Oh, how He loves us!

There are the physical ways in which we love each other.
Then there are the spiritual ways in which He loves us!

The Shulamite, the one the king chooses, is humble yet confident in who she is.
She's aware there's nothing that stands out about her, she knows she's not the type that turns heads when she walks in a room, but it doesn't matter. Her beauty is more than physical appearance. She compares herself to simple but beautiful flowers.

I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys.
(Song of Solomon 2:1 NKJV )

Sometimes we just feel ordinary...we know that realistically we're just not that stunning rose,
but more like that simple lily of the valley. That's ok, because we've been made a lily, created by our Creator and He loves us the way we are!

And the king knows those beautiful roses can have sharp thorns--he prefers the lily!
He affirms his love for her:

Among the young women, my darling is like a lily among thorns! (Song of Songs 2:2 NCV)

The Shulamite stood out to the king!
She is more than ecstatic that she has been asked to be his bride!

He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.
(Song of Solomon 2: 4 NKJV)

He brings her out for all to see! No hiding her behind closed doors!
He raises his banner of protection over her! He's protective of her!

And she enjoys being taken care of. Chivalry is not dead here!
His love is sweet to her!

Among the young men, my lover is like an apple tree in the woods! I enjoy sitting in his shadow; his fruit is sweet to my taste. (Song of Songs 2:3 NCV)

This Shulamite girl is love sick!
She is totally sold out head over heels in love with her beloved!

Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples,
For I am lovesick.
(Song of Solomon 2:5 NKJV)

That's the power of love. She understands the power of physical love...and she warns the other young girls around her....

Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready. (Song of Solomon 2:7 MSG)

The physical power of love outside of marriage can cause you to compromise your spiritual promise of love in your commitment to Christ!
There is a time to consummate their love..
There is a time to accept Gods love...

My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. (Song of Solomon 2:10 NKJV)

Accept Gods love and forgiveness and get away with Him!
Enjoy spending time with Him! Enjoy His love!

Sexual intimacy, within the bounds of marriage makes us feel secure!

My lover’s left hand is under my head, and his right arm holds me tight. (Song of Songs 2:6 NCV)

She is not foolish. She knows that when there are two people in love and committed to each other Satan will be on the prowl trying to get between them somehow!

Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden.
(Song of Solomon 2:15 MSG)

Guard your relationship with each other!
Guard your relationship with God!
Dont let those embers die out, keep your relationship burning, as when you were first in love... remember?

I hear my lover’s voice. Here he comes jumping across the mountains, skipping over the hills. (Song of Songs 2:8 NCV)

Remember the chase..the hunt? Women love to be pursued! And he pursues her!

My lover is like a gazelle or a young deer. Look, he stands behind our wall peeking through the windows, looking through the blinds.
(Song of Songs 2:9 NCV)

God hunts us! Do we want to be found?
Do we seek him?
He says to us;

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 HCSB)

All our heart? Does He have ALL our heart?
A relationship that will not commit to each other all the way is lacking!

God intends for us to have joy in marriage and also in our relationship with Him!
It is important to keep the intimacy in both relationships, spiritual and physical!

God calls all of us to come away with Him! He desires to start new with us!
If we've been wounded by unfaithfulness, crushed by divorce, devastated by loss...

My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.
For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. (Song of Solomon 2:10, 11 NKJV)

To smell the springtime again!
To trust again! To live again!

The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2:13 NIV)

If you listen you will hear it...
Do you hear that?

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. (Song of Solomon 2:12 NIV)

Yeah-it's singing!
The God of the universe sings over US!

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)

It's amazing to me that God gets excited over me! ME!
That He gets excited about spending time with me! Ok- I just can't get that!!

Get alone with your spouse this week!
Spend special time together! Just the two of you!
But don't neglect your time with God!
He rejoices over spending time with you!

“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” (Song of Solomon 2:14 NKJV)

Oh how He loves us!

Created 3 months ago