Copyright Information

The information herein is copyright to Rev. John Franklin, and may be used only by permission. Contact: revfranklin@me.com

Monday, June 21, 2010

Lessons from Solomon: Happiness, Peace, and an Army with Banners


Do you ever wonder why you love? Do you ever wonder about the where's, the how's, and the deeper things of love and necessity? Have you stopped lately to ask the soul searching "why" questions in the arena of love and romance?

This past week, I had the great privilege of expositing the sixth chapter in the saga of the Song of Solomon. One of the magnificent and alluring aspects of this great play is the extolling of love and passion between Solomon and his Shulamite bride as Solomon recounts their life of engagement and marriage in his most excellent of songs.

Have you thought about how prolifically present mutual discovery and delight must have been within this marriage in order to produce this human reflection of divine passion and romance?

Consider that for a moment. Solomon and his Shulamite bride must have joined in such deep and abiding connection and communication at so many levels that it would consume the life of the ordinary reader. What we read is certainly the tip of the iceberg, the icing on the cake, if you would. It is the poetic reflection of life lived poetically.

In verse four of chapter six we find Solomon retelling a moment of intimate communication with his bride. Solomon describes in her what every man is wanting to see in the eyes of the woman he loves... happiness, peace, and the security of armies at peace!

"Que paso???" you might say. "Where do you see that, preacher?" Well the key lies within the meanings of the names of the cities Solomon sees when he looks at his bride. When he declares her beauty as Tirzah, he is declaring that happiness surrounds him as a the great city whose name means delight. When he ascribes to her the aspect of Jerusalem, he is proclaiming that through her, peace surrounds him as does the peace of the loveliest of cities; and when he compares her greatness to that of an army marching in full martial array, he is declaring that within her love is the security that kings find within great and confident armies in peacetime.

How long has it been since you looked into the eyes of love and found the happiness, peace, and security you desire?

If you try, you'll quickly learn that they aren't won without great sacrifice, and often great pain. They are not cheap, but require the heart, the mind, the soul, and the strength of man.

What would you give for love?

Do you know that God loves you?

Are you willing to walk the path of God, indeed of love, and allow His path to both depose from you every worthless thing and give to you the happiness, peace, and security He has planned for you?

May the Lord of love and life grant you these three in the eyes of your husband or your wife today!

This is my prayer for you.

In the peace of Christ,

Pastor John

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments with me! I look forward to hearing how God is moving and shaping your life even as He is mine!