OT: Song of Solomon, Chapter 4

Song of Solomon 4:1-15

4:1-5 In chapter four, the male speaks to the Shulamite. He finds her to be beauty. God sees you as beautiful also. Your righteous acts and faithful relationship with Him are just part of the reason why He loves you so completely.

4:6-11 The male calls the woman his family, his spouse. When we are loyally committed to God, He is our spiritual husband. Our partner in eternal life.

4:12-15 Be a "garden enclosed", that is: loyal to God. For when we are loyal to God, no "serpents" can enter our life or heart. We have the provision and protection from God which enable us to live quite differently than the secular world. When we are loyal to God and His scripture, we become like a garden... lush with blessing and wisdom and the colorful joys of life. The Living Water flows through our garden.

4:16 Naturally, the Shulamite was excited to be reunited with her beloved, to be within his garden. A faithful child of God is also excited to be with God and within His glorious kingdom.

OT: Song of Solomon, Chapter 3

Song of Solomon 3:1-11

3:1-3 As the Shulamite was separated by society from her love, so are we sometimes distracted by the secular world from our love: God. But like her, we must steadfastly search, with out whole heart, for God. We must work and want to maintain our relationship with Him.

3:4 When she found him, she kept him close and brought him to her family to solidify their relationship. We must hold onto our relationship with God and allow it to permeate through out entire lives.

3:5 Of course we have a relationship with God and Jesus through the Holy Spirit here on earth, but upon the second advent, our relationship will be even more tangible. The Shulamite reminds us to be patient and obedient during the intermission. 

3:6-11 Solomon offered the Shulamite everything the world could offer but none of it compared to her relationship with the humble man. Likewise the secular world might often tempting or shiny or many things but an authentic relationship is permanent and valuable beyond any of those temporary things. And a relationship with God offers better blessings than money can buy.

OT: Song of Solomon, Chapter 2

Song of Solomon 2:1-17

2:1-2 The Shulamite woman continued to feel very different from the ladies of society.

2:3 Her beloved was different also, his love was natural and sweet. Their time together was simple and humble.

2:4-7 He was kind and gentle and supportive to her. The Shulamite's request for her love not to be stirred up or awakened is a reference to waiting patiently for Jesus' return.

2:8-14 The Shulamite awaits the voice of her beloved, to call her into a time of light and harvest. We also wait for the voice of God to call us forth into the next stage of His eternal plans.

2:15 As she grew up in the wilderness, she understood the importance of "catching out" the deceivers and the destroyers.

2:16 We belong to our Shepherd Jesus and He has proclaimed Himself ours.

2:17 Spirit and secular world remain separate until the Day of the Lord breaks.

OT: Song of Solomon, Chapter 1

Song of Solomon 1:1-17

The book of Song of Solomon is a metaphor of the love between Jesus and children of God.

1:1-4 A young women speaks of her first true love and how it is sweeter than anything else she has experienced. She is in love with a good and humble man, and serves as a metaphor of our love for Jesus. However, this girl's brothers did not understand her relationship, and wanted to separate her from this man. They wanted to remove her from the family land, where she worked as a shepherd, and place her somewhere she could not interact with the young man. 

But this young woman captured the attention of the king, and he brought her into his household. 

1:5-6 The young woman (called the Shulamite) felt very different from the women in the king's household. She was more like a wildflower, different, unique because she was not born in society. She was tanned and lovely from working in the sun all of her life.

1:7 She longed to join the young man she had fallen in love with.

1:8-10 The king was enthralled by her, he compared her beauty to his chariots of war.

1:11-16 The king planned to array her in his finest ornaments.

1:16 Despite the attention of the king, the Shulamite woman only wanted her first love.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

12:1 A lifelong relationship with God allows us to steadily build into it strength and complexity. As we grow older and life becomes more nuanced, we are able to rely on the strong foundation we have built. Our relationship with God should be built and nourished in our youth and in the light, so that as we get older and go through darkness, we have him as our source of life and light.

12:2-5 It is more prudent to seek God early than late; for if we have God, we never found ourselves to be in a desolate place or desperate situation. When we love God, we allow Him to lead, protect and provide for us through any shadows.

12:7-8 The most important thing we can do is to know and love and follow God before we leave earth. It makes such a difference to arrive at the kingdom of God as a declared child. 

12:9-12 To live productively is to seek wisdom and truth, all of which is found in God's word and in the act of loving Him and others. The wisdom of God secures our foundation in life.

12:13 Solomon sums up the entire book of Ecclesiastes and life with his next piece of advice: Fear/revere God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11

Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

11:1-2 To live as a righteous child of God is to be an example of His word (philosophy) in the world. Generous, compassionate behavior serves the world the "bread" of life, that is, the wisdom of living accordance with God's will. The world is in desperate need of righteous, generous, compassionate people.

11:3-4 We are encouraged to live productively. God has build each of us with gifts and has also built opportunity in our lives for those gifts to impact the world. 

11:5-6 There is so much about life that we do not understand, but we know enough to put good things into motion. We know enough to use our lives for important work. We do not always understand the full scope but God promises us that to live each day righteously is contribute importantly to that big picture.

11:7-8 Seasons of darkness and light in our life serve as catalysts for personal growth and increase in strength, depth in relationship with God. 

11:9-10 Live and enjoy life but never forget that God is present in each moment. Each action is seen and judged by Him. He is merciful and compassionate but also disciplines His children as He expects us to live righteously... and not according to our own desires (which can cause us to be selfish and subsequently corrupt). 

Solomon tells us to enjoy our youth knowing that we will not retain it on earth, and it would be vain to live as though we can. Growth in character is even more important than youth of the body. We are here for a purpose, a reason, a mission and we should be be distracted from that by vain and temporary things.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 10

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

10:1 Wholehearted effort is necessary for any genuine endeavor. We cannot commit to the word of God and still participate in behavior that He has rejected.

10:2 A wise person's heart is aligned with their righteous behavior. They endeavor to do good but they also foster the processes of personal betterment within themselves.

10:3 Foolish behavior is apparent to everyone around them.

10:4 If you stand for a good cause, no matter what power is against you, stand firm.

10:5-7 Solomon observed the chaos that ensues when a powerful person is low in wisdom.

10:8-10 Corrupt actions brings corruption back upon a person. However, living with the wisdom taught by God causes one to live with success.

10:11-15 Gossip and deception and slander are destructive, cruel and unproductive. 

10:16-19 A nation is woeful when its leader is foolish, lazy and corrupt. As children of God, we have Him as our noble king. He is our wise leader and strong defender.

10:20 We should be wise about the expression of our opinions. It is prudent only to speak in productive manners which inspire change rather than own destruction.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9

Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

9:1-2 The nature of life is the same for everyone, but the people who submit themselves to God's will are safe within His hands. To live in accordance with God's will is to claim His promises of protection and provision, strength and other blessings. God provides the blessings that change and/or help us to the good outcome of impossible situations. 

9:3-4 Life on earth culminates in death for every person, but children of God have the hope of eternal life. It truly makes a difference in life to have an eternal perspective; our God has a master plan, complex and deep and wide. A humble life lived in submission to God's will is better than a wicked life, lived as a powerful leader.

9:5-6 Life is a beautiful thing to retain, but the wicked do not retain it. They no longer learn and seek and inquire, they no longer have reward or enjoyment, even their memory is erased. Their relationships and friendships and partnerships perish. Life is an inheritance for the righteous. All of the precious aspects of life are continued for the people who live with compassion and justice.

9:7-8 There is added enjoyment in life to live in a way that is acceptable to God. We are blessed as we live and please Him with our good works. We are provided for and protected by our Father. 

9:9 Solomon advised that one should live joyfully with their spouse. To love them throughout life. Love is the method of life that God encourages and Jesus exemplified.

9:10 It is beneficial to the condition of our spirit to do things with our whole-heart and attention and effort. Right now, this life, is our opportunity to make a meaningful impact. 

9:11 There is no perfect formula for life which causes what we want to happen to happen. We do not have enough wisdom or power to avoid or ensure certain situations. Scripture, however, has enabled us to have access to blessings of strength and provision that only God is able to provide. Therefore even we are not swift or strong or wise enough, we still have incredible opportunity in life.

9:12 We have limited time here; Solomon wanted us to understand how precious this time is... how important it is to listen and learn from God and live righteously here while we have the chance.

9:13-18 Solomon made several profound realizations: wisdom is more powerful than brute strength. He also noted that humanity did not value quiet wisdom. Instead, humanity celebrates power, even though it often leads to folly and destruction and oppression. 

If you wish to be valued, cultivate a relationship with God. Humanity may not appreciate the humble or quietly wise but God deeply loves His children, His patient, conscientious students who are learning about life and what to value directly from Him.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8

Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

8:1 Wisdom is a light in a person. The willingness to learn and the inspiration of curiosity sparks life in the mind and the heart. Wisdom brings clarity and illumination to a situation. 

8:2-3 Therefore listen to and retain the instruction given from God. Make an oath to follow His commandments and remain near to Him; to stand for righteousness is to be secure and productive.

8:4 God is our king and His power is mighty enough not to be challenged by any man.

8:5 Living under the commandments of God ensures that we navigate away from harmful situations. We receive the wisdom from God to discern what the righteous choice or reaction is.

8:6 God is present in the details and has a plan for them; though for us, unknown moments and situations cause misery. 

8:7 Humans find the unknown very distressing; for peace, we must rely on the will of God.

8:8 We have little control in our lives, we certainly have no say in life or death, but when we commit ourselves to God, His power retains us in life and peace.

8:9 God will never abuse His authority but sometimes men do. Solomon observed that not all leadership is beneficial to the leader or the led.

8:10-13 Sometimes the world does not learn from evil done by certain humans; and sometimes the wicked do not, on earth, face judgement for the cruelty. But God remembers everything and holds each person accountable for their actions.

8:14 Solomon observed injustice on the earth, and without God, life would be quite meaningless because of it. We need Him to establish order and balance.

8:15 It seemed to Solomon that the only purpose a person could find in life was to try to enjoy it the best that they could. However, with God, life becomes much deeper and sweeter. Through God we are given purpose and love and hope.

8:16-17 A human cannot exist on the same intellectual level as God. We have to accept His wisdom and creation to the best of our ability; that is to follow His instruction and find the beauty of life in Him.

OT: The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1-29

7:1 Strive for and value an honorable, respectful reputation. There are a lot of luxurious things we could strive for in life but spiritual fulfillment comes from a righteous lifestyle.

In Philippians 1:23 Paul confessed that he wished to depart from earth to be with Christ, but understood how important it was that he was alive on earth preaching the gospel. He valued his time and his purpose here; in this second verse of chapter 7, a similar mindset is implied. The day of one's return to Christ is a greater celebration even than birth here, which is a celebration indeed.

7:2 We learn more through humility and moderation than we do from popularity and feasting. The quality of our character suffers if we are ignorant of reality, we become arrogant and detached. 

7:3-4 Sorrow can teach us very much about what to value and how to obtain happiness; through a relationship with God, often commenced in a time of sadness, helps us to achieve true peace and joy in our hearts. A wise person mourns because they are aware of disparity and hardship but a fool rejoices in ignorance. 

7:5-7 Constructive criticism is better than flattery. A wise person loses their wisdom when they use their abilities to oppress others; and a deceitful act debases the quality of one's heart. 

7:8 We can find peace, if not joy, in the end of a thing if we have submitted our lives to God's will. He decides what should be in our lives and until when, though His reasoning is not always clear (usually it eventually becomes evident).

It is better to be patient than proud. Humility will reward itself in its own time, though circumstances can sometimes cause one to believe they must boast themselves.

7:9 Do not resort to anger, anger is the device of the foolish. We cannot communicate ourselves or our point from such a distracted, chaotic state. 

7:10 Move forward, as Paul advised in Philippians 3:13-14:

... but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Lingering on the past prevents us from learning, growing, changing and fulfilling new purpose.

7:11-12 Righteous wisdom inherits eternal life from God: compassion, discernment, justice... these are elements of wisdom that God hopes we we will learn and cultivate throughout our lives. Divine wisdom becomes our defense while the rest of the world relies on money.

7:13-14 Consider the work of God in your life, throughout life... everything He has done has order and purpose. Solomon encourages us to enjoy the prosperous blessings of God but also to learn from times of adversity. Adversity teaches us to level up in character and trust in God.

7:15 Solomon had seen much. He saw righteous men die and wicked men prolong their life. But life on earth is temporary for everyone. Eternal life comes after this one... and the righteous man who died seemingly too soon, would live forever, while the elder wicked man would be done living for good. Our character, our behavior, our beliefs here on earth matter now and beyond on our present circumstances.

7:16-18 Live with moderation. It would be foolish to act overly righteous and wise; remember always that you and others are imperfect. We always have something else to learn, something else to improve. To believe oneself overly righteous would cause one to be self-righteous, haughty, and a bother to everyone around. 

And though you keep in mind that you are imperfect, do not use it as an excuse to behave evilly. Do not die spiritually while living on earth by behaving unjustly. Solomon's advise to us on how to balance our behavior is the revere God, to listen to Him and be receptive to His instruction and sometimes discipline. 

7:19 A wise person uses their wisdom to strengthen others, even inadvertently. A wise person does not strive to lord over others or to instruct them but to make them stronger. For God's wisdom makes us stronger and we are meant to proliferate blessings, to share them and allow God's love and blessings to abound among humanity.

7:20 An iteration of Romans 3:23... we all fall short of the glory of God. We must be humble enough to accept that truth and remember it when we are about to too-harshly or hastily judge another person. We can judge behavior... God has taught us right and wrong, but we cannot right off another person... it is God's job to serve as judge in that department. 

7:21-22 People vent and overreact and react badly because of misunderstandings or hormones or circumstances in their lives... we must not take it personally. True, sometimes people have good constructive criticism about our behavior and we should listen to that as well as God's instruction. But sometimes people just talk and they do not mean what they say or they have not put much thought or care into what they say. In times like those, we must remember that we are guilty of the same... and often we really care about the people we momentarily bashed.

7:23-26 Solomon sought wisdom and explored and contemplated and he felt the worst thing was for a person to be enslaved to sin and foolishness and futility. We are released into freedom when we live to please God. The chains of desire and shame and depression fall of when we commit our lives to the will and purposes of God.

7:27-29 Solomon sought many things but one thing he was sure he found was that God made humanity to be righteous. He intended us to be kind and fair and honest. The fact that our behavior is often opposite of that is something we need to correct while we are here.