Song of Songs Advent Devotion for Couples – Advent 1 Friday

Can smells be devotional? Solomon in Song of Songs is not afraid to use smells to help describe his bride. God also uses smells to describe His Church and what Jesus has done for it.

Opening Prayer

The first Advent candle (violet) is lit.

The husband may say, or the couple may say together:

In the name of the Father and of † the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, who has created man and woman and provided them with the estate of marriage, provide us in our relationship the kind of love that reflects your love for us. For you gave your Son to purchase us by his blood, and you will send him again to bring us to the heavenly wedding feast on the Last Day. Strengthen us by your Word as we expect his Advent.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Together you may confess the Apostles’ Creed and pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Song of Songs 1:12-14

Marital Bliss

Wife: While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.  My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts. My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.

Discussion

Spices: In Scripture, spices are frequently symbolic of God’s presence with his people. The sense of smell is powerful for memory. The smell of a certain cookie can take you back to your grandmother’s house. The musk of old wood can transport you to your childhood Sunday School classroom. 

The spices here were used in the Temple sacrifices, to let the people know that their offerings were pleasing to God, taken in their place for their sins.  Smelling these spices, people could remain at peace, knowing that God’s wrath was turned aside from them.

Are there pleasing smells that you associate with church or worship? What about with your spouse?

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When Jesus came, he became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Why is it important to know that Jesus “gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2)?

The bride in the song wears the scents of her Bridegroom. 

How are we, the Bride of Christ, “the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)?

Hymn

Hymn verses this week: “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us,” vv. 1, 2

(Listen to the melody here)

1. The Bridegroom soon will call us;
Come, all ye wedding guests!
May not His voice appall us
While slumber binds our breasts!
May all our lamps be burning
And oil be found in store
That we, with Him returning,
May open find the door!

2. There shall we see delighted
Our dear Redeemer’s face,
Who leads our souls benighted
To glory by His grace.
The patriarchs shall meet us,
The prophets’ holy band,
Apostles, martyrs, greet us
In that celestial land.

Author: Johann Walter; Translator: Matthias Loy

Benediction

The almighty and most merciful Lord, the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit bless and preserve us. Amen.

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Devotions by Rev. Michael Lilienthal and Rev. Jeff Hendrix.