In last week’s lesson, focusing on Song of Solomon 4:12, we discovered that that there is ALWAYS someone who cares about your most private thoughts and feelings. There is One who ALWAYS shares your most secret concerns. He sees you as His “secret garden”, a place where intimate thoughts and ideas can be aired, just between he two of you! Now let’s take a look at what kinds of gifts God gives to those He loves intimately:
“You remind me of Pharaoh’s well-groomed and satiny mares. Pendant earrings line the elegance of your cheeks; strands of jewels illumine the curve of your throat. I’m making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry that will mark and accent your beauty.” (Song 1:9-11 from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Just like Pharaoh’s well-groomed and satiny mares? Hum. Does that sound complimentary to you? It didn’t to me, so I went to the Bible commentaries to see what they had to say about being compared to a mare: “Mares, in preference to horses, were used both for riding and for chariots in the East. They are much swifter, endure more hardship, and will go longer without food, than either the stallion or the gelding. There is perhaps no brute creature in the world so beautiful as a fine well-bred horse or mare.” (Adam Clarke Commentary, from Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft) If you read on, you will see that comparing beautiful women to mares was also a common thing in ancient literature.
Okay, that’s beginning to sound a bit more complimentary! And indeed, this is how God sees you: as more precious and beautiful than anything else on Earth! And because He finds you this way, He gives you gifts: “I’m making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry that will mark and accent your beauty.” (Song 1:11 THE MESSAGE)
But wait a minute. Have you ever received a necklace from God? What about a pair of earrings? No? I suppose I never have either! So if it isn’t literal jewelry He gives, then what kind is it?
Let’s see what the Bible has to say about gifts.
First of all, Jesus mentioned a gift – the Holy Spirit (See Acts 2:17).
Next, Paul describes gifts of God: “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives . . . Things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” (Gal. 5:22-23 from THE MESSAGE)
But all of this isn’t enough for God. He also promises other spiritual gifts: “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: . . . Wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.” (1 Cor 12:7-10 from THE MESSAGE)
Wow! That’s better than a diamond ring, isn’t it?
But God STILL isn’t through giving out His gifts. He IS preparing literal jewels as well, in the form of a crown: A crown of life (James 1:12); a crown of righteousness (1 Tim 4:8); a crown that will last forever (1 Cor. 9:25)!
Enough to ponder for today. Please DO ponder this though, my friends. Ponder the truth that God prepares beautiful gifts for His children, gifts that will accent and enhance your beauty in His eyes. And these gifts are yours for the taking, just by entering into a relationship with Him! Why? Because God loves you THAT much! Please join us next Saturday for Lessons on Relationships From Solomon, Lesson 11!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .
(To access the entire “Lessons on Relationship From Solomon” mini-series, please click here.)