pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: love


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What Great Love

Reading: Song of Songs 5-8

‭Song of Songs 6:3 – “I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me.”

Today’s reading begins with a dream or fantasy about a missed opportunity to be with her lover. She was sleeping but did finally go to the door, but he was gone. She searches but doesn’t find him. She longs for the one who is “radiant and ruddy… whose mouth is everything sweet.” Her friends ask where he has gone. He has gone to the garden. She worries not and declares, “I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me.”

To him, she is an overwhelming site – as beautiful and lovely as Jerusalem. Even though there are 60 queens and 80 secondary wives, she is “my perfect one… one of a kind.” In chapter 7 he admires her. She is graceful and has “smooth curves.” She is “so beautiful, so lovely.” He has a strong desire for her. She makes another statement of belonging. This passionate and deeply intimate love is symbolic of the love possible between God and us. O how to see God this way. God sees us in this way.

Love is consummated as chapter 7 concludes. He holds her, embraces her. We find such a place in God’s embrace once we declare our commitment to God. God also longs to set “a seal over our hearts.” God longs for us to have a love for God that is “as strong as death.” God’s son modeled this kind of love for his father and for us. May we do so as well.

Prayer: Lord God, what great depth of love you have for us! What great passion and commitment is found in your heart. Help us to fully receive this love and then guide us to reflect it back out in our relationships and into the world. Amen.


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A Holy Covenant

Reading: Song of Songs 1-4

‭Song of Songs 4:12 – “An enclosed garden is my sister, my bride; an enclosed pool, a sealed spring.”

Today and tomorrow we read Song of Songs. On one level it is a song that celebrates the love of two people. On another level, it is an expression of the ideal love between God and humanity/Israel/the church – depending on your time reference. As we are in the Christian world, we will focus on the relationship between God (the man) and the church (the woman), both corporate and individual.

Chapter 1 expresses longing. The woman longs for the man’s kisses. The man brings her in and wants to exult and rejoice over her. God longs for our love. God longs to exult and rejoice over our faithfulness. The woman longs to be with him. He says to “follow the tracks of the herds.” We long for community and relationship with God. God says to follow the instructions, read my Word. They rejoice in one another’s beauty. We were created in the image of God. This is at the core of all of our relationships.

In chapter 2 the woman sees her live as an apple tree among the wild trees. We are invited to live holy lives, to be set apart from the world. She needs sustaining, weary from expressing her love. We too need God in many ways. God provides for us in numerous ways. He draws near and looks in on his love. He waits. God too longs to see us, to fear our voice. She declares that they belong to one another. Ideally we say this to God. God says, “I am the Lord your God… You are mine.”

Chapter 3 is a searching and a finding, a process that we repeat often with God. Once there, we find it beautiful too. Chapter 4 celebrates the beauty of the woman. The church is beautiful too when love and grace flow down and out into the world, reflecting God’s love and grace given to us. The man calls his love an “enclosed garden.” This implies a closed relationship, a holy covenant love. May it be so for you and for me in our relationship with God.

Prayer: Lord God, how lovely and beautiful you are! You are steadfast and true, coming to us again and again with a love that never fails, with a grace that never runs out. Lead and guide us to love you and one another in these same ways. Amen.


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The Lord Gives Light

Reading: Proverbs 27-29

‭Proverbs 28:13 – “Those who hide their sins won’t succeed, but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.”

The value, weight, and power of our words is a major focus today. To brag, that’s dangerous because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Pride lays people low, but humility gains honor. A good word holds power as iron sharpens iron. Bruises (correction) from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy (flattery.) Correcting someone (in love) brings favor. Flattery is just “a net for their feet.”

Good and wise words have little effect on fools. Even grinding them in the mortar won’t drive out their foolishness. The simpleton sees and rushes towards evil and receives punishment. The wise see evil and hide from it. Fools are stubborn. The warning: after many corrections they will suddenly be broken. The wise? “Those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.”

There are certainly outcomes to our choices. One can be wealthy and walk a crooked path. Or one can be poor and walk in innocence. Fools trust their own understanding and suffer. Walk in wisdom and be safe. Work the land and have plenty to eat. Spend your energy on “worthless pursuits” and have plenty of poverty.

Lastly, the sage touches on care for the poor. If we give to the poor we will lack nothing. But if we turn a blind eye, then we will be “greatly cursed.” The righteous know the rights of the poor because they listen to God’s Instruction. The fools do not understand. They won’t listen. Yet the sage also reminds us that the poor and the oppressor have this in common: “The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.” Wisdom calls out to all of humanity. Will we have eyes to see and ears to hear?

Prayer: Lord God, guide us in our walk as we choose between wise and foolish, between good and evil, between you and the world. Fill our hearts with your instruction, with your wisdom. Steer us clear of the crooked path and the lies of folly. Pour words of healing and truth into our hearts. Guard us against speaking words that harm or oppress. May your light and love flow from each of us, flooding this world with your presence. Amen.


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Act Differently

Reading: Proverbs 25 and 26

‭Proverbs 26:21 – “Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife.”

Removing the dross from the silver is like removing the evil from the royal court – a beautiful vessel is the result. Removing arrogance and pride not only avoids some embarrassment, it could lead to honor and recognition. Removing fuel from the fire and gossip from conversations both cool the situation. Removing the selfish and evil from our lives yields good outcomes.

Much is said about a lying tongue. False testimony is like a club or sword to the victim. A lying tongue crushes and brings destruction to those affected. The sage compares smooth lips and an evil heart to silver coating on clay – both can look or sound good from a distance but it is oh so fragile underneath.

Fools are slow to learn. They repeat their mistakes often so they are like “a dog jwho returns to their vomit.” Neither makes much sense but both happen. Those without self-control are like a breached city – no walls or filters. So just as a whip is used to control a horse so too must a rod be used on a fool’s back.

The wise act differently. Their words calm strife and build up. These words are like “golden apples in a silver setting.” Instead of making fun of or ignoring their enemies when they’re hungry or thirsty, a wise person gives them food and drink. The wise understand that compassion is much more powerful than hate or anger. So too may our words and actions bring healing and wholeness, peace and hope.

Prayer: Lord God, while it seems so, so clear that wisdom and humility are the much better choices, we can be selfish, we can speak hurtful words, we can gossip and tear down, we can play the fool. So, Lord, help us. Send the Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear when we venture down the wrong path. May the Spirit shout if need be. May the nudge become a shove too if we’re not quite seeing how we’ve gone down the wrong path. Help us, Lord, to be love and healing to our broken world. Amen.


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Righteousness, Honesty

Reading: Proverbs 24

‭Proverbs 24:3 – “By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established.”

Today the sages speak of not engaging the wicked, of not envying those who do evil. Their hearts are “focused on violence” and their lips “speak trouble.” The sages tell us not to get mad or to seek revenge against such as these. The wisdom writers note that the lazy person’s field is full of thorns and weeds. This just leads to poverty. By contrast, the wise will get their “outside work” done so that they can build a home. Here one finds hope and a future.

To build a good future, to add to our hope, we are encouraged to eat wisdom like people eat honey. Honey was a somewhat rare delicacy. Treat wisdom this way, says the sage. To eat wisdom is to secure a future with hope. Along these lines we’re reminded to fear the Lord (and the king.) Therefore, don’t associate with the rebellious. And rescue those headed for death.

We again hear the call today to honesty and to righteousness. Yes, the righteous will fall. But they’ll get up again and again. “Seven” is symbolic for ‘many times.’ The wicked, however, will fall into trouble. We’re warned against rejoicing over this. To do so would displease God. We’re also reminded today that our words should always be honest, showing no partiality, offering no false witness. Speaking in these ways could be hard. Yet just as the Holy Spirit at times speaks hard but true words into our hearts so too must we do this for others. Done in love, it is a gift.

Prayer: Lord God, lead us today to walk the path of righteousness and to speak the words of truth. Guard us from being wicked or evil or lazy. Lead us to joyfully engage the work that you have for us. Amen.


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A Strong Tower

Readings: Proverbs 17 and 18

‭Proverbs 18:10 – “The LORD’s name is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and find refuge.”

There are three themes that stand out to me today as we read and ponder Proverbs 17 and 18. To read these words in a few months or in a couple of years, other themes might stand out. That is one reason we read and read and read our Bibles. That being said, the first theme that emerged today was that wisdom or understanding brings peace to our lives. It is better to eat crusty, dry bread in peace than to feast in a quarreling house. It is love that covers offenses. But fools keep repeating words and actions that bring or lead to division. Therefore, it is “safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in their folly.” Let that sink in.

The second theme concerns God’s testing and refining and correction. Like a crucible refines and purifies silver, so God tests our hearts. For the wise and understanding, a rebuke goes deeper and impacts us more than “100 lashes to a fool.” For those who seek understanding and wisdom, these draw us together. As the community of faith we too love one another all the time, especially in times of trouble and trial.

The last theme has to do with the power of our words. First, the wise restrain their talking. The wise are cool headed. The understanding recognize that words are “deep waters” and hold the power of life and death. The wise guard their words, loving life, eating well of its fruit. Fools babble on and on, caring just for their own opinions, allowing careless and thoughtless words to bring harm and hurt.

Proverbs 18:10 stands out today as a summary verse, as words to cling to: “The LORD’s name is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and find refuge.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, you are indeed our strong tower, our rock of refuge, our place of peace. Walk closely with us, guiding our words and actions so that we too might bring peace and refuge and strength to a world in need of these things in their lives. Use us in the building of your kingdom. Amen.


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Humbly Walk

Reading: Proverbs 16

‭Proverbs 15:3 – “The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on evil and good people.”

In verses 28 we read that a righteous heart thinks before answering while the wicked heart blurts out evil. Our words really matter. The sage also shared that the sensitive answers turn back wrath while offensive words stir up anger. Similarly, patient people calm strife while hotheads stir up conflict. Our words affect others. Let our words be carefully considered.

When our words are wholesome, they bring others life. When we speak with wisdom we spread knowledge. But with unwholesome speech there is no knowledge. This kind of speech breaks the spirit – and the heart. Our words affect others. Let us speak words of truth and love, hope and wisdom.

If we are wise and careful with our words then we reveal a close walk with God. God loves those who pursue righteousness and whose words are pure (in alignment with God’s will and way.) God detests those who lay evil plans and who walk the path of wickedness. Speaking of the consequences the sage writes, “God snatched the arrogant one’s house” while watching over and preserving the widow’s home… May our actions and words be pure.

The sages also touch on the “why” concerning the pursuit of righteousness. We’re reminded that having “a little” while fearing the Lord is better than “great reward” with turmoil. We’re reminded that to “eat greens” surrounded by love is far better than “a plump calf” surrounded by hate. There is much to be said for peace, contentment, simple joys. Today’s readings closes with this gem: “The fear of the Lord is wise instruction, and humility comes with respect.” May we humbly Walk before the Lord who is worthy of our respect and of our love and of our obedience. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, as our words really matter, guide our words. Help us to speak words that build up, that encourage, that spread love and life and faith. Fill our hearts, Lord, with your presence, for there we find joy, hope, love, contentment, and peace. Yes, God, may it be so. Amen.


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Right Living

Readings: Proverbs 12 and 13

‭Proverbs 13:13 – “Trouble will come on those who despise a word, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.”

One theme that we see in today’s readings is the value of being willing to listen to God. Fools tend to think that their way is the right way but the wise are willing and open to advice. A wise son (or daughter) listens while mockers do not. Parents who love their children discipline them. Those who withhold discipline “hate their children.” When we choose to listen to and to follow God’s will and ways, we grow in both wisdom and in our faith.

We also grow in God’s favor. This is a second theme that we see today. God favors the good but condemns the wicked. The way of the righteous leads to life. The detestable path of the wicked leads to death. As the righteous walk this good path, they rejoice in the light. The lamp of the wicked will go out, leaving them in darkness. May our light shine for all to see.

This theme of right living is also revealed in how we impact or affect others. The plans of the righteous are just and their words are full of truth. This gives good guidance to their neighbors. The wicked deceive, leaving neighbors to wander. There’s a personal application too. Righteousness guards our words and our lives. Wickedness only misleads. Actions matter too. The prudent act intelligently but fools display stupidity. Walk with the wise and become wiser. Befriend fools and invite trouble.

We also find some practical advice in today’s readings. If one works the land, they will have plenty to eat. Empty pursuits yield nothing good. The lazy have strong desires but get nothing. The diligent are satisfied. Not wealthy, but satisfied, content, blessed. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, in all we do and say and think, may we honor you and bring you the glory. In all that we seek, work, and strive for, may we consider first your will and your way. In our interactions and encounters, may our lives be a witness to your design and purposes for our lives and for our world. Amen.


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Faithful Love Forever

Readings: Psalms 131-136

‭Psalm 135:14 – “The LORD gives justice to his people and has compassion on those who serve him.”

We begin with Psalm 131, a song of humility. The psalmist isn’t proud or conceited, doesn’t stray from his or her lane. There is contentment in God’s presence. So, “Israel, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 132 speaks of why they can and should. God dwells in the temple and God made a covenant with David. The promise was to have a Davidic king on the throne forever – if they’re faithful. God’s presence provides food, salvation, and protection. The faithful one will shine.

Psalm 133 speaks of unity: “how good and pleasing it is.” Living in unity brings blessings and leads to eternal life, two gifts of God. Psalm 134 gives a pattern of response: lift your hands, bless the Lord! Praise the maker of heaven and earth! Psalms 135 and 136 develop this theme.

Psalms 135 and 136 are very similar. Both call for praising the Lord. Both recall acts that show God’s wonder, power, and might in nature and in Israel’s history. Psalm 135 reminds us that idols are “just gold and silver.” How we still need that reminder. Wealth, in whatever form we chase, is “just gold and silver.” Psalm 136 repeats the line, “God’s faithful love lasts forever,” 26 times. It is the repeated response to all that God has done and to all that God is. May it be our response as well!

Prayer: Lord God, lead us to walk humbly today with you and with all that we encounter. Guide us to live as light, as ones anointed in your love. Remind us too of all the ways that you have compassion on us, your children. And use us today to reveal your faithful love to all of creation. Amen.


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Wait for the Lord…

Readings: Psalms 128-130

‭Psalm 130:6 – “My whole being waits for my Lord — more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!”

Today’s three Psalms form the rest of the “Songs of Ascent.” Now, that’s not to say that Psalm 17 or Psalm 136 couldn’t be sung on one’s way up to Jerusalem. This is so because just like yesterday’s Psalms 120-127 and just like almost any “set” of Psalms, within these three we find cries to God, oppression by the wicked, trust in God to act, and praises for God’s blessings and presence.

Psalm 128 equated being faithful and working hard to having a truly happy life. It offers blessings for a fruitful wife who produces many children, who are like “freshly planted olive trees.” It closes with a hope to “see your grandchildren” – to experience long life, another sign of God’s blessing.

The psalmist cries out for relief in Psalm 129. The enemy has “plowed my back like farmers.” This implies being scourged. Yet God rescued the writer. He or she prays the enemy would be like “grass on the roof” – that they’d experience a very short life because they are evil.

Today’s reading closes with Psalm 130. It is part cry for help, part recognition of God’s great mercy, part encouragement to “wait for the Lord!” The psalmist is in need of forgiveness. They cry out for mercy. They are grateful that “forgiveness is in you” and they acknowledge that without God’s mercy, no one would make it. So they wait eagerly, “More than the night watch waits for morning!” The repetition emphasizes their desperation. The Psalm closes by encouraging Israel to also wait for the Lord. May we do so as well.

Prayer: Lord God, you are so good to us. Your mercy never ends, your grace abounds, your love never fails. You are our guide and our strength, our shield and our defender, our gracious redeemer and our sure hope. Thank you, O Lord our God! Amen.