God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble

 James 4:1-10

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James turns from peace to conflict. The root cause of quarrels and fighting is envy: setting our hearts on something we want and determining to get it, no matterwhat. We align ourselves with the world when we behave like that. James says. Don't be proud - be humble. Rests evil and submit to God who lifts up the humble.

Why?

Quarrel and envy come from our desire, so don't quarrel and compare with others for the Lord is my blessing, everything is good to us if we are walking with the Lord.

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God, God is still there but because he is closer to the world he doesn't know the way of the Lord.

Be humble for God is my support and my blessing, God will lift us up in his time! Don't give up and enjoy every day in God's love.

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主題：保守自己不沾染世俗，世俗： 沒有信仰的人的價值觀。即「爭」，為滿足自己的私慾而爭，因此不擇手段的學，小的是人與人殺害、鬥毆，大的是國與國的戰爭。一些信主的人用禱告的方式爭，禱告內容也是和世俗一樣。神的靈不會因為人的愛慕而忌妒。神阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人。

人可以有欲望，但是存謙卑的心，一切自己所有的都覺得我是不配的。

一個人 願意悔改，世俗的喜笑變作悲哀，世俗的歡樂變作愁悶，為罪而懊悔，看到自己的罪而悲哀難過。世俗的方法用爭的，屬靈人的方法，1)用溫柔：為別人著想、2)謙卑：覺得自己不配

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How?

Be humble and live in peace heart, joy everyday for God is my portion and my strength.

Two kinds of wisdom, two kinds of result

James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Pure wisdom comes from God and shows itself in gentleness, peace, mercy. It is a very different thing from being worldly-wise. The worldly-wise are full of selfish ambition, eager to get on, asserting their own rights. James offers a sort of counter-order wisdom, in contrast to the conventional wisdom of the wellborn and educated in the Greco-Roman world.

Why?

Our wisdom comes from heaven with love, the truth, and peace. show our wisdom by our good life and good deeds. It does not come from the earth, this world teaches us to emphasize competition, struggle, and envy, boast property and earn much more benefit.

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我們若是用口咒詛神按神形像造的人，豈不是也在罵神。

原因是忌妒以致會咒罵人。

求智慧是解答！第一章，因為人落在百般試練。我們自己因著忌妒、罪而犯罪，所以要求智慧。v13:智慧的溫柔有智慧的人知道如何面對爭議，有智慧的人先為別人著想，不求自己的利益，所以顯現出溫柔。人為什麼要裝模作樣，為了得自己的利益，因為人的罪中帶著驕傲，怕佔不到好處，怕輸別人，怕被人看不起。

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How?

Let me be a peacemaker and sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing

James 3:1-12 

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Those who want to be teachers in the church must first learn to control their tongues. To master this most uncontrollable and contradictory member of the body is to have perfect self-control. One spark can light a forest fire. A single word can be just as destructive - a deadly venom. The same tongue can bless and it can curse, do good and do untold harm. This inconsistency. James says, is against all the laws of nature.

Why?

James reminds us we should control our tongue, it can be set on fire by hell. corrupts the whole body.

So to be a teacher in the church have to be no fault in what he says.

We can't praise the Lord and curse other people so as fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring, so if anyone curses others and praises the Lord, his praise is false.

How?

Let us don't live in fresh but live in the Holy Spirit inside our body. When I am a Christian,  "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatian 2:20

Respect the poor & faith and actions

James 2:1-26

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

It is a natural human tendency to defer to social superiors and despise those below us on the social scale. There is nothing Christian about this. The right thing is to treat everyone with equal respect - to love our neighbor as ourselves, as God's commandment teaches us.

Faith that stops at words is not faith at all. Even demons believe in God and fear him, but that won't save them from God's judgment. Real faith works, God accepted Abraham and Rahab because their faith resulted in action; it was genuine. If what we believe does not affect the way we live, what we do, it is dead.

Why?

Don't do favoritism, love everyone because God is love, do not show favoritism to the poor or dirty clothes people.

Faith should be completed with action. Faith without action is dead! Faith is not saying but doing it in action.

How?

Love your neighbor as yourself & do it better and say it.

戴繼宗

And it came about that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 

正如保羅在帖撒羅尼迦前書第一章說到，他們傳福音不獨在乎言語，也在乎權能和聖靈，並充足的信心。因此，這種傳講的方式使許多在以哥念的人信了主。對21世紀每一位傳講福音的人來說，忠實地傳講，無畏地傳講，有效地傳講，確實是非常重要的提醒。

Listening and doing

 James 1:12-27

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 

James' comments in this chapter provide us with a fair idea of what Christians should be like. They have a positive attitude to the difficulties of life, knowing their value. They do not blame God when things go wrong. They know where to turn for help and guidance. Their values are right. They have control of their tongues and their tempers. They set themselves to discover God's standards and to live them out. They put faith into practice - and it shows.

Why?

The Christian life is a mirror of Jesus, we can't listen and do in our desire, but do what we heard from God, Bible, and from the gospel.

Our goal is to get the crown of life, it is given by the Lord. So God is not only watching what we said but what we are doing. We should be a kind of firstfruits of all God created.

A Christian is not religious but is the mirror of Jesus Christ in this world.

Everything that comes from above is good, but our desire may induce sin in this world. Be careful to our desires.

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受試探，逼迫使人在信仰中跌倒，試探要讓人犯罪。逼迫要人否定信仰、救恩！或用榮華富貴引誘人否認主。撒旦利用人的私慾引誘人離開主，人容易被勝過，但是也沒有那麼容易。私慾必須懷胎才會有影響，一段時間。

從神來的都是美善的，在試練中更要活出基督的生命，結出屬靈的果子。

結出的果子就是要給別人。

1)要行道，不要單單聽道。我們喜歡參加聚會、聽道，但是卻無法行出來。

2)要謹慎言語：聽到動怒很容易。快快的聽，慢慢的說。我們發怒通常不是為了神，而是為了自己，不舒服就會生氣，不要急著下判斷、評論。多聽、多思想，用溫柔的心領受神的話語。

勒住舌頭是虔誠的人，因為不輕易批評別人。

3)體憫別人： 神是孤兒的父親，寡婦的申冤者，付出看顧軟弱者。

4)保守自己不沾染世俗

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How?

Be aware every day to live out the crown of life to honor the name of the Lord!

James: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God

 James 1:1-11

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

This opening chapter mentions almost all the topics dealt with more fully later: testing, endurance, wisdom, prayer; faith; riches; the tongue, Christianity in action. The crisp, succinct style and some of the themes recall both the Old Testament book of Proverbs and Jesus' own way of speaking in the Sermon on the Mount.

Why?

James encourages the Christians that even suffer the testing and difficulty should have faith, it will produce perseverance, and perseverance finish its work so that may be mature and complete.

Wisdom comes from the Lord, so we should pray to the Lord without doubt and with faith. If it is right, it will be given to us.

The pride, high position, rich... etc all of these will pass away like a wild flower. What is the most important is the faith and the pure heart in Christ.

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雅各是耶穌的弟弟，卻很謙卑，稱自己為耶穌的僕人。

當時似乎受大逼迫中，在逼迫中讓人看出他們的生命，以行為來證明信心。雅各書主要內容1)要行道不要單聽道，2)多思想，要謹慎說話，3)以免舌頭引來麻煩。4)不要按外表對待人要愛弟兄姊妹，不要受世俗觀的影響。

週到試練、逼迫要喜樂，這是主要我們生命成長的時刻。我忍耐的下去嗎？忍耐也當成功，這逼迫也是神的安排，神也會保守，讓我們與主同行走一條辛苦的道路。

要憑信心求智慧！社會地位，經濟有可能改變，在世人看來富足或是卑微都不足道。卑微的升高是基督徒進入屬天的領域。富足的降卑。有錢人要超過外在的條件即使地位降低或是失去錢財 ，仍然享受在神裏的巧妙富足，所以也要喜樂。無論人怎麼看我們，我們更要重視神怎樣看我們。我們服事主，主必尊重我們。遇事逼迫不是求快快過去，而是求神給我們智慧，如何面對?是否喜樂呢?若是神看重我而喜樂。

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How?

May my heart and my mind always go with the Lord and glory the Holy Name of the Lord in my life.

Jude: by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit

Jude 1-25

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.  And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Though he had wanted to write 'about the salvation we share', Jude writes, instead, urging the Christians to hold fast to the truth. For 'certain men' have infiltrated the group and are now creating division by their false teaching. These men are so arrogant as to deny Christ. And Christian freedom has been turned into license.

Jude reminds his readers of examples from Jewish history and tradition: those who fall away or give themselves up to pride or lust will suffer God's judgment.

These men reject authority. But they are marked out for destruction - as Sodom and Gomorrah were for their sexual immorality and perversion: as Cain was for murdering the brother whose life showed up his own; as Balaam was for betraying his position as a prophet, and as Korah was for his rebellion against God-given authority. The examples are carefully chosen. These are the very things of which these teachers are guilty.

Jude's intention is to stiffen resistance to such a teacher. The Christians are not defenseless, but they must make full use of their defenses. They must build on 'the faith' - that definitive body o truth they have been taught. They must pray and use the power of the Holy Spirit. They must live in the light of Christ's coming again There is no need to be afraid or despair, for God is indeed able to keep them from falling.

Why?

A wonderful reminder to every Christian, there are many sinners around us even in the church. Keep our faith in Christ and know the truth to defend the false teaching.

沒有雨的雲，只有外表。沒有果子的樹：將要死亡。海裏的狂妄： 虛有其表。流星：稍縱即逝。共同特點都是假的。

猶大引用偽經，當時大家都知道的事，就是偽經都指出未來有審判，可見此事為真，只想到自己的需要，只有外表，雖然信主已久。

一、在神的證話語中好好扎根。在聖靈中禱告，求神幫助我們更新生命、仰望神的憐憫。不是只讀經，讓知識變成生命、力量。

二、我們無時無刻都需要神的憐憫！去幫助那快要跌倒或是已經跌倒的人，1)心裏存疑的人2)在火當中的人

三、存懼怕的心憐憫他們，有可能我們去幫忙的時候也有可能被沾染、影響。

這個祝福中是有保證的。

How?

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire. God is love to everyone!

Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains

Song of songs 8:8-14

We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. FRIEND

I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. SHE

Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. SHE

You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! HE

Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains. SHE

The final invitation is to a continued celebration of the love and communion which the happy couple shares. The inclusion of the Song of Solomen in the Bible means that 'the joys of physical union and mutual enjoyment are stamped with God's approval.

Why?

Lover enjoys this love and their vineyard fruits. There is their own world in love.

How?

Yes, all of our enjoyment and love is stamped with God's approval!

For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave

 Song of songs 8:1-7

If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.

His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 
Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

The bride longs to take the initiative and display her affection openly. In her mind, her lover's arms are already about her in tender and passionate consummation of their love.

In verse 5 the scene changes. The two are together at last. Love has found its fulfillment. Nothing can destroy true love.

Why?

True love like fire can not be quenched. 

Love is as strong as death, always follow with us and give us strength, its jealousy unyielding as the grave, so there are fighting and dying for the lover.

Wealth can not change true love! Our heart could not be purchased by money either.

How?

May the true love existing in this world, make peace and love among people through Jesus Christ.

How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights!

Song of songs 7:1-13

How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights! Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, and your mouth like the best wine.

May the wine go straight to my beloved, flowing gently over lips and teeth. I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me. Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love. The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved.

Again the bridegroom marvels at the beauty of his bride, ever more intimate in his description. He cannot tear his eyes away. Every detail is perfection. His mind and senses leap to the moment of possession.

The bride loves him utterly, without reserve, longing to give herself to him - in all the glory of the springtime.

Why?

This is a love song, between man and woman, the lovers. They love each other and give themself to their love fully.

I belong to my beloved, so I have no freedom to devote myself to others. For my heart is belong to her.

How?

Real love is devoted all to my lover fully!

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine

Song of songs 6:1-13

My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies. SHE

You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead. HE

Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you! FRIEND

The women question the bride replies, and the bridegroom again describes the beauty of his one and only love. There is no queen or royal concubine to match her.

Why?

Between lovers, there is no other one who can replace them.

In the eyes of the lover, each of them is better and more beautiful than any others.

How?

With love to look at others will be a beautiful scene in this world. 

Tell him I am faint with love

Song of songs 5:1-16

I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again?

My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him.

I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.

My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven... His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

The bride dreams again. This time the bridegroom comes and, although all is prepared, she is too slow in letting him in. Once again the enjoyment of love is frustrating. Eager anticipation turns to b deep sense of loss. In reply to the women, she describes her lover, begging them - if they find him - to tell him she is faint with love for him. He is, from head to foot, as 'totally desirable to her as she to him.

Why?

They are loving each other but some time for the convenience of us, We may delay or missed some point, let our lover frustrated, actually we careless it, we have to turn our heart if we love our lover he/she is worthy for us to pay effort on she/him.

How?

My heart sank at his departure, keeping close with my lover. So as keeping closer to the Lord!

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you

 Song of songs 4:1-16

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of leopards. You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!

You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon. HE

Awake, north wind,and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits. SHE

The bridegroom glories in the beauty of his bride. The imagery is oriental. Her eyes are shy and soft as doves; her hair shining silky-black like the coats of a flock of goats caught in the sun as they ripple over the hillside. Her teeth are white and even; her cheeks full and rosy; her neck like a tower hung with trophies; her breasts like deer. It is the nature of sexual love the world over to consider every detail of the body with delight. In the bridegroom's eyes, the beauty of the woman he loves is flawless. She has stolen his heart, fired his senses, and he longs to take her for his own.

Why?

Here described the beauty of his bride. Her whole body is beautiful and wonderful. Her image has stolen his heart. It is the song of lovers.

And the bride response her love to her bridegroom. Welcome his coming!

How?

Love is beautiful and attractive to everyone.

Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires

 Song of songs 3:1-11

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.

Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.

The search-and-find motif is introduced in a dream sequence as the bride describes the distress of separation and the joy of reunion. V6-11: describe the grand procession of King Solomon.

Why?

The lover searches for his love all night and rejoices when they reunion, so as we should love our God, like love our lover.

To the one we love, we hope he/she will satisfy and comfort, so the psalmist says "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

How?

Love my wife and my family, further love everyone around me. For God is love!

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys

 Son of songs 2:1-17

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.  SHE

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. HE

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. SHE

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. HE

My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills. SHE

Complement is exchanged for compliment. The bride's thoughts dwell on her lover with passionate longing, thrilling at his voice for the memory of his words. The bridegroom calls to her in the idyllic beauty of springtime. It is all in a country setting. Only the aside of verse 7 contains any hint of the court.

Why?

Bride and bridegroom love each other, they delight so sitting in his side and enjoying the freedom and love.

My beloved is mine and I am his, it is the confidence and love among their two.

How?

Beloved and love our lover is a beautiful thing!