Archive for the ‘Song of Songs’ Category

Elul 5779 – Teshuvah Day 7 (9/7/19)

Posted: September 7, 2019 in Song of Songs, Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Songs 1:7, (To Her Beloved) “Tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?”

“O you whom I love” — this is her first act of returning (teshuvah). This is her confession of faith. I remember how Peter failed Jesus and denied Him 3 times.

  1. Luke 22:57 (TPT), “What are you talking about, girl? I don’t know him!”
  2. vs 58,  “I’m not one of his disciples.”
  3. vs 60,  “Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you understand? I don’t even know him.”

Now when the maiden begins to make faith confessions, it reminds me of the 3 faith confessions Peter made that wiped out each one of the denials and gave him a fresh start.

  1. John 21:15, (TPT) “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
  2. vs 16, Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you burn with love for me?” Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
  3. vs 17, Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of John, do you have great affection for me?” Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!” Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!

These choices Jesus used with me when I first was born again in 1982. Everyday for months, John 21:15-17 challenged me everyday. I knew that because this would not leave me, that I was going to have some serious times when I would be make some choices – like a fork in the road, which way to turn. I was led on a forty day fast later that first year. At the end I went into my bedroom and fell on my knees sobbing, “What have You to tell me?” I heard an audible voice “Feed My sheep.” Immediately my strength returned, my tears stopped and I had the call of God on my life to teach the flock. After that happened I had such a drive to study, dig deep into the Word like never before. I was never good in school, but now I was challenged to study and study.

“Where do you feed your flock?” , “Where will you feed me?” Watchman Nee shares, “Because of her need for nourishment she directs her attention now to where she can be fed…..” I remember in 1982 when I first received Jesus into my heart, I could not get enough of the Word of God. Ken and I spent hours each night after work around our dining room table with Bibles, Strong’s Concordance, Vines, notebooks and we were starved for all we could get. When we found a Bible teacher we moved to another state to be part of his church. We were like little birds with our mouth open, we were so hungry for the Word.

“Rest at noon”;  Proverbs 4:18, Path of the just is as a shining light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.” (AMPC- until it reaches its full strength and glory). Noon is the perfect day, when the Sun is at its hottest and brightest.

The only time sheep will rest is when they have a full stomach. Teachers can lead and inspire us, but only Jesus can really feed us. Ps 23:2, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” Where is the place my spirit will really be satisfied? Only in His presence.

I was watching Larry Huch’s 7th day of the 40 Days of Shofar this morning and he was sharing statistics of how few preachers will teach the Truth of the Word of God because they may offend some of their congregation and lose givers. Those people sitting in that Church will never be able to lie down and be satisfied, a place where their faith will be truly fed.

Matthew 5:6, (AMPC) “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!”

 

 

 

Elul 5779 – Teshuvah Day 6 (9/6/19)

Posted: September 5, 2019 in Song of Songs, Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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NOTE: Chapter One focuses on how God feels about us, even in our weakness and failures. She sees herself as a failure. God loves us because that is His nature to love unconditionally. We are now in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. God looks at the heart, our spirit, because He is Spirit. God sees us fulfilling our destiny.

Songs 1:6, “Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.

I think the Passion Translation puts this the best, “Please don’t stare in scorn because of my dark and sinful ways. My angry brothers quarreled with me and appointed me guardian of their ministry vineyards, yet I’ve not tended my vineyard within.”

The maiden is describing 5 failures and 5 pressures that relate to her crisis

  1. She feels shame because of her failure, mental state.
    1. This represents people, saved and unsaved, who are aware of their stains, their darkest secrets and failures (Who told you that you were naked? Gen 3:11)
    2. When you feel that way about yourself, you are always self conscious that people will find out your faults, secret sins (like a stain on your shirt you try to hide)
  2. She is rejected by her angry brothers
    1. Mother’s sons – those who are in authority over her
    2. She is rejected by the leadership of the Body of Christ
    3. They were angry at her zeal because it convicted them of their dullness – they accuse her of legalism, they prefer compromise
  3. She is being overworked keeping too many vineyards (plural)
    1. If the enemy cannot keep you away from Jesus, he will cause you to be too busy in the ministry
    2. Religious works are a burn-out waiting to happen because there is no connection with the Holy Spirit
  4. She has allowed her own vineyard (singular, her heart) to not be kept with fresh love for Jesus
    1. What she really wants is to be private with Jesus, receiving His love
    2. She has allowed weeds of spiritual coolness, sin and shame. This is the 3rd level of ground in Mark 4:19 and it is choking the Word
  5. She serves Jesus at a distance
    1. She wants to be near Jesus without a veil, doing what He is doing
    2. 1:7, she is veiled because in Eastern cultures when a woman works in public she has to veil herself around strangers
    3. Lepers had to wear veils and stay hidden, away from their loved ones, living with other lepers
    4. The veil comes off in private to those closest to her (family) and to her lover (intimacy)

Brothers, Mother’s sons – Mother represents the Church (Gal 4:19, 26; I Thes 2:6-7) In the Middle East sons represent authority.

Matthew Henry Commentary — They dealt very hardly with her: They made me the keeper of the vineyards, that is, First, “They seduced me to sin, drew me into false worships, to serve their gods, which was like dressing the vineyards, keeping the vine of Sodom; and they would not let me keep my own vineyard, serve my own God, and observe those pure worships which he gave me in charge, and which I do and ever will own for mine.’ These are grievances which good people complain most of in a time of persecution, that their consciences are forced, and that those who rule them with rigor say to their souls, Bow down, that we may go over, (Is 51:23) Or, Secondly, “They brought me into trouble, imposed that upon me which was toilsome, and burdensome, and very disgraceful.’ Keeping the vineyards was base servile work, and very laborious,(Is 61:5)  Her mother’s children made her the drudge of the family. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel. The spouse of Christ has met with a great deal of hard usage.

Verse 6 warns us that the maiden had only been doing what was entrusted to her, not what God had ordained for her. What God had ordained for her would have brought her joy and strength, where trying to please religion brought depression.

Selah

Elul 5779 – Teshuvah Day 4 (9/4/19)

Posted: September 4, 2019 in Song of Songs, Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Charles Finney quote on Song of Songs, “This book has wedded my heart to Jesus.”

As I see it, the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon, SOS) is all about coming back to the Lord and getting back into the Ministry of the Kingdom of God, running the race set before us. (Hebrews 12:2)

My personal observation from studying this book is that men really have the best understanding of this being the Church and Jesus. When Mike Bickle of IHOP, Kansas City was given the assignment of SOS for his ministry, he first thought this was a ‘girl’s book’. But now he sees “Repentance is breaking our agreement with darkness and agreeing with God in our thoughts, words and deeds.” You can find his teaching on http://www.mikebickle.org, search Song of Solomon and you will come to all his video teachings on this wonderful book.

George Whitfield read it through 4 times, the last time on his knees. Charles Spurgeon stated, “Every minister ought to read it entirely and carefully through at least once.” I really like the teachings of Watchman Nee on this book, as recorded and printed into Song of Songs, published 1965 by Christian Literature Crusade.

Sng 1:1, The Shulamite, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is better than wine.”

This verse is where many get whacky! They think that this book is all about sex. I watched Kerry Kirkwood on Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural” tell about how his mother would read him from the Song of Solomon every night as a bed time story. He did not get whacky! He understood from a young boy that this was about how much Jesus loves us, no matter what season of our faith walk we are experiencing.

Deuteronomy 8:3b, “…..that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” For 3,000 years the Rabbis would refer to this verse as the “kisses of the mouth” in the verse as the “kiss of the Torah”.  The kisses of His mouth speak of the release of the Word of God that tenderizes our hearts to the love of God. On the 8th Day of Tabernacles is called Shemini Atzeret. It is a day of great rejoicing, and in the synagogues, they will take the Torah scroll out of the Ark (scroll cabinet) and dance with it, men kissing the scroll. That is the love we should have for the Word of God.

Jesus told us to love God with all our heart, now we are asking God to allow us to love Jesus with all our heart, encountering Jesus the Word and the King’s passion for His Bride.

Kiss in Hebrew is nashaq, and it can mean to actually kiss on the lips. But I believe that the second meaning of nashaq is the correct understanding of Sng 1:2. It means to ‘handle, to be equipped with, equipped.”  The root word is nasaq, meaning ‘to kindle, burn, make a fire.’

For Adam, the kiss of God was the Breath of God that brought life to him. (Gen 2:7). The Word is that breath of God as found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, we ask you to equip each of us for what we need for this race that is set before us. You are the Living Word. Breath your life into us so we can fulfill our assignments in these last of the Last Days. Help us to run with Joy and Passion. Tenderize my hard heart and set me on Holy Ghost fire for you.”

Enjoy this song from Paul Wilbur, Dance With Me. https://youtu.be/7_4gJvDy2gU?t=7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elul 5779 – Teshuval Day 3 (9/3/19)

Posted: September 3, 2019 in Song of Songs, Teshuvah 40 Day Devotional
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Draw Me!

Shir Hashirim is the Hebrew name of the Song of Songs, aka Song of Solomon (Shlomo). It is the best of the best of all he wrote and according to I Kings 4:23, he wrote 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs.

He is most known for Solomon’s Temple which has 3 sections. The Outer Court, The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

  • Proverbs is likened to the Outer Court – everyone is comfortable there in the natural light
  • Ecclesiastes is likened to the Holy Place – you need more light to see and chew of the bread of the words
  • The Song of Songs is as the Holy of Holies where you are invited in, one at a time, on God’s fixed appointed time

The students of Watchman Nee kept his notes and put them into a book called the “The Song of Songs”. The students drew the differences of Ecclesiastes to Song of Songs

  • Ecclesiastes is an exposition of ‘vanity of vanities‘, whereas the Song of Solomon is the ‘song of songs‘
  • Ecclesiastes speaks of a life of wandering; whereas the Song speaks of rest from wandering
  • Ecclesiastes tells us that one cannot obtain satisfaction through knowledge alone;  Song tells us that man can reach satisfaction only through love
  • Ecclesiastes relates to the pursuit of all things under the sun; the Song specifically relates to the pursuit of things “in Christ”

All I can say is, when the Ruach HaChodesh, the Holy Spirit of God draws you into this holy book, your life will never be the same.

Until the summer of 2011 this was the most unused book of my Bible. Nothing was underlined, no notes added, pages still stuck together.  But, thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit drew me gently night by night into this book and I have never been the same. That book soon had notes, underlined, highlighted on every blank part of the pages. Once you have the revelation light turned on to the truths of how loved you are in this book, you are forever changed. It became very personal to me about how much Jesus loved me, how much beauty He saw in the Church.

BUT the next year I woke very early with the cry “Draw Me!”. We were coming into the summer of 2012 and again I am too busy, the little foxes have come in as the many distractions and obligations and my intimacy with by Beloved has been stolen again. It is my fault alone, the garden of my heart is my responsibility alone. Now my heart’s cry to Yeshua is “Draw me!” This became a cycle every year at this time to bring me back to the Song of Songs, the Holy of Holies of the Bible.

To get to the full meaning of the word you need to go to the original language source, in this case Hebrew. Draw is the Hebrew word mashak (Strongs H4900). It means to draw, to drag, to be drawn out or postponed or to seize.

The first time mashak is used is found in Genesis 37:28, “So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out (mashak) of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty piece of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt. ” (NLT)

What is my cry that morning and again now in 2019? “Jesus, Draw me! Please, lift me up from this pit of busyness and distractions I have dug again for myself. Draw me! I have lost hope and my faith is weak! Draw me! May all the walls I have built up for protection fall down flat. Those walls have closed off our intimacy! Draw me! I need You.”

That is where the true rest is found, only in Him. Is your cry today “Draw me?”

Selah, pause and think about it.

Draw Me!

Posted: May 13, 2012 in Song of Songs
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Shir Hashirim is the Hebrew name of the Song of Songs, aka Song of Solomon (Shlomo). It is the best of the best of all he wrote and according to I Kings 4:23, he wrote 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. He is most known for Solomon’s Temple which has 3 sections. The Outer Court, The Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Proverbs is likened to the Outer Court, Ecclesiastes is likened to the Holy Place, but The Song of Songs is as the Holy of Holies where you are invited in, one at a time, on God’s fixed appointed time. More on this later maybe.

All I can say is, when the Ruach HaChodesh, the Holy Spirit of God draws you into this holy book, your life will never be the same.

Until the summer of 2011 this was the most unused book of my Bible. Nothing was underlined, no notes added, pages still stuck together.  But, thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit drew me gently night by night into this book and I have never been the same.

This morning I woke very early with the cry “Draw Me!”. We are coming into the summer of 2012 and again I am too busy, the little foxes have come in as the many distractions and obligations and my intimacy with by Beloved has been stolen again. It is my fault alone, the garden of my heart is my responsibility alone. Now my heart’s cry to Yeshua is “Draw me!”

To get to the full meaning of the word you need to go to the original language source, in this case Hebrew. Draw is the Hebrew word mashak (Strongs H4900). It means to draw, to drag, to be drawn out or postponed or to seize.

The first time mashak is used is fournd in Genesis 37:28, “Midyanim who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Yosef (Joseph) out of the pit, and sold Yosef to the Yishme`elim for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Yosef into Mitzrayim.” (HNV)

Another time mashak is used is Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.” (Hope has been drawn out, prolonged to the point that it actually made the heart sick.)

Joshua 6:5 reads, “It shall be that when they make a long blast (mishak, mishak) with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the shofar, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him. ”

What is my cry this morning? “Yeshua, Draw me! Please, lift me up from this pit of busyness and distractions I have dug for my self. Draw me! I have lost hope and my faith is weak! Draw me! May all the walls I have built up for protection fall down flat. Those walls have closed off our intimacy! Draw me! I need You.”

That is where the true rest is found, only in Him. Is your cry today “Draw me?”

Selah, pause and think about it.

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