Venice (CA) church of Christ
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Venice (CA) church of Christ
@venicechurchofchrist.org
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disciples making disciples in Los Angeles
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#Gospel Reading: #Luke 19:1-10
 
#Jesus encounters everyone's favorite wee little man, #Zacchaeus the rich chief #tax-collector. 
 
How did Zacchaeus’ conversion embody all Jesus was about?
The #Psalm: Psalm 119:137-144
 
The #tsadhe section of the #psalm meditating on YHWH's #torah, or instruction. 
 
How can we all live by God’s instruction?
Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-2:4
 
The burden of #Habakkuk, delivered to #Judah at some time before the #Babylonian captivity. 
 
How do we live by our #faith?
How can we appreciate love in the Song of Solomon?
The #Song of #Solomon celebrates and extols #love. Solomon praises the great tenacity and strength of love, and how love truly cannot be bought.

While we must always be on guard against temptations to sin and sin itself, we are also able to celebrate and extol love and share in it.
If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).
Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame. Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it.
Why are there other characters beyond the lovers in the Song of Solomon?
The lovers do not share in their love in complete isolation; they remain part of a #community throughout.
The #lovers are not the only people present in the #Song of #Solomon.

One or both of the lovers will frequently make appeal to the "#maidens of Jerusalem," who are either called upon to watch for others who might be pursuing the lovers or to give information about the lovers' whereabouts.
I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: Do not awaken or arouse love until it pleases! (Song of Solomon 2:7)
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
 
#Paul informed #Timothy of his dire circumstances. 
 
How can we gain encouragement from Paul's final #exhortations?
How can we best appreciate all the descriptions in the Song of Solomon?
Many have associated the Song with Christ and the church; even if so, the church, not Christ, would be the flower of Sharon or the lily of the valley.
As an example, the beloved understood herself as a beautiful plant within one of the most fertile areas of Israel: a flower of Sharon, a lily from the valley.
Much of the #Song of #Solomon features the celebrations and the praises the lovers heap and share upon each other. 

The #lover and her #beloved speak highly of one another's bodily features and strength. 
I am a meadow flower from Sharon, a lily from the valleys (Song of Solomon 2:1).
#Gospel Reading: #Luke 18:9-14
 
#Jesus provided a warning with the #parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. 

How can God's people become like the Pharisee?  Why do God's people have a hard time identifying with the tax collector?
What can we learn from the Song of Solomon?
The Song of Solomon celebrates erotic #love, and therefore has always sat somewhat awkwardly and uncomfortably in the canon of Scripture. 
The #Song of #Solomon, or the Song of Songs, can be found at the end of the "wisdom" section in English Bibles, and within the Ketuvim, or Writings, in the Hebrew Bible. 

The Song is a love poem attributed to Solomon son of David. 
Solomon's Most Excellent Love Song (Song of Solomon 1:1).
The #Psalm: Psalm 65:1-13
 
#David praises #God for His #creation and His control over it. 
 
Why should God's people prove thankful for His #provision?
What is going on in the #Song of #Solomon?

How should Christians approach and appreciate the Song of Songs?

The Song of Solomon | Books of the Bible
https://youtu.be/LXtIcRVHcIg