 |
|
| Volume 22 Number 12 December 2020 | Page 4 |
|
|
| Volume 22 Number 12 December 2020 | Page 4 |
Denny Petrillo
Song of Solomon 3:1-4 provides an interesting “dream story.” The story is plainly told, but the application of it can be difficult to grasp. It seems clear that the Shulamite, just a few days before her wedding to Solomon, was concerned about his devotion to her. Several nights came and went, but there was no sign of Solomon. His absence spoke volumes to her about his commitment. She decided to find him and had to go through some effort to do so. Finally, she succeeded in finding him and embraced him with all her strength. There are some valuable lessons that can be learned from this short little story.
First, it is logical that both the man and the woman will have some doubts and reservations before they “tie the knot.” Marriage is a big day, and arguably the second most important day of one’s life (the first would be to put on Christ in baptism). When a couple considers the permanency of this move (God binds them, Matthew 19:6, and the expectation is that the two will stay together for the rest of their lives), it can be quite intimidating. Yet, these thoughts are good and healthy. The man and the woman need to look long and hard into the decision they are about to make. They need to have a high level of assurance that “he is the one for me” and that “she is the one for me.”
Second, when there are doubts about the love and the commitment of the other, be proactive in getting it resolved. The Shulamite could have stubbornly said, “We’ll see how long it takes before he finally shows up!” Instead, she went out to find him. This was not an easy task for a country girl trying to navigate her way through a big city. However, her willingness to do this (even at night) showed her level of commitment. She just needed to learn about Solomon’s level of commitment. As couples approach their wedding day, they should have long talks with each other. This is the time to learn as much about the desires, goals, dreams and aspirations of the other as possible. It is, especially, the time to see each other’s level of commitment to God. The bottom line is that he or she will not be a good life-mate if there is not a true, genuine devotion to God.
Third, when doubts are removed, it is time to move on in love and in trust. It is not healthy for one to live day-to-day wondering about a partner’s commitment. When the Shulamite found Solomon, she hugged him and would not let him go. He was her choice, and she was comfortable with it. She also was comfortable with his level of commitment to her. In a short time, they were to be married.
Would Witnessing a
Miracle
Cause You to Obey?
Brian Kenyon
Sometimes when doing one-on-one evangelistic Bible studies, people will say, “If I saw miraculous powers, like you say happened in the first century, I would believe too!” At least two instances in the New Testament, however, show that not even miracles were enough to convince some people.
First, in Matthew 12:22-37, those who committed “blasphemy against the Spirit” knew about the unmistakable healing of a “demon-possessed” man who was “blind and mute.” While the “multitudes were amazed,” some Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus went on to tell them, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). Their hearts were too hard to accept the miracle as proof that Jesus was the Son of God!
Second, Jesus unmistakably raised Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, from the dead (John 11:1-44). Although many believed because of that miracle (John 11:44), some did not, even to the extent that they plotted how not only to kill Jesus (John 11:45-53) but also to kill Lazarus because he was living proof of why people should believe and obey Jesus (John 12:10-11). Again, the hearts of these Jesus-rejecters were so hard that not even His raising a man from the dead would convince them!
This is reminiscent of the discussion that took place between Abraham and the tormented rich man in Hades. The rich man asked Abraham to send the beggar to “my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” Abraham responded, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (Luke 16:27-29). The rich man continued, “No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent,” to which Abraham again replied, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:30-31).
What is the condition of our hearts today? The age of miracles has ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-13), so we will never see a true miracle as long as we live. However, we do have accurate, reliable, God-inspired testimony in the Bible that proves beyond rational doubt Jesus is the Son of God. Further, the Bible teaches what accountable humans beings must do to be saved from their sins. Obey God’s Word today!