Episodes
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
"Mixtape: Selections in the Psalms – Psalm 13" Dec 22, 2019
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
Mixtape: Selections in the Psalms – Psalm 13
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
This passage begins with the woman coming up from the wilderness again, but this time she is not alone. The arms of her beloved are now wrapped around her, embracing and protecting his bride. A wedding ring reveals a man’s commitment to be united with his wife, and here, the bride desires to be the public “seal” of her husband (8:6a). She is his unique possession. Their love is stronger than death (8:6b). This is a powerful statement. All mankind fears death, but perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). We also hear from the brothers of the bride for the first time (vs. 8-9). They seemed concerned for the purity of their sister when she was younger. The bride ferociously reveals her chastity before marriage, which is also why she had previously adjured the daughters of Jerusalem to “not awaken love before its time” (vs. 4). Solomon and his bride waited and now they experience marital bliss together.
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
"Fifty Shades of Grace - Bliss & Grace Song of Solomon 6:13-8:4 Dec 08, 2019
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
The remaining verses in chapter six transition to an ancient and sacred dance the bride performs for her husband. She gazes upon Solomon and becomes aroused, which motivates her to perform this dance. The community wants to witness the beauty of the bride, but Solomon declares their request inappropriate as the dance is only for him and his lover. Chapter seven begins with Solomon alone with his bride. It is clear in the text that the only article of clothing the bride is wearing is her sandals. Solomon has an unobstructed view of the rest of her body. He begins to describe her. Unlike chapter four where Solomon begins with her head and moves down, here he begins with her feet and moves up. The Hebrew word for feet, pa’am, suggests her feet are already in graceful motion as the dance has begun. Solomon’s description not only compliments the body of the Shulammite, but also reflects her strength of character, which is also attractive to him. This couple has had problems in the past (5:2-6), but now they are in perfect harmony. Chapter seven ends with beautiful and reciprocal love as the husband and bride enjoy one another in marital bliss.
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
The bride has longed to be one with her love, Solomon. Solomon has also greatly desired his bride. Time has not allowed them the intimacy they both crave. They have labored for their chastity, but that will change now, as the springtime of their love has finally come. It is the day of their wedding (vs. 11), and Solomon arrives in the splendor of his kingly office. Those in attendance can smell the many pleasing aromas of the king as he made his approach. He is being carried upon a specially-made carriage for this occasion. Sixty mighty men surround Solomon—more than double the mighty men of his father, David (2 Samuel 28:13). The carriage was built with the finest materials the ancient world had to offer, the accessories and decor inlaid with skill and precision.Solomon’s entrance demonstrated the opulence of his stature and the excellency of his rule. The daughters of Jerusalem loved their king and were eager for him to experience the joy of his wedding.
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
"Fifty Shades of Grace - Pursuing & Grace Song of Solomon 3:1-5 Nov 03, 2019
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Chapter three begins with the Shulammite bride alone in the privacy of her bedroom. Some commentators view the next passage as a dream and some view it as a reality. Nevertheless, the point of the next five verses is evident. The bride deeply desires to be with the one she loves. She leaves the comforts of her house and ventures out into the dangers of the city at night to find Solomon. Keep in mind the city streets and squares at night were not the safest of places, especially for young women during this time. She is willing to risk her safety to find her love, and she will stop at nothing to pursue him. When she finds Solomon, she clings to him desperately. She then takes him back to the intimacy of her mother’s house. Of course there is a sexual connotation here, but that is not the point. She desires sex in the appropriate context, the context of marriage and family. Her mother’s house was the house were she was born. It is the house that is so closely connected to her and her past. Her desire is for her husband to truly be united to her, not just physically. This reminds us of God’s design and plan for marriage found in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” However, the time for their marital consummation is not yet, as love has not quite been awakened (3:5).
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Monday Oct 28, 2019
We now see the bride take her own advice. Solomon comes to her. She sees him on the other side of the wall and peering through the lattice to get her attention. He calls out to her. His words are sweet poetry that would melt the heart of any young maiden (vs. 10-13). His intention is clear. He wants her to come to him. The time is right he proclaims. “The spring is here and everything is in blossom and so should our love also bloom,” he says. He longs for her and he is ready for her. We know from chapter one that the bride shares the same desires to be with her groom. However, she answers him, “Not yet.” Her response is not a harsh rejection. She reminds him that she is his as he belongs to her (vs. 16).
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Monday Oct 21, 2019
The scene begins with a response from Solomon to his future bride, who is seeking out the one she loves in the heat of the day. Penned in this passage of Scripture are the words of these two future lovers to each other that paint a beautiful picture of intimacy within marriage. As this passage reveals, intimacy is far more than sexual desires or strong emotions. It is a deep longing for another individual that is rooted in a selfless desire to serve and to sacrifice for the good of another. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has devalued and degraded marriage and emphasized personal gain and contentment at all cost. Self is often at the center of our decisions, emotions, and actions. Combine this with the stain of sin that still dwells in us, and we are forced to admit that we tend to seek for intimacy outside of the means that God has graciously provided. God has uniquely designed marriage between a husband and a wife as an avenue for gracious intimacy that our souls desperately need.
Monday Oct 14, 2019
Monday Oct 14, 2019
Song of Solomon is part of the wisdom literature within the Old Testament. While many mistake it as a book, it is actually a song—and not just any song. The opening line of this song is a superlative that declares it to be the “song of songs.” We find examples of other superlatives throughout the Scripture, such as “holy of holies” and “King of kings” (Exodus 26:33; Revelation 19:16). These superlatives suggest something is the greatest of the great. In the case of this song we are about to study, it is the greatest song of any songs. Songs are poems written to be accompanied by music and because of this, a great deal of imagery and literary devices commonly associated with poetry should be expected as we move forward.
Monday Oct 07, 2019
"Fulfilled - He is Risen Matthew 28" October 06, 2019
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Our text begins quite symbolically with the dawn of a new day. This first day of the week would come to be known as the “Lord’s Day” where Christians would gather in the name of Jesus for the next two thousand years and counting (John 20:1; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10). This new day of worship is significant in at least two ways. First, death has always been an enemy to humanity. Second, there is incredible hope for the believer, not only for eternity, but also in this life now. It does not matter what trials or sufferings you face. What matters is that you know Jesus will bring you through them and you will be stronger on the other side. This is our hope in this life, as well as in eternity.
Monday Sep 30, 2019
"Fulfilled - "In Our Place " Matt 27:27-66 " Sep 29,2019
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Monday Sep 30, 2019
This text is the pinnacle of Matthew’s gospel. In fact, the crucifixion (and resurrection) of Jesus is the apex of the Bible and all of Human History. Jesus came to lay his life down in the place of guilty sinners. All of Matthew has been building to this point and the events found in this passage. Jesus demonstrates to us how His death satisfies the tension between God’s Holiness and steadfast love towards His sinful people. Jesus traded places with us to satisfy the debt that we owe but cannot pay. Everything that Jesus endured during these dark moments in history should have been given to us. But praise be to God that Jesus took our place!