Song of Songs 1-2

The Song of Songs is in my opinion one of the most underrated books of the Bible. It doesn't provide any deep historical insight or apocalyptic visions; it doesn't record moving sermons or incisive moral teaching. But what the Song does do--and does better than perhaps any other book--is capture the relational essence of Christianity.

"My beloved is mine and I am his" (Song 2:16). Of the many passionate and loving verses in the first two chapters, this may best exemplify the exclusivity and possessiveness with which the lovers view their relationship. And while possessiveness is often given a negative connotation in modern times, consider that God describes Himself thus, "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:5). 

Be it earthly romance or the heavenly marriage of Christ and the church, would you prefer it any other way?

Psalm 140-142

David's lament in Psalm 142 is heart-rending. It requires little imagination to picture the depths of despair in which he finds himself taking up his pen, beleaguered on all sides as he is and at present seeking refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1).

David's faith in the Lord's future deliverance is commendable and to be emulated. Also of note are the circumstances under which he turns desperately to God. David did not initially try to bolster himself on his own might and then petition God when that plan fell apart; no, he went before God from the first. David knows that only God is mighty enough to save.

That we might be so wise in the midst of our own struggles!

Nehemiah 5-9

There is something moving about the image of Ezra reading the Law before the assembled men and women on the Feast of Trumpets (Nehemiah 8). For starters, it was unusual for women to be present for assemblies such as these, although on especially significant occasions they were included.

Second, the picture of having everyone gathered together "As one man" (Nehemiah 8:1), hungry for God's word, is inspiring. History tells us that this fervor did not last long, but is it not true that we all seem to need to be refreshed in our zeal for God from time to time? 

Society looks a lot different today than it did in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, but our need for God is unchanged. We should consider ourselves fortunate that we have access to God's word--and indeed, God Himself--whenever we choose to avail ourselves of it!

Deuteronomy 23-25

Detractors of Christianity often point to the rules given to the Israelites in the Old Testament as evidence of backwards and outdated thinking. While indeed some of these rules can seem convoluted or just plain bizarre (see Deut 25: 5-10), there is a grand design at work that you decontextualize at your own risk.

One of the most important keys to unlocking the Mosaic law is to understand the way it relates to Jesus' life and ministry. That is, in a post-resurrection world, we are to interpret the Law in light of Jesus instead of in isolation from him. Thus we can read Matthew 5:17 or Matthew 22: 36-40 and see that Jesus simultaneously embodies the predictions of the Old Testament while revealing the Pharisees' hypocritical perversion thereof.

So how do we respond to seemingly contradictory passages like Deuteronomy 25: 1-3 and 1 Corinthians 6: 1-8 (which are not as incompatible as they look)? My advice would be to read them not as isolated instructions separated by time and culture, but instead to see points on a continuum that ultimately points to the revealed and risen Lord.  

1 John 4-5

Christianity is much more than a set of treatises playing out in the pages of a book; it has profound spiritual and emotional components as well. But each of us knows that emotions are notoriously difficult to keep in proper perspective. How do we know when we are getting carried away?

In 1 John 4, the apostle John offers a simple vetting process for any notion, be it intellectual, emotional, or spiritual: Anything that is from God will acknowledge Jesus. More broadly, that which is from God will square with biblical precepts. Anything that is not from God will not. Testing the spirits is easier said than done, perhaps, but it will be time well spent!

Acts 19-20

This is a powerful and moving passage of Scripture, containing as it does extraordinary examples of God's power (Acts 19:11), a heartbreaking farewell (Acts 20:18-38), and yet another instance of Paul's inspiring faith (Acts 20: 22-24). In many ways these two chapters are a microcosm of much of the entire book of Acts.

Those aren't the only noteworthy features of this passage, however. Acts 20:35 is, to my knowledge, the only place in the entire Bible where we find an agrapha, a quotation from Jesus' earthly ministry that does not also appear in the canonical Gospels (indeed, this phrase is next quoted in the First Epistle of Clement, which was written a couple decades after Luke completed Acts). Not only is this a literary curiosity but it also speaks to the importance of oral history in the growth and expansion of the early church. The sayings and teachings of Jesus were carefully preserved--without the benefit of a "paper trail--"so effectively as to be instantly recognizable when those teachings were finally written down.

As we head into the holiday season and its clamoring tornado of messages, let us hold fast to "The words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35).

Malachi

Malachi is widely recognized as the final Old Testament prophet (though Joel has a handful of adherents too). With the intertestamental period looming, what closing admonition and encouragement does God have for His people?

The message of Malachi is, unsurprisingly, not dissimilar from the message of the rest of the Bible: The King is coming and he will bring judgment and redemption. There will be no escape for the wicked, nor will the faithful be forsaken. "'Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire ... but for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings'" (Malachi 4:1-2). 

This has both eternal and short-term applications (for more on the connection between Malachi 4:2 and Matthew 9:20-22, see my post from April 15 here), but Israel can be hold onto these assurances in the coming centuries: The Lord is both a wrathful and a merciful God, and perhaps above all, He is a faithful God.