In this dream, the man seeks intimacy with his bride, but she delays. By the time she readies herself, he has departed, and she runs through the streets to find him. They are then reunited.
Love in a fallen world leads us to the arms of God
Sermons by Callum Elwood (Page 11)
The woman and her beloved consummate their relationship.
The beauty and freedom of God’s design for sex shows us the wonder of the gospel and Christs love for us.
The woman is sought by her beloved with cries to come away with him, but ‘do not awaken!’
The woman dreams that she must go about the city to find her beloved. We see the power and pain of love and sex, and why we need pointing to God and the final marriage.
God’s design for sex, relationships, and marriage combats the ways in which the world says we are lacking
Song of Solomon 1:1–4 God’s design for sex and relationships and marriage is fundamentally positive. Our longings however are not, they are broken, we need God’s redeeming love.
Everybody loves a fairytale ending, a happily ever after, and yet that is not how Nehemiah ends. Nehemiah has been away and returns to see the drift of God’s people away from him, it ends the book on a bitter note, which helps us to see just how great our need is for Christ.
Nehemiah 12:27-47 The people of God come together to celebrate the walls completion, and to commit to the people building. The repopulation of the city (11–12:26) means that the people of God are finally in the place of God, trusting the promises of God. Their joyful celebration reflects this. This chapter sets us up with a picture of celebration which helps us to look forward to the ultimate celebration
We would all love peace, with others, and with ourselves. Yet we so often look in the wrong place. Only the beautiful cross of Christ, which brings us peace with God, can therefore bring us into peace with ourselves and with others.
The People of God are built on the covenant, God’s faithfulness to them shapes their commitment to one another. They are marked by personal, public, and practical commitment.
The People of God are built on a better story, one of God’s powerful faithfulness at work in the face of our weak unfaithfulness.