Song of Songs Advent Devotion for Couples – Advent 1 Saturday

In the close to chapter 1, Solomon describes marriage with echos of the Garden of Eden. In Advent, we look forward to when Christ, our Bridegroom, will come to bring us again to His home, the fulfillment of the Temple, Paradise: Heaven.

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 1:15-17

Husband: Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.

Wife: Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green; the beams of our house are cedar; our rafters are pine.

Discussion

Beauty: The Bridegroom pronounces his love beautiful, and in response, she may describe his beauty as her delight. God “has blessed us in the Beloved…so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:6, 12). “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10, 11).

How has God pronounced you beautiful in his sight? How may you praise God in response in your marriage? in your life?

The timing, dosage of this medicine and sexual arousal are considered cialis in uk online as the most elegant part of the ED treatment. It can also help with diabetic issues according to numerous scientific journals. viagra canada cost appalachianmagazine.com So, you will online cialis no prescription obviously get the medicine in cheap from online pharmacies. You also need to learn about the maintenance of the RC helicopters before the purchase of sildenafil?If you are troubled by certain pre existing health conditions then the consumption of sildenafil or Blue pills can cause a few complications. cheap viagra no rx

Trees:   Green is the color of life, and the color of grass, on which the wedded couple might be lying. The beams of Solomon’s palace were made of cedar, as were those of the Temple. The bride and groom may enjoy all God’s creation in the natural world. They also dwell together in the magnificent home which the groom has prepared for his bride. They are also permitted to enter the sanctuary of God, where he meets his people with forgiveness and life.

When our heavenly Bridegroom comes in his final Advent, he will take us to heaven. How is our eternal life like a garden? like a palace? like the Temple?

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.

---

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