DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 15 June 2023
TOPIC: Appreciate God
TEXT: Song of Solomon 4:1-7 (KJV)
4 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
5 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
KEY VERSE:
“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”
(Song of Solomon 4:7)
DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 15 June 2023 MESSAGE
According to C.S. Lewis, “We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed”. Yes, it is true that we praise what we love and love what we praise.
Solomon says a lot of good things about the Shulamite in the passage today. He surveys her beauty and contemplates her person with intense delight. He describes her physical appearance in glowing terms and states with delight the joy he looks forward to in their union and fellowship. He summarises his impressions by declaring her flawless. He sees her as beautiful without any blemish.
What Solomon said about the Shulamite is not out of place for lovers. We ought to say more about our Lord, the Lover of our souls.
The Bible says God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son for our sins. We ought then to show our love to the Lord also by showering Him with praises and adoration. David was outstanding in this good art of appreciating God. He wrote much psalms to demonstrate his love for the Almighty and his appreciation of divine providence.
Paul and Silas appreciated God despite their predicament. On a night when most people would be sad and seriously look for someone to blame for being locked up in prison in the city of Philippi, they started to pray and sing praises to God instead. They found the Lord good, gracious and beautiful for all situations. We cannot do less today as we declare His goodness and mercy in this dark world of sin.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Praising God must be our daily preoccupation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Samuel 23-24
