Song of Songs Advent Devotion for Couples – Advent 1 Thursday
Th Shulammite has just expressed her dismay over her appearance and status, unsure of why the King would accept her. Solomon responds declaring her to be beautiful and strong. In Advent we come before our King in humble repentance, unsure of our status, but Christ responds by declaring us to be beautiful and victorious.
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 1:9-11
Wedding
Husband: I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
Both: We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
Discussion
Mare: Pharaoh’s army was impressive, with a strong cavalry of horse-drawn chariots. The Bridegroom sees his bride with the same magnificence as one of those warrior creatures, with the same strength and power and victory. 1 John 5:4: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”
Why does our heavenly Bridegroom see us as having such a victory?
When we think of Pharaoh’s chariots in biblical history, we usually think of the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea. Through a miracle, God brought his people to safety from their enemies, drawing them out of slavery to freedom. In Jesus’ resurrection, he broke the bonds of our slavery to death, to bring us to the freedom of his eternal life.
Jewels: Coupled with the power of the mare, the Bridegroom sees a glorious beauty in his bride. This country bumpkin is clothed with the king’s riches. Revelation 21:2: “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-27: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor.” Galatians 3:27: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
How does Jesus come to bring us to himself in our lives now? How should Christ’s view of us affect how we view our spouse?
Listen: The Advent hymn “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending” (ELH 98)
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.
Jeffrey Hendrix
I serve as pastor of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregation in Oregon, WI. But I never wanted to be a pastor. I wanted to produce media. I went to Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN for communication/video production, and while I was there, I began to appreciate historic Lutheran doctrine and practice, recognizing the beauty and teaching in the design of the divine service. Professors encouraged me to consider studying for the pastoral office, and I listened. So now I produce media for churches (See my website LutheranSynodPublishing.com) as a pastor.
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