Too many wives and concubines! Admittedly, my reading of Songs of Songs is tainted with the doubts I have toward anyone, even Solomon, having the ability to keep so many wives happy and even from killing each other out of jealousy. Sure the courting may be awesome for the one who is being courted; however, I cannot imagine what the other wives are thinking as he pursues yet another woman. How much jealously is there? And once this woman is conquered how will she fit in to the harem? Once married, will she be content to share her husband with multitudes of others? On the other hand, once they realize that this man is just that - only a man who over indulges himself - the wives are grateful that there are so many of them that they don't have to deal with him too much.
On the other hand, God is not like man, in that He can and does love the multitudes. His love is not the kind of love that would cause us to be jealous over His love for others. His love will fill us with love for His whole church on earth, for all people. He does not neglect one to chase after another. He will not leave one to go chasing after another. He is fully capable of loving and caring for all people, at any given time and all at the same time, according to our individual needs.
A closing prayer from St. Paul for the Ephesians (and you):
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:14-21 NIV)
God's Peace - Pr. J
On the other hand, God is not like man, in that He can and does love the multitudes. His love is not the kind of love that would cause us to be jealous over His love for others. His love will fill us with love for His whole church on earth, for all people. He does not neglect one to chase after another. He will not leave one to go chasing after another. He is fully capable of loving and caring for all people, at any given time and all at the same time, according to our individual needs.
A closing prayer from St. Paul for the Ephesians (and you):
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph 3:14-21 NIV)
God's Peace - Pr. J
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