Song of Songs Advent Devotion for Couples – Advent 1 Wednesday

In Song of Songs 1:5-8, the Shulammite expresses her dismay over her status and appearance. Yet, in spite of that, her Beloved loves her and chooses to make His dwelling with her. This is also a theme of Advent, and something that has much to say to husbands and wives who, at times, are less than confident in themselves. Draw closer to each other this Advent, as Christ draws closer to you.

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 1:5-8

Courtship

Wife: I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.  Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me.  My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!  Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?

Husband: If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

Discussion

Dark:   Solomon’s bride was apparently engaged in difficult manual labor in the sun.  She would therefore have been of lower economic and social status.  Is such a peasant a worthy bride for a king?  But her beauty is not determined by her appearance by the love of her husband.

How is your relationship as pleasant as this Song describes?  How has sin showed itself in your relationship?  How does God’s love overshadow all that sin has corrupted in your marriage relationship?

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We, the Church, are the bride of Christ, who, by being “baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  We are beautiful and holy because Jesus came to be the perfect human being, and he comes into our hearts through Word and Sacrament to make us holy in his image.

Tents: The shepherds of Kedar lived in tents of darkened animal hide.  Before they settled in the Promised Land, the people of Israel also dwelt in tents, and they were led by their Good Shepherd, who lived in the greatest tent: the Tabernacle.  When God came among his people according to promise, the apostle John writes that “the Word became flesh and tented among us” (John 1:14, EHV).  He wrapped himself in humble human flesh when he came to save us.
Now we are still shepherded by pastors (Latin for shepherds), who give the Word of our Savior to us.  This began when the first people to receive the news of the Savior’s birth were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  They joyfully shared the good news that we have received and may also share.

Why do we take comfort in knowing that Jesus “tented with us”?

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.