Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Song of Solomon 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve worked with youth for years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard middle schoolers talk about their girlfriends or boyfriends.

It is tough not to lecture them each time they say that on why they shouldn’t even think about that sort of thing at their age.

Our culture encourages romance from the moment kids can talk.

It robs kids of all the friendships and fun they could have if they were just content to be kids.

I’ll step down off my soap box now and bring this more into context.

The young woman in this book shows her faithfulness to her “lover” by not giving in to Solomon’s desires to add her to his harem.

In the context of this culture, her relationship was probably prearranged by her parents. If that was the case,

she not only honors her lover but also her parents and her culture by staying faithful.

I see today’s highlight verse as a plea for help from the women of Jerusalem to keep her and all the other young women faithful.

What are you doing to stay faithful to the one to whom you are pledged or will be pledged?
How can you help others around you stay faithful?