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Prepare: Take a careful look at yourself. Ask God to help you see the beauty he has created in you.
Hymn of praise
This is an amazing description of the woman. It is a hymn of praise to her beauty, overflowing with love and emotion. It is also rich in metaphor, even if some of the metaphors don’t work too well in today’s cultural context.
Saying, for instance, that the woman has all her own teeth (6:6) or a prominent nose (7:4), might not be the most diplomatic choice of compliments today(!), but one cannot deny the evident delight that the man is taking here in his bride. And it is not just her physical beauty – it covers other attributes like her gracefulness (7:1) and charm (6:10).
Giving and receiving compliments
Giving compliments is something that most men are not too good at (speaking as one) – and we probably feel that a passage like this goes a bit over the top. But everyone needs to feel appreciated now and then – and not just for their Christian character! Try it sometime. (If you can get beyond the response ‘What do you want?’ you will be doing well!)
But what does God say in all this? He loves us too – in every aspect of our body, mind and character. We need to accept his appreciation, and realise that he delights in us.
Respond: Go back and redo (properly!) the Prepare section above. Then think about some of God’s attributes, and tell him how amazing he is.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-11-30
Hymn of praise
This is an amazing description of the woman. It is a hymn of praise to her beauty, overflowing with love and emotion. It is also rich in metaphor, even if some of the metaphors don’t work too well in today’s cultural context.
Saying, for instance, that the woman has all her own teeth (6:6) or a prominent nose (7:4), might not be the most diplomatic choice of compliments today(!), but one cannot deny the evident delight that the man is taking here in his bride. And it is not just her physical beauty – it covers other attributes like her gracefulness (7:1) and charm (6:10).
Giving and receiving compliments
Giving compliments is something that most men are not too good at (speaking as one) – and we probably feel that a passage like this goes a bit over the top. But everyone needs to feel appreciated now and then – and not just for their Christian character! Try it sometime. (If you can get beyond the response ‘What do you want?’ you will be doing well!)
But what does God say in all this? He loves us too – in every aspect of our body, mind and character. We need to accept his appreciation, and realise that he delights in us.
Respond: Go back and redo (properly!) the Prepare section above. Then think about some of God’s attributes, and tell him how amazing he is.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-11-30
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
