(-fch-shn)   A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction. An object of extravagant, short-lived passion.  A foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration for someone or something. Infatuation is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoned passion or love.

In the case of infatuation, there is usually an obsessor and an object of desire, who may or may not be attainable. In its "pure" state, infatuation is characterized by unrealistic expectations of blissful passion without positive relationship growth or development, and by a lack of the trust, loyalty, commitment, and reciprocity found in maturer love.

There are some feelings we have when infatuated that we don't have when we're feeling love. Some of the "symptoms" of infatuation are; feelings of panic, uncertainty, overpowering lust, feverish excitement, impatience, and/or jealously.

Infatuation Phase I: Stricken!

The first act in the life of an infatuation is that magic moment when someone suddenly takes on "special" meaning for us.

You hear a phrase or a particular inflection in someone's voice that strikes a chord in your heart. You are struck by the exact tilt of his head. You are warmed by a gaze or an unexpected tenderness. An intriguing remark goes straight to your soul. Or, perhaps from a respectable distance, you notice legs or skin or hair (or a more private physical trait) to die for. Lightning has struck.

Infatuation Phase II: Intrusive Thinking

After the bolt of lightening comes a storm of intrusive thinking about the desired one.

Every experience you now have seems interwoven with their qualities, every shared moment weighted with new meaning. When apart from them, you review and relish each moment spent in their presence and ruminate on their flavor. In fact, many infatuation informants report spending 80 to 100 percent of their time compulsively trying to crystallize the vision of their new love, living in vigilant expectation of the next contact.

Infatuation Phase III: Idealization

Early in the intrusive thinking phase, idealization sets in. The erotic sizzle permeates everything and creates that famous halo with which we love to blind ourselves. For a while, the infatuee sees no flaws in the beloved and admits to no blocks to forward progress.

Infatuation Phase IV: The Emotional Rollercoaster

From this high intensity anticipation comes the primary emotional dynamic of infatuation: an exquisite combination of hope and uncertainty which has funded libraries of poetry.

At this point, life becomes that famous rollercoaster ride: precious moments of delightful reciprocity (real or imagined) followed by agonizing doubts of ultimate success. Infatuation is now more consciously driven by simple fear. In fact, The Nagging Fear of Not Getting What You Have Begun to Desire is the unique torment reserved for the infatuated elite.

This pattern of human experience is as well-documented as any emotional experience has ever been. You can find poignant elaborations on the process incised upon clay tablets, etched in marble, painted on papyrus, fixed in celluloid, playing on the radio, and filtering through the voices all around you. It is a famous and favorite form of anguish.

But how can something so uncomfortable be so irresistible?

L'enfant dans sa prime enfance a besoin d'être regardé avec attention, écouté, touché, qu'on lui parle,  d'être encouragé et reconnu dans ses particularités.

Mais un manque de reconnaissance, un amour insuffisant, crée un manque à combler et prépare le terrain à la Dépendance. Peut-être, lorsque vous étiez enfant, avez-vous manqué d'attention. Peut être vos parents avaient ils manqué eux mêmes de reconnaissance et se servaient-ils de vous pour l'obtenir. Il fallait les satisfaire. Et peut-être enfant, pour tenter d'obtenir un peu plus d'attention (être regardé, écouté, touché, et que l'on vous parle), vous vous êtes lentement conditionné à plaire à tout prix et à satisfaire vos parents, maîtres et professeurs afin de combler leurs besoins d'attention et de soulager leurs souffrances.

 En prenant l'habitude de plaire, vous lutiez contre la crainte d'être abandonnés... Peut-être croyez vous encore qu'il faut plaire pour être aimé(e). Et pourtant une personne qui vous aime vraiment vous laisse libre d'être vous-même... Donc vous n'avez pas à plaire !

Par le manque d'attention dont vous avez été victime, on vous a inoculé  une drogue mentale que sont les besoins excessifs d'être appréciés et approuvés avec ses dérivés ou autres poisons que sont les besoins de réussite sociale de prestige et de pouvoir.

           Etes vous encore avide de reconnaissance ?

Allez-vous rechercher avidement le sentiment de toute puissance que vous apporte la fusion avec l'être désiré, ou bien allez-vous accepté les limites de la relation ? Dans la Dépendance, on en vient à compter excessivement sur une personne déterminée pour assurer notre bonheur. Le bonheur d'être reconnu, apprécié. Cette dépendance produira souvent l'attente inconsciente du Prince Charmant.

  Si vous allez dans le monde porté par l'amour qu'une personne a pour vous, vous rayonnez non pas par vous-même, mais à cause de l'amour de cette personne alors vous êtes lumineuse mais c'est l'autre qui a la main sur l'interrupteur...

  L'attachement = avoir trop besoin de l'autre pour se sentir exister... Notons aussi qu'un grand nombre d'émotions négatives de peur de peine et d'angoisse proviennent du fait que nous craignons de perdre l'objet de notre attachement ou parce que nous avons peur de ne pas l'obtenir. L'attachement n'est pas l'amour, l'attachement conduit à la dépendance ( et à la souffrance, parce qu'un jour ou l'autre la personne à laquelle on est attaché vient à nous manquer ou à nous frustrer. La frustration est d'autant plus grande que l'attente est excessive...)

  L'amour est un état d'être fait de joie... Par contre, l'attachement est un état qui engendre des sentiments pénibles d'inquiétude et de manque. Le chemin de la guérison nous amènera à devenir plus "aimants", moins "attachés". Par l'attachement irrationnel, vous espérez une consolation future à votre souffrance. En fait, vous perdez beaucoup de temps. Si vous aimez vraiment, et si votre partenaire vous aime vraiment, rappelez-vous : l'Amour attire l'Amour. Lorsque vous irradiez la paix, l'amour, le bien être et le bonheur, vous l'attirez immanquablement... Plus vous diffusez de l'Amour, plus votre pouvoir magnétique s'accroit. Mais pour aimer il faut avoir reçu suffisamment d'attention et d'encouragement (de strokes). On en est d'autant moins dépendants que l'on est rassasié(e) ! Nous avons besoin d'être rassasié(e)s, comblé(e)s. Nous avons faim d'amour. Mais il ne s'agit pas de dévorer son partenaire ! ... Ni d'être un mendiant de l'amour.

  Nous sommes faits pour donner et recevoir ; refuser et demander = (les 4 fonctions relationnelles de base) (le carré magique).

         Si vous ne recevez pas assez votre relation ne marche pas !

         Il y a plusieurs hypothèses possibles :

        1/ Peut être êtes vous avec une personne qui vous convient mais vous n'aimez pas d'une bonne façon (aimer ce n'est pas toujours tout accepter...)
        2/ Vous êtes (peut être) avec une personne qui vous convient mais vous ne communiquez pas avec elle de la bonne façon.
        3/ La communication avec votre partenaire est défectueuse. Vous ne savez pas faire ce qu'il faut pour l'améliorer. Peut être faites vous trop d'erreurs pour que la relation soit bonne !
        4/ Peut être êtes vous avec une personne incompatible (par exemple si vous n'avez pas les mêmes valeurs; ou le même type de sensibilité).

Vous êtes cordialement invité au

Concert spirituel

de la chorale Iraky ny lanitra

(Messagers du Ciel)

Chorale malgache, chrétienne implantée à Paris depuis plus de 5 ans, elle vous offrira pour la gloire de Dieu des chants de types gospel, classique et typiquement malgache.

Venez nombreux!

"Louez l'Éternel! Célébrez l'Éternel, Car il est bon, Car Sa bienveillance dure à toujours!" Psaumes 106:1

Samedi 25 février 2012

à 19h

à l'église réformée de Paris Luxembourg
58 rue Madame 75006 Paris

Quel concert magnifique qui a rendu gloire à Dieu! Nous vous remercions d'être venus nombreux pour y assister! Tant la musique, la sonorisation et les chants spirituels ont fait grand bien à notre ouïe délicate . En effet, la chorale Iraky Ny Lanitra a tenu ses promesses en terme de qualité et de quantité et nous a comblés au-delà de nos espérances en nous offrant un grand et inoubliable moment musical.

De plus, la chorale Iraky Ny Lanitra n'a pas satisfait uniquement nos oreilles de sons mélodieux mais a également satisfait à nos papilles gustatives en nous faisant la surprise de nous convier à un verre de l'amitié lors d'une collation généreuse et garnie de mets exquis et de spécialités culinaires malgaches aussi bonnes les unes que les autres. Ainsi, pendant ce moment de convivialité, chacun a pu faire connaissance avec les choristes du groupe et les spectateurs. Ce banquet final s'est conclu par le partage du gâteau d'anniversaire de la doyenne de la chorale Madame Eulalie Rakotondratsima qui a fêté le jour de la célébration de sa naissance le Samedi 25 Février 2012.

Souhaitons à la chorale Iraky Ny Lanitra, leurs membres et leurs sympathisants une longue vie dans la louange, l'adoration et la proclamation de la Bonne Nouvelle de notre Seigneur Jésus Christ!

AMEN

Voici quelques extraits du concert du 25/02/2012

Watch Concert Spirituel d'Iraky Ny Lanitra Samedi 25 février 2012 in Music | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

 "Mets-moi comme un sceau sur ton coeur,

Comme un sceau sur ton bras;

Car l'amour est fort comme la mort,

La jalousie est inflexible comme le séjour des morts;

Ses ardeurs sont des ardeurs de feu,

Une flamme de l'Eternel"

Cantique des Cantiques 8:6

Shulamite

Peaceful, in Hebrew a feminine name, corresponding to Solomon

as Julia does to Julius.

It is the figurative name of the bride in Solomon's Song, So 6:13; and the bridegroom is represented by SOLOMON, also meaning peaceful.

"Quand les montagnes s'éloigneraient, Quand les collines chancelleraient, Mon amour ne s'éloignera point de toi, Et mon alliance de paix ne chancellera point, Dit l'Eternel, qui a compassion de toi." ESAIE 54:10

"Alors, pourquoi dois-je écouter mon coeur ? - Parce que tu n'arriveras jamais à le faire taire. Et même si tu feins de ne pas entendre ce qu'il te dit, il sera là, dans ta poitrine, et ne cessera de répéter ce qu'il pense de la vie et du monde." Paulo Coelho 

"This is what we call love. When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you." 
Paulo Coelho

Shula : From the same root as Shalom sh-l-m. Refers to a cycle, returning, health, peace, greetings, and many other things. It is also the name of the lover in the "Song of Songs." Generally miss-translated in Bibles into English as "Shulamite."
The Shulamite woman.

Shulamite means:

 peaceable; perfect; that recompenses

[ syll. (s)hu-la-mi-te, sh-ulam-ite ] The baby girl name Shulamite is pronounced as -SHUWLAEMAYT- †. Shulamite's origin and use are both in the Hebrew language.

† approx English pronunciation for Shulamite: SH as in "she (SH.IY)" ; UW as in "two (T.UW)" ; L as in "lay (L.EY)" ; AE as in "at (AE.T)" ; M as in "me (M.IY)" ; AY as in "side (S.AY.D)" ; T as in "tee (T.IY)"

☺ Soyons reconnaissants aux personnes qui nous donnent du bonheur ; Elles sont les charmants jardiniers par qui nos âmes sont fleuries.☺ Proust

Upon a lower level prayer certainly assumes a lower form, which by sin has become so low and selfish that prayer, which should be love's breath, has become an egoistic cry. But we discuss prayer as it was originally, before sin had affected it. And as the true heir of heaven yearns for his heavenly home not for the sake of crown and palm and golden harp, but for his God alone; so is prayer, pure and undefiled, a longing, not for God's gifts, but for God Himself. As the Shulamite calls for her bridegroom, so does the praying soul, from the consuming desire of love, pray and thirst for the possession of its Maker and to be possessed of Him.

Shula Rajaonah

Le prénom Shula signifie Peace i.e Paix en hébreu

C'est le diminutif de Shulamite

du Cantique des Cantiques de Salomon dans la Bible.

"A chaque être, correspond une forme d'amour spécifique ;

son bonheur est de la rencontrer."

Jean Simard

*La vie de chacun d'entre nous n'est pas une tentative d'aimer Elle est l'unique essai* Pascal Quignard

 Shula Rajaonah

Oh ! si tu étais attentif à Mes commandements ! Ton bien-être serait comme un fleuve et ton bonheur comme les flots de la mer. Esaïe 48:18  

☺ Soyons reconnaissants aux personnes qui nous donnent du bonheur ; Elles sont les charmants jardiniers par qui nos âmes sont fleuries.☺ Proust

 Le Cantique des Cantiques revêt la forme d'une suite de poèmes, de chants d'amour alternés entre une femme et un homme (ou même où plusieurs couples s'expriment), qui prennent à témoin d'autres personnes et des éléments de la nature. C'est l'un des livres de la Bible les plus poétiques. Sa composition est attribuée à un compilateur du IVe siècle av. J.‑C. qui y aurait fondu différents poèmes.

 

On a même avancé l'hypothèse que le Cantique des Cantiques ait pu avoir été rédigé par une femme, comme le pense par exemple l'exégète André Lacocque1, étant donné la large place qui y est laissée aux personnages féminins. On retrouve des parallèles à de nombreuses expressions du Cantique dans la littérature du Proche-Orient ancien, notamment dans les poèmes d'amour égyptiens. Le cadre géographique et social est suggéré par quelques noms propres (Jérusalem, Tirça, le Liban), mais de telles références ne permettent pas de fixer avec certitude la date et le lieu de rédaction du Cantique des Cantiques. Le livre a d'abord été rejeté à cause de son caractère profane, dont témoignent les nombreuses images érotiques comme : « Tes seins sont comme deux faons, jumeaux d'une gazelle » ou « Ta poitrine comme les raisins mûrs ».

On le considérer comme une collection de poèmes décrivant l'amour entre une jeune fille et son amoureux, dont on fait parfois un couple marié, croyant y déceler des noces. Cette conception s'appuie sur le fait que cette compréhension est proche, voire correspond parfaitement à la pensée hébraïque, alors que selon elle la première alternative allégorique serait trop influencée par la pensée grecque considérant le corps comme quelque chose de méprisable ou de spirituellement indigne (allusions étant parfois faites à Aristote, à Platon et au gnosticisme des premiers siècles de l'ère chrétienne, puis à la pensée de Saint Augustin qui a grandement influencé la doctrine catholique). Nous avons pourtant, dans ce livre, affaire à un amour sensuel et passant continuellement par l'exaltation de la beauté et les relations physiques. Le langage hébraïque du livre fait clairement référence %

Song 8:4
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. NKJV

The Song was written by  Solomon.  Solomon means Peaceful.  He sings of the Shulamite - the Perfect One, or the Peacable One.  The Shulamite rightfully declared that she belongs to her Beloved and that He is her posession. Nothing would separate her from her Beloved. She has exclusive access to His chambers, she is seated at the King's table, and she enjoys exclusive intimacy with her Beloved!  In Ephesians 5 Paul speaks of a great mystery, the marriage relationship between Christ and His Bride; the corporate Church. He compares our marriage to Christ to the marriage between a husband and his wife. John revealed the Bride, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) In the Acts of the Apostles and the early Church there were two expressions of Church life. The believers gathered daily in their households of faith for teaching, fellowship, communion and prayers, and the households would all gather together at the temple to celebrate the Body of Christ. The Church in the City would include all the believers in the entire city.

SHULAMITE in Marine Flag Language :

We also see this expression in the Song of Solomon. The Shulamite respresents the Corporate Body of Christ, and the women of Jerusalem represents the single believer, or the diferent households of faith (local church). The daughters of Jerusalem were selflessly and wholeheartedly pursuing the Shulamite. Just like the Bridemaids would adorn the Bride for the Groom, the daughters of Jerusalem are preparing the Shulamite for her Beloved.

Therefore He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

SHULAMITE in Sign Language:

This equipping of the saints takes place in the local household of faith. God called Solomon to build His Temple. David was unable to build His Temple as he was a man of war, but Solomon would be a man of Rest. (1 Chronicles 22:6-11).  When Solomon built the temple the stone was finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. (1 Kings 6:7) The local church is a quarry where the living stones are carefully prepared to feature in the Temple. Today many pastors are equipping the saints with guitars and microphones instead of hammers and chisels. The local church became a place of entertainment. But the Lord never intended for the emphasis and the beauty to be visible in the local church. The local church is a noisy place. It is a place of crafting and shaping, teaching and discipline. Intimacy with the Beloved was never intended for the daughters of Jerusalem. The Beloved belongs to the Shulamite.

There should be an increasing burden upon every leader of the local church to pursue the Shulamite. Every pastor must pursue the Corporate Gathering of the Saints. The Shulamite warned us: Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. If you are not connected to the corporate temple in your city, if you have no desire to engage other leaders in your city you have no right to the Chambers of Christ.

The "Stirring up of love" belongs to the Shulamite company - The Bride of Christ.

 

The Shulamite woman was a queen. She was royalty. She was Solomon's princess, his special one. The one who made his heart go boom, boom, boom when he came near to her. She was also black. She said her skin looked like the tents of Kedar, which were made out of black goats' hair, like curtains of Solomon. She was definitely a person of color.

But this sun-caressed, black-skinned Shulamite woman can be a woman of any color. Every woman can be a Shulamite woman. Man looks at the outside, but God looks on the inside. The word Shulamite means 'peaceful'. And the most precious quality a woman can have is not skin color, but a peaceful spirit. As 1 Timothy 2:9 says, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

SHULAMITE in Braille (Blind) Alphabet :

Like so many things in scripture, the Song of Solomon goes beyond what it first appears. In it we see God's love for Israel, His chosen covenant people, whom He calls His wife and His bride many times in the writings of the Old Testament prophets. In the Song of Solomon we also see the love Jesus Christ has for His church whom the New Testament calls the Bride of Christ. He's going to sweep us off of our feet and take us up to heaven for His royal wedding, for an eternal, everlasting love affair with Him.

But the Song of Solomon was written for two main reasons: The first to show us how deep and exciting love can be for husband and wife; the second to teach us love, passion and romance do not have to disappear after the wedding takes place. In fact, longing and fulfillment can still be there even after the children arrive. The beautiful Shulamite queen can become the beautiful Shulamite mother, and her handsome, dashing king can become a noble, regal father. The excitement, freshness and newness of love are there for married couples long, long after the wedding vows have been said.

 

SHULA in Marine Flag Language :

There is the idea in many people's minds that soon after marriage happens, passion, romance and adventure all stop. That's because in many marriages they do. The fire dims; the thrill disappears. Most former lovers just live with it, wishing things were different, and some look elsewhere for satisfaction.

But romance never has to leave any marriage - if the couple is willing to work at it and the two lovers are willing to see each other the right way. As scripture says to the husband in Proverbs 5:18, "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. [Let her be as] the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love."

But that's about the husband and father. What about the Shulamite mother? Who is she and what is she like? The answer is: she is many, many things. Because being a mother and raising a family is a position and a responsibility so great only the grace of Almighty God can allow anyone to do it well. It is a ministry that takes many, many talents and gifts. So the Shulamite mother is many things.

SHULA in Morse Code :

………-.-…-

First, the Shulamite mother is a woman who treats her husband with love, compassion and passion. There once was a country song that said, Good Lovin' Keeps A Home Together. The Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon says the same thing. In Chapter 1 verse 13 she says, "A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night between my breasts." Now that's keeping a home together!

SHULA in Braille (Blind) Alphabet :

It's no accident God devoted one chapter, Proverbs 31, plus some New Testament verses, on how to be a godly wife and mother. But He devoted an entire book, the Song of Solomon, to teach a woman how to be a passionate, fulfilling, romantic lover, with both eyes set on pleasing and being pleased by her husband. God wrote an entire book on exploring passion, making love and sharing romance. Indeed, good loving keeps a home together. That country singer was on to something. But God knows that and 3,000 years before that country singer. The Shulamite mother knows keeping her husband's desires and needs fulfilled is a priority for a long-lasting happy marriage and fulfilling relationship. A godly husband and father will respond by giving his wife, her needs and desires the same priority in his life.

 

SHULA in Sign Language :

Next, the Shulamite mother is sensitive to her husband and family. She knows what they do. She knows their habits. She even knows when anyone in her family is coming or going. Song of Solomon 2:8-9 says, "The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice."

I'm exceedingly blessed to get a phone call from my wife at work every night at 6:30 asking when I'm coming home. And I better have a good answer. Amen? But that's the voice of love. That's how the Shulamite wife and mother treats her family. She knows their quirks, their shortcomings, where they need help. She knows their strengths, how to bring those out, how to bring out the best in them. She knows how to be an encourager.

The Shulamite mother knows her family's potential. Proverbs 31:23 says, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." The Shulamite mother, however tender and feminine on the outside, is extremely tough inside; independent-minded, fairly intolerant of immaturity, weakness or wishy-washiness, and very demanding that a man be a real man. She must be careful not to let her strength and high standards turn into a critical spirit. And her bridegroom must be careful not to feel threatened, but to take her insights and suggestions as a challenge to reach higher, grow stronger and become a better man for God.

The Shulamite mother is a helpmate to her husband and a wise partner in the family business. Proverbs 31:16 says, �She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hand she planteth a vineyard.� This pays off for her family because Proverbs 31:21 says, "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet." And even if it's not as expensive as scarlet, the Shulamite mother's family will be looking good in whatever they have on. The Shulamite mother will make sure of that.

 

The Shulamite mother is also a helper in the gospel. She knows Jesus Christ has given her a part and responsibility for the Word of God within her home as well as to the world outside it. She wants saved children and a godly home. And she wants to see the gospel go to the ends of the earth. As Paul said in Philippians 4:3, "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellow laborers, whose names [are] in the book of life." And Proverbs 31:20 says of her, "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." And this, of course, is not only for the mothers, but for young ladies who are going to be mothers, wives and God-fearing, godly women when they grow up.

It takes great strength to accomplish all of this, so the Shulamite mother is a mother of backbone, not easily intimidated. Song of Solomon 3:1-4 says, "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said,] Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? [It was] but a little that [while that] I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."

 

 

The Shulamite Cinderella
Act 1: Put to Work!
Solomon had a vineyard in the hill country of Ephraim, just outside the little town of Shunam, about 50-miles north of Jerusalem (8:11). The vineyard was rented out to a family of sharecroppers, consisting of a mother, two sons, and two daughters. The oldest of these girls was the Shulamite, and the youngest, her little sister (6:13; 8:8).

The Shulamite was the Cinderella of the family, having great natural beauty, but unnoticed by the world. Her brothers made her work very hard, tending to the vineyards, so that she had little opportunity to care for her personal appearance. (1:6) She pruned the vines, she set traps for the little foxes (2:15), she also kept the flocks (1:8).From being out in the open so often, she became sunburned (1:6)

Scripture Reading:
Song of Songs 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24;
Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23

Song of Songs 1:1-4:16

When I was around ten or eleven years old I was taken to a movie.  I don't remember much about the movie, but I do remember that in the movie at one point, a man was in bed with a woman.  In our modern day and with our modern media, this would appear to be no big deal.  But at that time in my life, I was completely embarrassed.  I felt that I was seeing something that was meant to be private and sacred.  The intimacy of a man in bed with a woman was not to be violated by outsiders.  As I write this in the year 2011, we are so far from treating images of sexual relationships as sacred that my reaction as a young girl seems almost absurd.

Today, in the Song of Songs, we will tread on holy ground.  We will be brought into the bed chambers of Christ and His Church.  The sacred and the intimate relationship will be shared.  This love song is a story of two lovers.  It contains yearning, passion and fulfillment.

Commentators of the Bible agree that the Song of Songs, which was written by Solomon contains four different and important meanings:

1. The glory of wedded love.  This book shows us the sacredness of the marital bond and the passion that is a part of this type of bond.
2. The love of God (Jehovah) for Israel. The Bible often portrays Israel as the wife of God and Israel's unfaithfulness as a breach in a marital relationship.
3. A picture of Christ and His Church.  The Church is portrayed in Scripture (Eph. 5, Rev. 21) as the bride of Christ.  Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom on many occasions.  This book takes us into the honeymoon and beyond.
4. The communion of Christ with the individual believer.  This book is a manual for the passion that each believer in Jesus should feel for the Savior.  Jesus is passionate about us.  We must experience His love, deeply.  This book gives us a good way to think in those terms.

The book is a series of scenes in a drama.  Think in terms of a Greek drama with main characters and a chorus.  There are flashbacks to prior events as the story unfolds. 

The story is of a Shulamite girl who works in the vineyard and has become sun tanned as a result.  In our day, that is a badge of honor, but in this day, having dark skin because of working outside all day is a mark of humility.  Here is someone who is working for their salvation.  This is a picture of Israel, the church and individuals who are working for their salvation. 

One day, a handsome shepherd appears.  He falls in love with the girl.  He is intoxicated with her and she with him.  He smells of frankincense and myrrh.  It is not hard for us to see the imagery of Christ.  Jesus was brought both frankincense and myrrh by the wise men some time after his birth.  He was also anointed with myrrh as he was buried after his death.  This symbolism shows us the beautiful fragrance to the Church of Jesus' birth and death.  His birth and death should draw each of us individually to Jesus, our lover.

He is our handsome Shepherd who ends our need to work in the vineyard and brings us to his palace of love.  Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

As the book opens, the Shulamite woman is asking to be kissed again.  We see intimacy that is sealed with a kiss.  The woman is aggressive in wanting to be taken into the bedroom.  Are you seeking intimacy with Christ?  Do you fervently desire a relationship with Him?

The chorus cries out that his love is better than wine.  How true that the joy we receive from Christ cannot compare to the joy produced by alcohol.  You may feel great temporarily when you have a glass of wine, but the feeling of knowing Christ does not leave you with a headache the next day.

The woman wonders where the shepherd is leading his flocks this day.  Do you wonder about the methods that Jesus uses in the Church?  Do you wonder if certain people really are part of his flock?  There is a mystery to the work of Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

Notice in chapter 1 verse 13 that the woman says her lover is like a sachet of myrrh lying between her breasts.  Is Christ (his birth and death) settled like a lover in your heart?

The bride waits for her husband who is off, but returns in the Spring (chapter 2:12).  This pictures Christ's resurrection.  He was gone briefly in death (the winter), but returns in the Spring with resurrected life. She cries out, "Arise, my beloved, my fair one and come away with me." (vs. 13).  Have you asked the resurrected Christ to come away with you?  He wants this desire from you.  He wants you to want Him.

In chapter 3, we see the young woman roaming the streets of the city in search of her lover.  Where has he gone?  It is nighttime and she is lonely without him. A little while later, she finds him.  Isn't this the state that the Church is presently in?  Aren't we wandering in the nighttime as our love is seated in heaven?  There will be a reuniting of the Church (bride) with Christ (bridegroom) in the future.  We will embrace Him, face to face.  We see the chorus describe the groom coming like a cloud in the desert. He smells of frankincense and myrrh.  He comes as a king surrounded by warriors.  This, my friends, is a picture of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords as he comes for His bride, the Church.

In chapter 4, we get a description of Jesus' heart for his bride. It is a picture of a man who feels that his bride is perfect in every part.  He describes his heart as being ravished by her.  The woman is his treasure and he is overcome by her beauty.  She is his private garden and a quenching fountain.  She provides living water that satisfies his thirst.  Do you think of yourself as this to Christ?  Do you understand His desire to be with you?  You ravish His heart.

His bride calls out for him to come into her garden and eat its choicest fruits.  Oh, for this type of intimacy with the Lord!  Passion shared and enjoyed. Do you invite Jesus to have this sort of intimacy with you?  Have you given Him the deepest part of yourself?

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

The Apostle Paul was a man of impeccable character.  Today, he confirms to the Corinthians that as he and Titus carry the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem, they will be honorable before the Lord in how they handle the situation.  They will not indulge in taking a little money for themselves and profiting from the gifts of others.  Boy, do we need this type of attitude in the modern church.  How many men and women are attempting to personally profit from gifts meant to minister to others.  Jesus is watching. 

Psalm 50:1-23

This psalm speaks of the Lord returning and judging the world.  Only God can reveal the way of salvation.

Proverbs 22:22-23

The Lord is the defender of the poor. 


Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!" I'm whispering, "I get lost! That's why I chose this way"

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak with human pride I'm confessing that I stumble — needing God to be my guide

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't think I know it all I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it

When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name

When I say, "I am a Christian," I do not wish to judge I have no authority — I only know I'm loved

Pour nous ouvrir les yeux sur la puissance de la rhétorique (l'art de bien parler, d'organiser son discours), le maître de conférence nous raconta cette petite histoire :

« Un vieux roi rêve que toutes ses dents sont tombées. Au réveil, il est très préoccupé par ce funeste songe, de sorte qu'il fait venir céans son devin.

- Je t'en prie, interprète ce rêve pour moi. Le devin réfléchit et répond :

- Votre Altesse, le rêve signifie que tous les membres de votre famille vont mourir et que vous allez rester seul.

Cet énoncé provoque la colère du roi qui congédie aussitôt son devin et en appelle sur le champ un second à qui il raconte son rêve.

Toi, maintenant, dis moi ce que ce présage signifie ! Alors le second devin répond :
- Réjouis-toi, ô roi ! Toi et tous tes proches vous allez vivre de nombreuses années encore. Mais c'est toi qui aura la plus longue existence parmi tous les tiens. Vive le Roi !

- Cette nouvelle interprétation rend le souverain si heureux qu'il fait apporter un sac d'or pour récompenser l'interprète.

Et cependant, conclut notre professeur, les deux devins ont fait exactement la même prédiction...

C'est vrai, le contenu des deux prédictions est le même : le roi et ses proches vont vivre, puis mourir. Le roi va rester seul. Mais quelle différence dans la manière d'énoncer ces deux augures !

Peu importe le message que vous transmettez : si vous ne choisissez pas les bons mots, si vous en faites apparaître les aspects négatifs, il y a fort à parier que votre message sera mal reçu.

Ce que l'on dit importe, mais la manière dont on le dit est, elle aussi, décisive dans nos rapports avec les autres.