding

I was studying the book of Proverbs one day and was arrested by Proverbs 23:23—“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” As I mediated and prayed, a message began to develop, and this was the final outhne:

The Lord has given us several “editions” of His truth. Jesus said, “I am … the truth” (John 14:6) and “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). First John 5:6 declares, “the Spirit is truth,” and Paul tells us that the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

My point is this: the book of Proverbs is not just a collection of sayings but an inspired book that ought to excite us, educate us, and enable us to challenge others. Job tells us that living involves discussing and debating. In the Psalms we see living involves discovering. But when it comes to the book of Proverbs, living involves deciding. We must choose between wisdom or folly: God’s truth or the world’s lies. “The truth is incontrovertible,” said Sir Winston Churchill. “Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, malice may distort it, but there it is.” The prophet Isaiah described it vividly when he wrote, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter” (Isa. 59:14). That’s a dangerous traffic jam!

The words wise and wisdom are found 125 times in Proverbs. Wisdom may be defined as the best use of knowledge, experience, ability, and opportunity, and the Christian believer would add “to the glory of God.” In the first nine chapters, you find two women who represent Wisdom and Folly. Wisdom offers salvation (1:20–33), wealth (8:18–19), and life (9:10–18) to those who listen to her, while Folly offers condemnation (ch. 5), poverty (6:11), and death (ch. 7). Those who follow Wisdom are believers who belong to the Lord, but those who follow Folly are unbelievers who reject wisdom. Several kinds of people are in the crowd: the simple, who want no wisdom; the scorners, who are proud and arrogant; and the fools, who want no instruction. You will also meet the sluggard, who is too lazy to work and always has an excuse when there’s a job to do.

Wisdom and Folly present themselves and their invitations to the people, and the people must choose. Since some early point in life, each of us has received their invitations many times, and the way we have responded has determined where we are today. Are we dwelling with Wisdom or Folly? Are we at the table with Wisdom, enjoying rich food and receiving wonderful gifts, or are we with Folly, involved in that which is cheap and will not last.

I suggest you read carefully the first nine chapters of Proverbs and note who is calling, who is hearing, and how each hearer responds. In 1:20–22, the scorner rejects Wisdom’s invitation, leaving the fool and the simpleton left to choose. In chapters 8 and 9, Wisdom calls out to the fool and the simpleton. By rejecting Wisdom’s offer, all three accepted Folly and received the sad consequences of their unbelief. But the wise people listen to God’s truth (1:5) and obey it (12:15). They store up what they learn (9:9; 10:14) and seek to win others to the faith (11:30). Wise people flee from sin (14:16), control their tongues (10:19; 16:23), and are diligent in their work (10:5).

The word heart is used nearly one hundred times in Proverbs. You would think that a book about wisdom would emphasize the mind or the memory, but King Solomon knew his psychology and theology: “Keep [guard] your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (4:23). What we give our hearts to determines much of what we receive in life. Give your heart to Jesus and you open the door to blessings innumerable (Matt. 11:28–30; Eph. 1:1–14). Give your heart to lust and the consequences are devastating (Prov. 7:6–27). Wisdom offers us transcending and transforming love, but Folly robs us of what is good and replaces it with what is ugly, cheap, and destructive. “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (15:14).

Solomon also had some important words concerning our feet. Sinners try to entice us to follow their path, but Wisdom says “keep your foot from their path” (1:10–19; see also 3:21–26; 4:14–27). “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil” (4:26–27). Since my seminary days, my life verse has been Psalm 16:11: “You will show me the path of life; Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Following God’s path will keep us from stumbling (Prov. 3:23) and from being caught in traps (v. 26). Satan is subtle, so be alert!

It’s possible to have “heart trouble” in the Christian life. Some people have “double hearts” (Ps. 12:2), while others have hard hearts (Prov. 28:14). Common maladies are the proud heart (21:4) and the unbelieving heart (Heb. 3:12). But let’s look at the positive side! Proverbs 10 encourages us to have righteous and loving hearts (vv. 11–12), wise hearts (vv. 13–14, 19–21), honest hearts (v. 18), controlled hearts (v. 19), and nourishing hearts (vv. 19–21). While these verses focus on the things we say, Jesus made it clear that the words of our lips come from our hearts (Matt. 12:34). I read about a man who became angry on the job, let out a volley of swear words, and then apologized, saying, “That really isn’t in me.” “It had to be in you,” said a fellow employee, “or it couldn’t have come out of you!”

Proverbs 3:5–6 are life verses for many of God’s people, including my wife, and I must not ignore them, for they tell us how to have God’s guidance in the decisions of life. Remember that Proverbs teaches us that life involves deciding, and it is important that we obey God’s will. Solomon told us that there are three essentials for knowing and doing God’s will: a believing heart, an enlightened mind, and an obedient will.

Let’s begin with faith, for “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6). The unsaved world laughs at faith and tells us to be practical, but they forget that everybody who makes decisions is living by faith! Get on a fun ride at an amusement park or order a meal at a restaurant, and you are living by faith. Drive on the expressway or take an elevator to the top floor, and you are acting by faith. As for spiritual faith, Paul spoke of its unique source, saying, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Faith is not a feeling we manufacture. It’s a confidence we have that God tells the truth and that truth is in His Word. The people of God who read the Bible daily and meditate on what they read will grow in faith and learn to trust God.

Scripture warns us not to depend on our own intellectual skills. This doesn’t mean we should be willfully ignorant, but it does mean that we must not lean on our own abilities. By all means, we must think things through and get all the facts available, but we must turn it all over to the Lord, pray, search the Scriptures, and wait upon the Lord for His direction. To depend on human reasoning alone is dangerous. Ephesians 5:17 exhorts us to understand what the Lord’s will is, so don’t put your mind on the shelf. This enlightenment into God’s will, however, comes from the Scriptures (Prov. 2:1–9). If we are walking with the Lord, we will experience a balance between divine revelation and human understanding. (Matthew 2:19–23 shows an example of this in action when Joseph and Mary were escaping Herod’s murderous plot.)

As God reveals His will, we must obey what He commands. An obedient will is a key to understanding God’s will. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to do [is willing to do] His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine …” (John 7:17). The will of God is not a buffet from which you pick and choose what you like and reject the rest. God’s will is a meal prepared especially for you, and you must receive all of it.

Ecclesiastes: Living Involves Discerning

The word Ecclesiastes comes from a Greek word that means “an assembly of people.” In the book of Proverbs, Solomon is a concerned father teaching a son that right living involves deciding and that it takes wisdom to make the right decisions. But in Ecclesiastes, Solomon is a “preacher” (1:12; 7:27; 12:8–10) teaching a congregation that godly living also involves discerning. He sought to answer the question, “Is life worth living?” and he pointed out obstacles that prevent us from having a life of enjoyment and enrichment, a life characterized by the ability to serve the Lord. In 12:9–12, Solomon described the kind of words he spoke. These verses establish a good standard for all who preach and teach God’s Word.

When you read and study your Bible, always notice the vocabulary. In Ecclesiastes, the word vanity is used thirty-eight times. My seminary Hebrew instructor told us that vanity meant “what’s left when a soap bubble breaks.” The Hebrew word for vanity is abel, the name of Adam and Eve’s second son. The phrase “under the sun” is used twenty-nine times and defines the outlook of the writer. What Solomon saw, studied, and concluded was totally from the human point of view, and ten times he says, “I have seen.” The word evil is used thirty-one times, labor twenty-three times, fool thirty-two times, and God forty times. But here’s the surprise: the word joy in various forms (joy, enjoy, rejoice, joyful) is found a dozen times. The Jewish people read Ecclesiastes aloud each year when they assemble to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a joyful event. At least seven times, Solomon exhorts his listeners (and us as readers) to enjoy life (2:24; 3:12–15, 22; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7–10; 11:9–10).

When you read Ecclesiastes, you discover that the culture in Solomon’s day was not much different from what we see today. When Solomon investigated his world, he found all kinds of people and problems: skepticism, the “good old days” philosophy, injustice, economic problems, crooked politics, incompetent leaders, and heavy taxes (2 Chron. 10:1–5), to name but a few. Solomon frequently mentioned death (1:4; 2:14–17; 3:18–20; 4:2; 5:15–16; 6:6; 8:8; and 9:2–3, 12). Consider this summary:

The two final chapters bring the Lord into the picture and remind us that we live by faith (11:1–8), we can enjoy life now and prepare for death (11:9—12:7), and we must fear the Lord and obey Him (12:8–14).

If we summarize Solomon’s “philosophy of life,” it would probably be this: our world is not perfect, nor are we, and we will experience pleasures, disappointments, and sorrows. The important thing is to put God first in our lives and seek to please Him (ch. 12). To complain about others and to blame God does not change anything but only makes matters worse. Keep in mind that Solomon was “under the sun” when he wrote his book and not in the third heaven, before the throne of God. He called us to live by faith (11:1–8). (This chapter reminds us of Hebrews 11, another chapter on faith.)

Ecclesiastes may seem negative and depressing, but it’s important to note that Solomon interjects eight very positive statements (or pieces of advice) to encourage us (2:24; 3:13–15; 3:22; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:1–10; 11:9–10; and 12:13–14). Note also that there are thirty-three questions in the book and thirty-four commands. How is that for balance?

The apostle Paul may have paid particular attention to Ecclesiastes because he wrote in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” When Satan and sin entered the world, the divine order of things was jarred and in some places almost destroyed; but God is still on the throne working out His will. But Paul was not discouraged, for he used the words birth pangs. The pain, sorrow, and discouragement ultimately will give birth to a new heaven and a new earth where everything will be perfect. Meanwhile, we walk by faith and claim two wonderful promises: Romans 8:28 and John 13:7. Look them up and read them aloud.

The Song of Solomon: Living Involves Delighting

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon is a father instructing a son about successful living while in Ecclesiastes he is a “preacher” addressing an assembly on the true values of life. But in the Song of Solomon, he is a lover disguised as a shepherd who courts and then marries an attractive young lady. Then she discovers that she married the king! Solomon wrote over a thousand songs (1 Kings 4:32), but this one is “the song of songs.” It stands high above all songs and exalts Solomon and his bride in a way that is both intimate and revealing. She is called the “Shulamite” (Song of Sol. 6:13), which is the feminine form of the name Solomon.

Abundant living involves delighting in the blessings of love imparted by our Lord. The book is built around the romance of the couple, for in Jewish weddings, the bride and groom are treated like a king and queen. The outhne is simple: courting (1:1–3), wedding (3:6—5:1), and delighting (5:2—8:14). The book teaches the alert reader some important lessons that need to be learned and heeded today.

The Practical Lesson: God’s Plan for Marriage

Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3), which was contrary to God’s law (Deut. 17:17). They worshipped idols and turned Solomon’s heart away from the Lord. But Solomon seemed to be telling us in this short book that he abandoned those idolatrous women and their idols and devoted himself wholly to one wife. One man and one woman obeying the Lord and loving one another was God’s plan from the beginning and was never superseded (Gen. 2:18–25). As you read the Song of Solomon, please note how the man and woman saw the best in each other and were ready to compliment each other on their virtues (see 4:1—5:1; 6:4—7:9; 5:2—6:3). If there is one thing that begins to smother love, it is taking loved ones for granted and failing to compliment them for what they are and do. You may want to underline the “romance vocabulary” as you read the book. You will find “my love” nine times. The NIV translates it “my darling.” However, please, men, don’t follow Solomon’s example and compare your girlfriend, fiancée, or wife to a horse (1:9).

The point is simply this: marriage and the home are built on a foundation of a man and a woman loving each other, showing appreciation for each other, and seeking to please each other in the will of God. Solomon did a lot of experimenting, but then he learned that God’s way is the best way. “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8).

The Spiritual Lesson: Christ and the Believer

In this book of the Bible, Solomon never mentions God, sin, the law, or the atonement, yet it is obvious that the king teaches us about Jesus and His bride, the church. On the eighth day of Passover, the Jews read this book aloud in their assembly (read 1 Cor. 5:6–8). As we read the book, we see the two lovers sharing experiences from which they learn to love each other more. The king tells his lover to “come away” that they might have time alone (Song of Sol. 2:10, 13; 4:8; 7:11; 8:14). They ascended the mountains, visited the vineyards, looked for the flocks of sheep, and fellowship with friends, a good example for each of us today. How important it is that every day we spend time alone with our Lord and grow in our love for Him, His church, and the lost people in our lives!

The experience described in chapters 5 and 6 has always touched me deeply. The couple is now married; the spouse is in bed asleep, but the husband is not there. Then he comes to the door and asks her to let him in, but she doesn’t want to leave the comfort of her bed and get her feet dirty! Finally, she gets up and goes to the door, but her beloved is gone! She searches for him and finds him caring for the sheep in his garden. They are together! I confess that there have been times in my life when I have been too comfortable or too busy to open the door to Jesus and have fellowship with him. I have learned the hard way that I need “blessing breaks” more than I need coffee breaks! Paul reminds us that the church is united with Christ as a husband and wife are one (Eph. 5:22–33; 2 Cor. 11:2). The church is His bride and will one day have a heavenly wedding to become His wife (Rev. 21:2).

This incident of the locked door reminds me of Revelation 3:20, where Jesus stands at the locked door at the Laodicean church. Imagine the Lord Jesus Christ not being welcomed into the fellowship of the church for which He died! There might be thousands of people inside, but if the Savior is not there, how can there be blessing? If we gather in His name, He will be in our midst ready to bless (Matt. 18:20). When I was a boy, it was normal for people to come early to church to pray before the Sunday services, but I fear that custom has been replaced by paying to get a cup of coffee instead of praying to receive heavenly manna.

True believers are waiting for the return of Christ and the joy of sharing in the heavenly wedding (Rev. 19:1–10). If we don’t have intimate fellowship with Him now, what will it be like when we meet Him in glory? Are we content to stay in bed and not wake up to an uninterrupted time alone with our Lord? Jesus asks us as He asked His disciples, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Matt. 26:40). It is essential that believers “take time to be holy,” as William D. Longstaff’s classic hymn by the same name advises. This means not only attending public services but also setting aside time daily to read the Scriptures, meditate, and pray. It also means being prepared when the Lord “knocks on the door” and invites you to fellowship with Him. How tragic to be like the saints in Ephesus who “left [their] first love” (Rev. 2:1–7)!

The Prophetic Lesson

When the nation of Israel was consecrated at Mt. Sinai to obey the Lord, it was like getting married to Jehovah God. As some marriage vows express it, they were to love, honor, and obey; but alas, the people of Israel began to worship idols and grieved God’s heart. But the prophets in Scripture tell us that the day is coming when believing Israel will be reconciled to her Lord and Master and share in His glorious kingdom. Scholars don’t all agree on the details of this kingdom, but the fact of it is affirmed by the prophets. I suggest you read Isaiah 51 and 54, Jeremiah 3, and Ezekiel 36—37, 39—48. God will not forsake His people Israel but will give them new life in His kingdom.

The Song of Solomon teaches us that living means delighting in the Lord Jesus Christ, His love, His beauty, and His grace and goodness. We are “engaged” to Him, and one day we shall be “married” to Him and reign with Him in His kingdom. Let’s begin today to enjoy spiritual intimacy that the Holy Spirit can give us as we fellowship with the Master. Living means delighting in the Lord. To delight in the Lord means to delight in His Word, His character, His grace and goodness, His people, and His will. Ponder Psalms 37:4; 40:8; 119:16, and 35.

ADVENTURE ASSIGNMENT #9

We have covered a great deal of theological territory in this chapter, so perhaps you should review the chapter and the Bible books involved. How does the Song of Solomon strike you in its intimacy and imagery? Whether you are single or married, what aspects of the imagery make you want to draw nearer to your Lord?

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