October - Reading 23

Good afternoon -

Our Scriptures for today's schedule are:

John 7:1-13

1 Peter 4:12-19

Song of Solomon 7

Lamentations 2

May God bless you as you read from His Word.

 

Good evening -

The second chapter of Lamentations begins with the same word as chapter one: "How...!" This word expresses shock at an event in the Hebrew context. The original Hebrew for the title of this Book was indeed "'ekah" or "how...!"
One other quick note on the second chapter: in verse 1 , the phrase "His footstool" may represent the Ark of the Covenant. We loose the Ark somewhere in 2Chronicles and it is likely that it is among the articles carried from the temple by the Babylonian invaders (Jeremiah 52:19).

In John chapters 7 and 8 deal with the strong resistance Christ received regarding His Messsiahship. In tonight's account we see Jesus' brothers encouraging Him to attend the Feast of the Tabernacles. These are His physical, earthly brothers whom you can find named in mark 6:3. John's account indicates that already talk of Jesus was becoming quite widespread.

In 1Peter today we read Peter's concluding thoughts on suffering for Christ's sake. Suffering as a Christian was to be expected at the time of this Writing and Peter's words here offer comfort to a society that could expect to endure persecution on many levels.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Excellent observation, Mark, and quite perceptive from a theological viewpoint!

Most commentary that I have read states that the "lamentations" are over the fate of Israel being described in the text. However, your interpretation of the title holds much merit and is quite worthy of consideration. Indeed, we can easily see the prophet lament over the cause, not just the effect of the fall of Jerusalem.

 

Song of Songs

Song of Songs 7:10-8:2-4 The Invitation to Love

In this Passage, the maiden extends her invitation to the shepherd to meet and once again quench their desires. We do not see a response from the shepherd, perhaps indicating that the invitation was made only to the air.

In verse 6:1-2, we see the maiden lament the circumstances that now keep them apart. If he had been born into her family, no one would despise seeing them together. The situation they now find themselves in makes their relationship taboo. She is a most unhappy woman. The echo of the phrase “do not awaken love” show that the maiden recognizes that her awakened desires have created an emotionally erosive situation.

 

Our Scriptures for 10/24 are:

John 7:14-24

1 Peter 5:1-7

Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Lamentations 3

 

Our Scriptures for 10/24 are:

John 7:14-24

1 Peter 5:1-7

Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Lamentations 3

 

Our Scriptures for 10/24 are:

John 7:14-24

1 Peter 5:1-7

Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Lamentations 3

 

Our Scriptures for 10/24 are:

John 7:14-24

1 Peter 5:1-7

Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Lamentations 3

 

Our Scriptures for 10/24 are:

John 7:14-24

1 Peter 5:1-7

Song of Solomon 8:1-7

Lamentations 3