1+2Sam, 1Chr, Prov, Eccl, & Song

Our wonderful speaker this week was Graziela Estanislau. Let it be an example to you of how David always went to God first to weep or grieve. The Bible can be so practical. Sometimes David might understand exactly what you’re going through that day. Jonothan, Saul’s son, showed a lot of similar characteristics to Ruth in the sense that he was loyal to David just as she was to Naomi. Some people may believe a lie that David had feelings for Jonothan and that homosexuality is okay in the church but this is very false for David had many wives. Hence, he says (2 Sam 1:26) that his love for Jonothan surpassed his love for women because he never had that strong connection with a woman but had a strong friendship with Jonothan even though David was very straight. The love came from loyalty, not lust. David refers to him as a brother.

God puts godly leaders in your life for their words to have authority over you. Israel was blind and wanted to be like everyone else. How often are we blinded by worldly things and wanting to be like everyone else? I pray you won’t ever go out and plan to sin. Please don’t get yourself in the mindset like the Israelites who wanted a king so they got one. How often do you think I want it, so I got it? Let’s not think like Ariana Grande in “7 Rings”. We need to learn self-control. (Eccl 11:9-10) The Bible says we can run wild in our youth but know that we will be judged for our choices. Saying “He is the King of my heart” means you won’t do it in your way or on your strength. Would you choose the better-looking king who was like everyone else or would you set yourself apart like God calls you to and allow the Lord to rule over you? (1 Sam 10:17-19) Check yourself. Do you care more about the appearance of something or what’s on the inside?

Sometimes in life, things try and creep in but the question is how do you react to those feelings? (1 Sam 18:6-11) Saul felt jealousy and let it take control of him. David was the first guy forgiven despite any sacrifice for God beforehand. Don’t let knowledge be more important than your relationship with the Holy Spirit of God. I can be obedient today but it doesn’t matter if I’m not also obedient tomorrow. If you ask me what my greatest fear is. The Lord. He can do what He wants. He is all-powerful, but I thank God every morning that He is merciful to me and loving. (1 John 4:18) Fear; is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger and accompanied by increased autonomic activity…says Google. The only healthy fear the Bible says is fear of the Lord out of reverence and honor rather than being scared of Him. Now what we are meant to have in the case of danger is discernment not fear. Discernment is the ability to judge well.

Wisdom literature in the Bible is found in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. These books are not a formula for success. They aren’t promises. Song of Songs and Job should not be taken out of context. What God says is wise is written in (Proverbs 30:24-28). Proverbs is the skill of living wisely or foolishly. ‘Fearfully made’ means with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and respect (Psalms 134:14). Don’t compromise yourself as Solomon did (1 King 11:1-3). Jealousy is a resentful suspicion or envy. It’s covetous and distrustful. This is in Google terms, but I would not want this in a relationship. In the Bible God is described as a jealous God, but what does that mean? The Hebrew and Greek word for jealous is qinah or zelos which translates to ardor, zeal, and passion. This is God’s devotion to us and that seems more appealing than resentment.

Proverbs 8; Lady Wisdom some scholars might say is the Holy Spirit as a woman perceived as a comforter. Proverbs 31; the ideal Christian woman. The definition of a proverb is a short, well-known essential saying, stating a general truth or piece of advice. The foundation of wisdom is fear of the Lord. LORD [YHWH] means covenant and this is the name referred to in all of Proverbs. Do you have pride? Check the motivation of your heart. What might you tell an atheist? Whether you believe it or not, He is still real. His realness doesn’t rely on your belief. The New Testament quotes Proverbs 14x directly.

Song of Songs was a serious issue for the beginning churches because it’s very sexual but it is meant to be a gift to us. A man and wife are meant to lay naked with one another and NOT be ashamed. (Gen 2:24-25) Sex is meant to be a sanctification between man and wife. To make Holy and set apart as one. God created us so He knows what arouses us. God put parts in our body that are meant purely for pleasure but this is not for you to mess with. “My body my rules” is the most ungodly thing to say. It’s false! Your body is a temple (1 Cor 6:19). DON’T FEED THAT MONSTER! Who do you go to to get advice on relationships? Do you see the fruits of their godly relationship? Are they in a relationship?

Just remember to do all that you do for the glory of the Lord. What do you watch? What do you listen to? Your body is meant to connect so perfectly with the opposite sex. To do something as miraculous as to make a child. No need to hold back within the covenant of marriage. The intention of God with the Song of Songs in my opinion is that even amidst a fallen world of Genesis 3, you can still experience it in the way He intended for you in Genesis 1 & 2. The sneaky thing about the devil is that he tempts you to sin just so that after you do it he will make you feel ashamed and dirty. GOD IS AGAINST THAT! LAY DOWN YOUR SHAME IN JESUS NAME! Be open about your mistakes so that you can recognize them, learn from them, and teach others to veer away from them. Testimonies are powerful!

True love is to love someone without feeling selfish, looking for attention, or expecting anything in return. With that, if both sides are doing this then there will be no lack. Ecclesiastes says there’s nothing new under the sun, but Isaiah says that God reveals a new thing each day. This tells me that without God there is nothing new, it’s all dull, but with God, it’s an adventure of more and more being revealed to me. I can personally vouch for this message and how I’ve seen it from the time I wasn’t Christian to the time I turned Christian. Remember your life is vapor. Run after God not things of this world. I need this reminder each day as well. Why do we worry so much about what we do in a day? There is nothing more meaningful than living for God.