First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: The Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1

Today’s passage: Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1

Helpful thoughts:

  • In verses 1-7, the shepherd gives his own description of the beauty of his bride and his desire to be with her “until the day breathes and the shadows flee.”
    • Yes, in verse 2, the man is thrilled about the fact his love still has all her teeth!  This wouldn’t have been as common then as it is in our culture today.
  • In verse 8, the shepherd calls his bride away from the perils of the world and into the safety of his care.
  • In verses 9-16a, the shepherd’s description of his bride moves away from the visual (Verses 1-7) to the other senses.
  • Today’s passage ends with the Shulammite woman dreaming of the consummation of their relationship.
    • In verse 16b, after the shepherd expressed his desire for his bride, she gives her invitation.
    • In 5:1, he expresses his delight in having been with his wife.
    • In 5:2, their friends, or the writer, confirms the goodness of their desire and intimacy with one another.

Questions to consider:

  1. What do these verses: 3:1 and 5:2 remind us about these thoughts in chapter 4?  Did the events depicted in these verses actually happen?  What is the Shulammite woman recounting?
  2. The heart in the Bible does not merely refer to someone’s feelings, but to his/her inner self as a whole (His/her thinking, wanting, choosing).  What does it truly mean for this woman to have captivated the shepherd’s heart?  Then, what does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart (Mark 12:30)?  How would loving with all your heart be evidenced/exercised?
  3. If the garden metaphor in verses 9-16a illustrated the enjoyment of physical intimacy with the woman, what does it mean that she is a “garden locked” in verse 12?  What would be true of the Shulammite prior to marriage according to verse 12?  What would be true of her after the wedding according to verse 12?  To whom is she sealed (And therefore, he as well)?

Devotional: The Song of Solomon 3:1-11

Today’s passage: Song of Solomon 3:1-11

Helpful thoughts:

  • In today’s passage begins a series of dreams had by the Shulammite woman as she longs to be with her soon to be husband.
  • In verse 5, after relaying the first portion of the content of her dream (Which includes the consummation of their relationship – Verse 4), the Shulammite asks her friends to help her refrain from her desires until the time is right.
  • Verses 6-11 depict a royal wedding procession.  There are a couple of possible reasons why King Solomon is specifically named here, even though the day of his wedding is said to be in the past tense (Verse 11):
    • This could be the Shulammite calling her shepherd husband a “king” and seeing their marriage being just as significant and grand as a royal wedding.
    • This could be Solomon reminding the reader just how important the wedding day is, pointing to it’s significance for the couple and also those who know and love them.

Questions to consider:

  1. What does it mean to say, ‘Whom my soul loves?”  What kind of love is this that gives the Shulammite woman’s physical desires substance?  How can what we read her saying give evidence that her desire is not lust, but love?
  2. How does verse 5 further evidence that love?  What role can good Christian friends have in keeping each other pure?
  3. Why is the marriage celebration such a big event?  What all is being celebrated?  Therefore, (Depending on your role in society, the church, etc.) who all wants to be able to join in the celebration?

Devotional: The Song of Solomon 2:8-2:17

Today’s passage: Song of Solomon 2:8-2:17

Helpful thoughts:

  • The woman continues to long for the day she and her shepherd can be together.  She also depicts his actions and words which evidence he too is eager to be with his bride.
  • She speaks of various obstacles to their love.  There are things that need to be cared for, overcome, and protected in order for them to be able to come together.
  • Spring time is often depicted as the time for love.  With the spring weather, new life begins to emerge.  That new life is to be enjoyed and protected from outside dangers.

Questions to consider:

  1. What are some of the experiences of love that could be compared to the joy of taking in the beauty of spring?  What are these two young people doing as they eagerly await their special day?  In what ways can the “freshness of spring” in love be maintained and enjoyed throughout marriage?
  2. Why do those hungry foxes need catching?  What were they going to do in verse 15?  What are some “foxes” that can spoil the vineyard of love prior to and during marriage?  What are some ways that a man and woman can protect the integrity, purity and joy of their relationship?
  3. Knowing the connection to the picture of Christ and the church as his bride, what “foxes” can capture away our attention to our relationship with Him?  How can we protect and fertilize the vineyard of our relationship with Christ?

Devotional: The Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

Today’s passage: Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

Helpful thoughts:

  • The other title used for this book, “The Song of Songs” is taken from the first verse.  This was perhaps Solomon’s intended title.  Or, he was simply proclaiming that this was the best of songs (Similar language to “the king of kings”).
  • The content of this book has been interpreted as an allegory for the love of God for Israel or Christ and the Church.  While God did call Israel a bride and the Church is called the bride of Christ, this book doesn’t necessarily have to be speaking to these larger themes.  This book can simply be a biblical expression of love and romance between a husband and wife (The young shepherd and the Shulammite woman).
    • In a kingdom where the king (Solomon) had abandoned God’s purposes for marriage (Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines – 1 Kings 11:3), this song celebrates the love of one man and one woman.
    • This understanding of the content will encourage the reader toward faithfulness in the covenant relationship of marriage and seeing marriage and sexuality as gifts from God to be enjoyed within that marriage covenant (Hebrews 13:4).
  • In verse 4, the “banner” of love that is flown over the couple is a sign to the public they are betrothed to each other.  In verse 7, the woman acknowledges that her romantic desire for the man must wait (The descriptions in these verses were expressions of what she desired once they could be together).

Questions to consider:

  1. If the man in this song is a shepherd (And not King Solomon) then what is the Shulammite woman saying about her man in verses 4 and 12?  What does she think of the man she is to marry?  What is his worth in her eyes?
  2. How does the woman describe her own appearance (Verses 5-6)?  How does the man reply in verse 2 of chapter 2?  In what way does this sound like a common occurrence for a husband and wife?  And, how can this encourage husbands to have eyes only for their bride?
  3. How does true love between a man and woman result in waiting to consummate their relationship physically until the marriage day?  How can abstinence prior to marriage build trust and respect so that intimacy in marriage can be all the more enjoyed?

Devotional: 2 Timothy 4:19-22

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 4:19-22

Helpful thoughts:

  • Prisca and Aquila are the same as Priscilla and Aquila from Acts 18.
  • Paul wanted Timothy to arrive before winter if possible:
    • He was bringing his cloak! (Verse 13)
    • He was near death.
    • Travel at that time stopped in the winter due to safety concerns.
      • If Timothy didn’t make it before winter, he would be delayed much further.
  • Though Paul had been deserted by some (Verse 17), others had come (Verse 21).

Questions to consider:

  1. What does the fact that Trophimus remained ill tell us about the trending of the apostolic gifts near the end of the life of the Apostles?  Were miraculous healings to be expected all the time?  If someone is trying to use healing today to get us to listen to them, should that draw our attention or cause us to turn away?
  2. What must Paul have known if he is asking Timothy to hurry and also gave final instructions for ministry to him in this book?  Paul certainly hopes to see Timothy again, but does it look like he is certain he will?
  3. What important truth has stuck with you as you have read through the Apostle Paul’s final epistle?  What will you seek to apply?

Devotional: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Helpful thoughts:

  • Paul now begins the conclusion of the letter, which is full of information.
  • Paul maintained an eternal focus and was able to persevere through much suffering to the end.  Demas loved this present world and deserted the work.
  • With Demas and Mark we see an important contrast.
    • Demas started well, and looks to have finished poorly. (Colossians 4:14)
    • Mark started poorly, but finished well. (Acts 15:36-40)
      • Be encouraged to finish well!  Pray for others who are not presently serving the Lord to do the same.

Questions to consider:

  1. Even though Paul said he had “finished his race,” what did he still want Timothy to bring to him?  When should we “retire” from pursuing and serving the Lord?
  2. In what way was Paul to be finally “rescued?”  When a persecutors believes they have killed a Christian, what have they truly done?  Can a Christian ever lose?
  3. What role do we see relationships playing in Paul’s life and service of Christ?  Did he do things alone if he could help it?  What did he hope for other believers, even when they did wrong?  Who did he untrust to judge justly?  How would his life have pointed others to Christ?

Devotional: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Helpful thoughts:

  • Paul is writing this letter to Timothy knowing that he is about to die.
  • He compares his soon martyrdom as a drink offering, being poured out before the Lord as an act of worship (Genesis 35:14).
  • Paul had urged Timothy to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12), he had spoken of pressing on toward the goal (Philippians 3:14-16),  and the writer of Hebrews commands the reader to run the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2).  By God’s grace, Paul did these things.  Now, he was ready to see His Lord and Savior and receive his reward on “that day”.

Questions to consider:

  1. Is the “Crown of Righteousness” something special that only Paul will receive?  Who is this reward for?  Do you think this is a literal crown or do you think Paul is referring to being “crowned” with complete righteousness by God’s grace?  Or both?
  2. Why does it make absolute sense why Paul would be so excited to go to Heaven at this point?  What do you look forward to in Heaven?  How wonderful will it be to have no more sin, no more suffering, and to be with our Lord?
  3. What is the race that is still set before you before that day comes?  What is the purpose of our lives while we await or eternal rest and joy? (Philippians 1:21)

Devotional: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

  • If Timothy was wondering where the content of his sermons and teaching was supposed to come from, Paul made it very clear: Preach the Word!
    • This charge was not just from Paul, but in the presence of God the Father and God the Son, who is the rightful judge of all and coming again to rule as King.  What a responsibility!
    • This preaching is to consist of reproving, rebuking, and exhortation.
      • Reprove – To scrutinize or examine carefully, bring to light, expose, set forth.  To bring a person to the point of recognizing wrongdoing, convict, convince.
      • Rebuke – To express strong disapproval of someone…warn in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end.
      • Exhort – To urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage.
        • Definitions from the “Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature” – University of Chicago Press.
    • And this preaching is to be done with patience and with careful teaching.  Sanctification is progressive.  The faithful preaching of the Word over long periods of time is critical to the spiritual growth of the church.
  • In Timothy’s time, and in our day, and perhaps until Jesus comes again, there will be people who want to go to “church” but do not want to hear the whole counsel of the Word of God.  Their passions (There desires/wants) will result in the call of teachers/preachers who speak for the praise of man.
  • Verse 5 and verse 1 are like antitodes for the poison of the fear of man in preaching and teaching.

Questions to consider:

  1. To whom does the preacher and/or teacher of the Word ultimately answer for what is proclaimed to the church?  How does this help you to pray for your pastor(s) and teachers?
  2. Some people like to differentiate between churches that are evangelistic and churches that are more geared toward discipleship.  What does Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in verse 5 (“Do the work of an evangelist”) along with the rest of the commands in this passage say to the idea that a church could be either or?  If we are not evangelizing, are our people being rightly discipled?
  3. What is to be the result of preaching and teaching in the church?  What makes a sermon enjoyable?  What makes a sermon truly fruitful?  If a congregant continually enjoys the sermons but no fruit comes, what might be going wrong?

Devotional: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Helpful thoughts:

  • Suffering is part of being a Christian.  Levels of suffering surely vary in different times and different cultures.  But when a person lives for Jesus in this world, there will be some push back.
  • When we remember that persecution comes from those who are deceived and being deceived, it helps us to faithfully continue on in what we have learned and believe.
  • The Bible is God’s work, His word, His message to us.
    • From the ESV Study Bible: “Equipped for every good work – In a broad sense this includes everything that God calls a believer to do.  But, in a specific sense, this also supports the doctrine of the “sufficiency of Scripture,” that is, the idea that the truth contained in Scripture is sufficient in all matters pertaining to doctrine and moral behavior.”

Questions to consider:

  1. What role should the Bible have in the ministry of a pastor? In the life of any and every believer?
  2. What is the difference between the authority of God’s Word and the sufficiency of God’s Word?  Why are both doctrines so important?
  3. How can these doctrines give us assurance and confidence to obey the Lord when we know persecution might be at hand?  When the temptation to be quiet or to change our words comes in the face of rejection, how does the authority and the sufficiency of God’s Word spur us on to obedience?