On the Song, and On Our Focus - August 24, Readings: Song of Songs 5-6, Romans 13, Psalm 101:1–4, Proverbs 21:6–8

Links to Today's Readings

The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, or the Canticles, is one of the harder books of the Bible to interpret and understand. Frankly, I'm not sure how to do a devotional from the book, other than to say that it teaches us something pretty important about the marital relationship - that it is holy to God who created it. 

The fact is that the wording of the Song is so vivid, so sensual, that many through the years have taken to interpreting the Song as an allegory. For many of the rabbinic Jewish interpreters, the song was an illustration of the love between Israel and God. Many Christian interpreters have allegorized this Song to make it speak of Christ and the church. 

That is simply not what the text says and is an unfortunate misreading of the intent of the book. If we fail to understand the important message of the book, and the approach of the church toward sexual and moral matters is skewed. Too often, evangelical Christians have had negative attitudes toward sex - as if it is something dirty, shameful and ungodly. The Song reminds us that it was God who created us male and female and called his creation very good. Within the boundaries of marriage, sex is holy and sacred, a beautiful gift of God. It is only when God's intent for marriage - one man and one woman for life - is forgotten that sex becomes sinful. 

Having said that, there may not be a plethora of devotional material in this book - the Song needs to be chewed on and studied. But there is a devotional gem in Psalm 101:3 that I would call the reader's attention to today.

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. 

Might not be a bad verse to inscribe on our televisions, iPads and other electronic devices, right? David had no idea when he wrote that Psalm about the visual temptations that would assault us in the 21st Century. But even in his day there was plenty to turn his head and divert his mind from the things of God. And he was determined that he would not allow his mind and heart to be turned aside from their devotion to God and his glory.

Worthless. Vain. Empty. This speaks to those things that are of no eternal value. Something may be worthless and have great monetary value. It may be fun, beautiful, provide laughs, but it does not bring us toward God or cause us to love him more. David determined that such things would not be the focus of his mind and heart.

This is a tricky thing for us as believers. God has never minded that we would enjoy the world he created. In fact, he made it with beauty and laughter. God is not more pleased by somber, joyless saints who never smile. We can enjoy his world, but we must not love the world or the things that are in it. We cannot give our lives to the pursuit of earthly pleasure, worldly success, or live for the applause of man. Our citizenship is in heaven and our reward is there as well. We must love God and serve him fully.

And so, we must say with David, those things that are worthless, useless, that have no eternal value - they are not going to dominate our minds and hearts!

Lord, please help me to have my life dominated by you and by your glory and not by the pretty baubles of the world that tempt my eyes to turn from your beauty!