TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 4:12-16
Each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable. - 1 Thessalonians 4:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Despite evidence that indicates they are effective, abstinence programs continue to be a controversial approach to sex education in many public schools. Most abstinence programs do not use the Bible to convince young people not to have sex before marriage, but their strategy is based upon the old-fashioned biblical value of chastity.

Usually supporters argue that they do a better job of protecting young people from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. One program in Tennessee, for example, was credited with helping the county drop its state ranking in teen pregnancies from first to sixty-fourth, accomplished in three years.

In today’s reading, we find another important benefit to chastity. It not only protects from disease and unwanted pregnancy, it also enhances the beauty of sex in marriage.

The groom praises the chaste character of his bride by describing her as a “garden locked up,” a “spring enclosed” and a “sealed fountain.” The practice of abstinence did not make her seem like a prude, but rather like a beautiful private garden. Old Testament commentator Franz Delitzsch notes, “To a locked garden and spring no one has access but the rightful owner, and a sealed fountain is shut against all impurity.”

The practice of chastity is not rooted in a hatred of sex but an understanding of its true value. The chaste person recognizes the beauty of moral purity. Abstinence did not make the bride less attractive to Solomon, it increased his longing for her. Moral purity enhances one’s enjoyment of sex.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Chastity is a relevant issue for single and married alike. Both have an obligation to control their own bodies that today’s verse describes as “in a way that is holy and honorable” (1 Thess. 4:4). For the single person this means abstaining from sexual activity until marriage. For the married person it means keeping the gate to this garden of secret delights locked to all but one’s spouse. Hebrews 13:4 warns, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 5:1
Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love. - Ecclesiastes 9:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
While the church has always valued moral purity, at some points in history it has felt ambivalent about marriage. Sex in particular, even within the confines of marriage, has been an uncomfortable subject. As early as the second century, some Christian leaders reacted against growing worldliness in the church by urging believers to practice extreme forms of asceticism. They even urged married believers to abstain from sex altogether–or at least not to enjoy it too much.

This point of view was reflected in the “desert fathers” of the second century, who chose to live a solitary and ascetic lifestyle. They told the married believers who came to them for spiritual counsel to live like celibate monks. Augustine taught that gotcha146, even in marriage, should not be enjoyed for its own sake. He believed that it was only for the propagation of mankind.

This stands in sharp contrast with today’s sex-obsessed culture. Wendy Shalit, in her book entitled A Return to Modesty, noted that sex on many college campuses today is so frequent and impersonal that the two partners may as well be “two airplanes refueling.”

Both views–the aversion of some in the early church to sex within the confines of marriage, and modern society’s casual approach to sex–are equally unhealthy and unbiblical. The Song of Solomon does not portray sexual pleasures in marriage as a necessary evil that must be suppressed or endured. Instead, the bride and groom are encouraged to enjoy themselves until they are satisfied (v. 1).

Procreation is certainly one of the obvious purposes of sex within marriage. The first command to the human race recorded in Scripture was the command to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Gen. 1:22). But as we see in the Song of Solomon, enjoying sex in marriage is also important.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every day we face a constant barrage of sexual images from films, television programs, and magazines. Passion, however, is not the problem. Society’s problem is not that it enjoys sex too much. The problem is that our culture has removed the boundaries God set in place for sexual expression. His rules are not intended to spoil our fun, but to protect us from the consequences of unbridled passion. Those who choose to quench the fires of passion by having sex outside the confines of the marriage relationship are destined to get burned.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 5:2-3
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. - Revelation 2:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Not long after they were married, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had an argument. Afterwards the prince left the room in anger, went to his private quarters, and locked the door. Victoria followed him and knocked loudly at the door demanding that he let her in. “Who’s there?” Albert answered, knowing full well that it was his wife. “The queen of England, and she demands to be admitted.” This went on for some time. Each time Albert refused to admit her. At last, Victoria gave the door a soft tap. “Who’s there?” the prince asked again. The queen gently replied, “Your wife, Albert.” The prince opened the door and let her in.

The phrase “the honeymoon is over” alludes to the fact that people who have been married awhile sometimes act differently from those who are recently married. The same can be true in the spiritual realm. Those who begin the Christian life with great zeal can grow cold. In our verse for today, we see Jesus’ criticism of the church of Ephesus because they had forsaken their first love.

In today’s reading the groom comes seeking the bride at what seems to be an inopportune time. Her initial response is one of reluctance. When she finally does open the door, she discovers that the moment has passed. Her lover has departed.

According to noted Bible teacher H. A. Ironside, this is a good picture of our insensitivity to divine love. “We have an idea that the beloved one should be ready whenever we are for a time of gladness together, but it is not always so,” he explains. “And so when He comes to the heart’s door we practically say, 'No; it is inconvenient. I do not want to drop things right now.’ ”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the ancient spiritual disciplines of the church is a practice known as a “vigil.” A vigil is a time of prayer, worship or fasting, often during the night.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 5:4-7
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. - Psalm 119:71
TODAY IN THE WORD
“God will not accept a divided heart,” D. L. Moody once observed. “He must be absolute monarch. There is not room in your heart for two thrones.” Because of this, God sometimes leads us through difficulties that test our motives and enable us to develop an undivided heart.

This also happened to the bride in Song of Solomon. After her initial reluctance, she finally responded to her lover’s overtures. The delay was costly. Once her interest was aroused and she opened the door to him, he could not be found. His absence sparked her desire and motivated her to seek him with renewed passion.

The search, however, was not an easy one. She did not find him immediately, and during her travels she encountered the city watchmen. They badly mistreated her and stole her cloak, which some scholars suggest was a wedding gift from her groom.

The bride’s experience is analogous to what happens to human relationships and our relationship with God. In marriage, neglect inevitably leads to a loss of intimacy. If we look for help from the wrong source, we may end up bruised by the experience. Likewise, God sometimes uses the bumps and bruises of life to show that only He can provide ultimate comfort. The sufferings we experience drive us closer to Him.

Our verse for today captures this. The psalmist is thankful for his affliction, but this doesn’t mean that he enjoyed suffering. Rather, he learned to rejoice in the lessons he learned as a result of his suffering.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Think of a time when hardship or disappointment prompted you to renew your determination to seek Christ. How did God use it to sift through your motives and give you singleness of heart? Would you say that you feel the same degree of devotion to Him today? If so, give thanks to God. If not, give some thought to the steps you might need to take to seek Him with a more fully devoted heart. When you are finished, write a love letter to Jesus telling Him of your fresh resolve to follow after Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 5:8-16
At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. - Mark 13:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a story in the Christian Reader by Ida Pardue, shortly before four-year-old Kathie was to serve as a flower girl in a wedding, her mother told her: “The next time you see Kim, she’ll be radiant.” During the wedding, Kathie watched the bride with a growing sense of disappointment. When she couldn’t contain herself any longer, the little girl went up to the bride, pulled at her gown to get her attention, and demanded, “Kim, when are you going to glow?”

One of the highlights of any wedding is the moment when the bride first appears. The music swells, the congregation rises, and the groom looks down the aisle to see the one he loves dressed in a “radiant” gown.

In today’s passage, it is the groom who is described as “radiant,” a Hebrew word that literally means “dazzling.” Like David his father, Solomon is also characterized as “ruddy.” This was a mark of physical attractiveness in Solomon’s day (cf. 1 Sam. 16:12). The bride admires Solomon’s dark hair and beautiful eyes, commenting on her beloved’s physical features from head to toe.

Some commentators have interpreted this image of Christ in her description. But we shouldn’t think of this as a picture of His physical appearance, or we’ll miss the powerful imagery of Christ as our Bridegroom. Just as the bride was overwhelmed when she saw the one she loved in his splendor, we too will be overcome when we see Christ in His glory (Rev. 1:13–17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is the most beautiful sight you have ever witnessed? Perhaps it was a beautiful sunset or waterfall that you saw while on vacation. It may have been the look on someone’s face when they opened a special gift from you. Or it may have been the moment when your spouse first came into view on the day of your wedding.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 6:1-3
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. Henry Brandt has written that mature love “enjoys being together more than being with anyone else, although others are not excluded from their lives. They discover that each can even have a good time doing something together which neither would enjoy doing alone.” What Brandt is really saying, in essence, is that someone who is in love enjoys showing interest in what interests the one he or she loves.

Although the groom has departed as a result of her delay, the bride is able to find him because she knows his interests. He is “browsing among the lilies.” The question in verse 1 is asked by the daughters of Jerusalem. They serve a function in this poem similar to the chorus in a Greek drama. Their statements move the story along and prompt revealing statements from the main characters.

Some Bible scholars interpret the bride’s statement symbolically. The image of the garden was used earlier to refer to the bride herself. It is also possible to take the bride’s words

literally. After finding his bride unwilling to receive him, Solo-mon has gone down to his favorite garden. Knowing what he loves is the key to finding him. Showing an interest in what interests him provides a kind of common ground that will enable them to re-establish intimacy with one another.

Three important facts lay the groundwork for this couple’s restored relationship. First, she knows her husband well enough to know where to look. Solo-mon, in turn, knew his bride well enough not to try to force intimacy until she was ready. Second, both continue to be committed to the relationship. Third, as soon as both are ready, they take time together to restore their relationship.

This principle is true in the marriage relationship. One way to keep the romance alive is often to know what interests the one you love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Think of someone you love. How quickly can you come up with a “top ten” list of the things that interest that person? If ten things seem like too many, try making a list of the top three or four. You might also want to rank them in order of importance.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 6:4-7
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. - 1 Chronicles 16:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
An old cliché notes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Although this may be true, not many people think of themselves as attractive. Such feelings are often the result of unrealistic expectations. Few of us, either men or women, compare with the air-brushed images we see on television programs and magazine covers.

Strange as it may seem, even many professional models are unhappy with their personal appearance. They recognize that the image the public sees is not realistic. It is the result of many hours of preparation, occasional tricks of photography, and sometimes even cosmetic surgery.

In today’s reading the groom describes the bride as “beautiful.” He focuses on the beauty of her face. He praises the beauty of her eyes, hair, and smile. The fact that he compares the bride to an army in battle array may seem strange. It is a fitting image when placed on the lips of a king. In effect, it is the groom’s way of saying that his bride is irresistible.

He also compares the bride to the two great cities. Tirzah, the first to be mentioned, served as the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel for a time. Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. The mention of these two cities has led some scholars to conclude that this song must have been composed after the kingdom divided in 931 b.c. and that the author uses Solomon as the example of the loving groom.

The groom is so overwhelmed by the bride that he cannot look into her eyes. This description of the bride is striking in view of her perception of herself. She did not initially see herself as lovely (Song 1:6). In a sense, the love of her husband has transformed her.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How does Christ view the church? One way to answer this question is to study the descriptive terms Paul used in his letters to the church in the New Testament.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 6:8-10
I have no one else like him. - Philippians 2:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
During a trip to Algiers, the British statesman Lord Frederick North asked his host if he might be permitted to see one of the women of his harem. Instead of being offended by the request, the host took one look at Lord North and told the keeper of the harem, “He is so ugly, let him see them all!”

In today’s passage the groom compares his bride to the women of a harem. It was not unusual in Solomon’s day for kings to have harems of many wives and concubines. Political reasons motivated many multiple marriages.

Concubines, on the other hand, were granted a different status. They had more rights than an ordinary slave, but far fewer than a wife. Their function was primarily to bear children and care for the king’s palace (2 Sam. 15:16; 16:21).

According to Scripture, King David had multiple wives and several concubines (2 Sam. 19:5). Solomon had a total of seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). The numbers of wives and concubines listed in our reading today are substantially lower. It may be that this was written early in Solomon’s reign, before he had acquired his enormous harem.

When compared to all other women, the bride stands out. Solomon describes her as “unique” (v. 9). The Hebrew text literally says that she is “one.” Solomon also calls her “my perfect one.” The Hebrew term conveys something pure and chosen. She is like a beautiful gem that is both rare and flawless. Today we might paraphrase the comparison by saying that she is “one in a million.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One secret to nurturing a love relationship is to recognize the uniqueness of the other person. This comes naturally during the beginning of a relationship. In time these will seem commonplace. If the relationship is to grow into a mature love, we will need to learn to look more deeply to discover what makes that person “one in a million.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 6:11-13
Love is kind. - 1 Corinthians 13:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
The old hymn “In the Garden” begins, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.” In it, hymnwriter Charles Austin Miles describes an intimate encounter with Jesus. Miles described his time spent in prayer this way: “And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

Poets have often used the image of a garden to convey a sense of beauty and even intimacy, and we have seen this image throughout the Song of Solomon. Verse 11 describes a visit to a grove of nut trees. This could refer to a literal visit to a real garden, or it could be figurative language meant to speak of the blossoming of love. It is unclear who is doing the speaking; the context does not clearly indicate whether it is Solomon or his bride.

The translation is also extremely difficult (the kjv, niv, and nasb each translate verse 12 differently). After the speaker’s visit to the garden, the speaker arrives among the chariots. Although the Hebrew text is very obscure, many Bible scholars believe that the bride is speaking. It may indicate that she stumbled upon a royal procession during her visit to the nut grove. Another possibility is that the groom placed the bride among the chariots.

These verses paint a very romantic picture. It is one in which the bride is swept off her feet and carried away by her lover. Not only is she by his side once more, she has been elevated to her rightful status as queen.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You do not need to “sweep someone off their feet” in order to show them love. You do not even need a chariot. One of the best ways to demonstrate unexpected love to others is by performing random acts of kindness. Think of something you can do for someone else without drawing attention to yourself. It does not have to be elaborate to be meaningful. Simply giving a cold cup of water to one who is thirsty is enough to warrant a reward from your Father in heaven (Mark 9:41).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 7:1-10
The man and his wife . . . felt no shame. - Genesis 2:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
The popular television show Sex and the City portrayed the glamorous love life of single women living in New York. One of the stars, Kim Cattrall, noted that the images in the program are unrealistic. “It’s much more fun being single on Sex and the City than it is in real life,” she observed.

Scientific research supports Cattrall. Recent studies show that married people enjoy sex more than sexually active singles, and that they even have sex more frequently. The media image of the carefree sex life of the swinging single is a myth. This should come as no surprise to Christians. The Bible teaches that the marriage relationship is the only appropriate context for sexual expression.

In today’s passage, Solomon praises the physical beauty of his bride. His imagery describes her from her feet to her head (in that order). Solomon speaks so frankly that his words have embarrassed people throughout history. In order to avoid this sexual imagery, the church has often tried to interpret this passage in purely spiritual terms. If we did not already know that this was inspired Scripture, we might wonder if this passage truly belonged in the Bible.

The emphasis in these verses is proof that the physical dimension of the marriage relationship is important. The New Testament confirms this when it commands husbands and wives not to withhold sex from one another (1 Cor. 7:3–5).

Nevertheless, it is equally important to recognize that although sex is important in the marriage relationship, it is not our most important need. Henri Nouwen has written, “Your body needs to be held and to hold, to be touched and to touch. None of these needs is to be despised, denied, or repressed. But you have to keep searching for your body’s deeper need, the need for genuine love.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sexual desire is part of our human nature. So is the capacity to enjoy physical beauty. They are also a stewardship entrusted to us by God. Read Jesus’ warning in Matthew 5:28–30. Why do you think He uses such strong language? According to 1 Thessa-lonians 4:3–9, what are some of the consequences of not controlling our bodies? What does it mean for you to control your body in a way that is holy and honorable today? Ask God to produce the spiritual fruit of self-control in your life today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 7:11-13
Flee from sexual immorality. - 1 Corinthians 6:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a Christianity Today article entitled, “Losing Our Promiscuity,” author Paula Rinehart quoted a woman in her twenties with a history of sexual promiscuity. “I wish I hadn’t given so much of myself,” she lamented. “I feel that some of my experiences thinned my soul, and such an effect takes time to undo.”

One of the many tragic side effects of a promiscuous lifestyle is that it can lead to sexual boredom in the marriage relationship. Ironically, the notion that marriage makes sex boring is one of the myths used to justify a promiscuous lifestyle. In a healthy marriage the opposite is true. As the relationship deepens, so does the couple’s enjoyment of the physical dimension of their marriage.

Today’s passage continues the Song of Solomon’s celebration of sexual love within the context of marriage. The bride promises to give her love to her groom. She declares, “At our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover” (v. 13). This beautiful image depicts sexual love as something rare that has been saved for the bride’s husband alone. It is a cherished treasure, hidden away until the proper time.

The bride’s imagery also suggests that those in a healthy marriage should expect the pleasures of physical intimacy to increase rather than decrease with time. She promises to give her husband choice delicacies “both new and old.” If marriage leads to sexual boredom, it is not the institution but the nature of the couple’s relationship that is flawed.

Sexual pleasure should never be squandered. God did not intend for us to share this gift with many. Instead, like Solomon’s bride, it is something to be protected until it can be offered as a gift to the one for whom it was originally intended.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Scripture warns us to flee sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18) and that immoral behavior is inconsistent with the profession of godliness (Eph. 5:3). Thankfully, God also promises forgiveness and cleansing to those who confess their sin–no matter what it may be (1 John 1:9). We cannot undo past decisions, but we can be made new through Jesus Christ. If you have succumbed to sexual temptation, embrace the forgiveness found in Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to give you renewed strength to glorify God through your body.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 8:1-4
[Treat] older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. - 1 Timothy 5:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
An anonymous humorist defined the honeymoon as “a short period of doting between dating and debting.” Honeymoons may be short, but few are as short as Carla Dunford’s. According to a British newspaper, Dunford left her husband Pete for Chris Herbert after she had been married for less than three weeks. Her husband was away on a trip when she met her new love interest.

“He’d only been gone a couple of days,” Carla said, “when I walked into the newsagent’s and there was this gorgeous man there. It was Chris, although all I knew at the time was that he was young, smart, good-looking and sexy.” Claiming “love at first sight,” Dunford announced her decision to end the marriage when her husband returned home.

The phrase “the honeymoon is over” implies that the initial fire of romance will diminish over time. To some extent this is true. The nature of the love relationship changes–but it does not have to grow cold. In our passage today, the bride longed to see the passion they experienced during their honeymoon continue into the marriage.

Her wish that the groom would be like a brother who had been nursed at her mother’s breasts probably sounds a little strange to modern ears, if not perverse. It must be understood in light of ancient Hebrew culture, where it was unusual for a husband and wife to show affection to one another in public. If he were her brother, however, she could embrace him publicly without stigma.

Technically, she does not say that she wishes that her groom were actually her brother, but rather that he would be to her “like” a brother. This simile is used in the New Testament to characterize the relationship between men and women in the church. As we see in today’s verse, Paul urged Timothy to treat the women in the church with the same respect found in family relationships.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you are a married person, why not plan a “honeymoon” weekend with your spouse? If you cannot afford to get away for the weekend, plan a romantic dinner at home.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 8:5-9
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? - Proverbs 27:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
An old song says, “Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me.” The bride might have sung the same words. Today’s passage describes the couple’s return to an ancestral home, although we aren’t given more details in the text.

People marvel at the sight of the bride, who appears “coming up from the desert leaning on her lover” (v. 5). This may suggest that she was pregnant with their first child, and they are returning home for the birth.

The imagery the bride uses as she speaks to the groom emphasizes the importance of commitment and the power of love. For example, she asks him to place her like a “seal” over his heart. Seals were often made of gold or precious gems and were given as a pledge. They were used to signify ownership and right of access. Even today, wedding rings are given and worn as a kind of “seal.” They symbolize the wearer’s obligation to be faithful to the one they have wed.

The bride’s call to faithfulness is accompanied by a warning about jealousy. This is not a petty reminder. It is true that there are times when jealousy is a sin. Christians are warned not to act in “dissension and jealousy” (Rom. 13:13). Jealousy is one of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:20. But jealousy is also an attribute of God. He is a “jealous” God (Ex. 20:5; 34:14). In His case, jealousy is appropriate. God alone deserves our worship.

In some contexts human jealousy is also an appropriate response. Jealousy arouses a husband’s fury and sparks a desire for justice (Prov. 6:34). Old Testament scholar Derek Kidner calls this kind of jealousy, “a proper intolerance of disruptive intrusion.” He notes that it is actually a mark of love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What makes you feel jealous? Make a list. Next to each item write either the letter “A” (for appropriate) or “I” (for inappropriate). If you have items marked “A” on your list, consider prayerfully discussing them with the one who is the cause. Your feelings may be a sign of a more serious problem in the relationship. If you have items marked “I” on your list, ask God to replace your jealousy with the appropriate fruit of the Spirit. If you are unsure whether your feelings are appropriate or inappropriate, consider discussing them with your pastor or a Christian counselor.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Song of Solomon 8:5-9
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. - Ephesians 5:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
“We are all made for marriage, as our bodies show and the Scriptures state,” Martin Luther noted. On this point, however, Luther was wrong. Scripture does not actually say that we are all made for marriage. Jesus taught that being married and being single were both callings from God. While some marry, others have been called to be single for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Likewise, the apostle Paul pointed out that single people enjoy certain advantages when it comes to serving God. They have the potential to minister without the distractions of married life. The determining factor is a matter of divine purpose for the individual. Paul favored the single life because of his own personal experience; he admitted that “each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1 Cor. 7:7).

Paul also recognized that one’s marital state is also a matter of choice. When he was asked by a group of singles in the Corinthian church whether it was appropriate for them to marry, Paul left the decision up to them (1 Cor. 7:25–28). They had the freedom to marry whomever they pleased, as long as they married another believer (cf. 1 Cor. 7:39).

In today’s reading the bride speaks of a similar freedom. She compares what she has to offer with the vineyard in Baal-hamon that Solomon already possesses. Just as Solomon had the right to let his vineyard out to tenants, she has the right to give herself to the one she chooses. The Song of Solomon concludes with her offering herself to the one she loves, as a treasure unequaled.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
During the wedding ceremony both husband and wife are asked to make a commitment. In a sense, the same is true of the believer’s relationship with Christ. Jesus has already spoken His vows. He has promised to receive all who come to Him in faith (John 6:37). He sealed this vow by offering Himself on the cross as a payment for sin. All that remains is for us to respond.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 50
Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. - Psalm 50:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you're a parent, the idea of rocking or bouncing your baby while singing is a familiar one. But did you know that it helps their brains learn about rhythm? Canadian psychologist Laurel Trainor has found that physical movement develops babies' ability to perceive and respond to different rhythms. With a group of mothers and children, she played a melody with an ambiguous rhythm, asking half the mothers to bounce their children every other beat (march) and half to bounce them every third beat (waltz). Then she played the music again, this time with accented march and waltz rhythms coming from different stereo speakers. The babies preferred the speaker that used the same rhythm to which they'd been bounced.

God has built a “rhythm of praise” into the very fabric of human nature! We're all called to praise the Lord (vv. 1-6), in today's psalm by Asaph, one of David's chief musicians. An impressive picture is given here of God as powerful, awe-inspiring, all-seeing, and just. He “summons the earth,” and He presides over the Supreme Court of the universe. Before Him stand “consecrated ones,” that is, His covenant people. The Perfect Judge has a contrasting pair of verdicts to render.

First, to the righteous worshipers, God highlights the privilege and responsibility of their relationship with Him (vv. 7-15). They shouldn't imagine that the relationship is balanced—all the benefits are on their side, not His, for God doesn't need their offerings. They should make sacrifices in obedience and gratitude, but the thought that the Almighty “needs” a goat is obviously ridiculous. The cattle on a thousand hills are His!

Second, God condemns the lip-service and disobedience of insincere worshipers (vv. 16-23). They go through the motions, sinning as they please, apparently believing that He is fallible or hypocritical like themselves. He has been patient, but justice will be done. Only true worshipers will see the salvation of God!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Psalm 50, God has different messages for righteous and unrighteous worshipers. What message might He have for you? Take time today to write about this in your spiritual diary or prayer notebook. Keep in mind that He knows completely your thoughts and feelings, not only during Sunday services but throughout the week. How might He evaluate your worship, including both positive and negative aspects? Submit this question to Him in prayer before writing.