Scripture Union Daily Guide 23rd March 2024 Message
Scripture Union Daily Guide 23rd March 2024, Saturday Devotional Message
TOPIC: My Beloved Is Radiant
OPENING PRAYER: Lord, let the light of your word shine into my life as I meditate on your word.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: SONG OF SONGS 5:2-16
1 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
• Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Here is a bride’s love and appreciation of her groom. What may we learn from this woman’s experience for improving our marital relationships? Notice the nightmare bride can experience when her spouse is not available at needed times (vs.2,6). It satisfies when a husband is sensitive to know when the wife needs him! Is there any example to follow or not to follow in vs.3-6 (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5)?
The bride’s questions (v.3) should challenge us to always be holy, awaiting our Bridegroom, Jesus. Maximum satisfaction in sexual intercourse between spouses requires not only emotional readiness but also bodily preparation (vs.3,5).
How do you see the woman’s sincerity (v.8) and the response of her friends (v.9; see 6:1 also)? Openness about our feelings for our spouse is always very helpful.
Notice how the woman was willing to risk her life and dignity as she searched for her lover (vs.7-8). She is not ashamed to say how she desperately wants to be with him. From vs.10-16, she responds to those who are inquisitive about her love affair with the most romantic words to describe the qualities that made her attracted to her lover who is also her closest friend.
PRACTICE/WORD APPLICATION
So what? Always reflect and outline the strength of your spouse.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
CLOSING PRAYER
Ask the Lord for grace to do this.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
• Pray that God will come and take His place in the hearts of our youths • Pray for genuine salvation among our youths and children • Pray for them, for grace to stand for God and His righteousness in this evil days
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 60:11
“Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.”
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 83 – Joshua 5-8
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sat Mar 23, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
ABUJA REGION
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
THANK GOD FOR:
• The leadership of the Region and the good work they are doing to consolidate and expand the work of the Union
PRAY FOR:
• The leadership using the Regional Chairman, Dr. Jonah Abah and RC – Engr. Ikoyi Samuel as points of contact for proactive leadership.
• The empowerment of the programs to bear fruits in soul wining the deep revival among brethren
PRAY AGAINST:
• Contentions and the forces in the Region; bring all powers to submit to the will of God.
