Song of Songs Christmas Day Devotion for Couples

Opening Prayer

All four Advent candles are lit. A fifth white candle may be lit for Christmas.

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 8:13-14

Final Desire

Husband: O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it.

Wife: Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

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Discussion

Garden: Gathered around your Christmas tree, recall how the first husband and wife gathered around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, initially to worship God by obeying his command not to eat of its fruit. On another tree in Jerusalem, the child of another couple was killed to pay for their sin and yours, so that you may continue to gather in worship as you wait for his return. Our churches and homes, where the Word of God is shared, are the gardens where we dwell, so that our heavenly Bridegroom may hear our voice of praise and petition in response to his gifts of love and forgiveness and salvation.

God loves to hear our voices. Why is this a comfort? 

Make haste: 1 Corinthians 16:22: “Our Lord, come! [Maranatha!]”  Revelation 22:20: “Come, Lord Jesus!” This is the constant prayer of the Church since the time of the Apostles and still now. The Bridegroom has ascended to a mountain filled with spices, the mountain where God smells the pleasing aroma of his peoples’ prayers. The wait is therefore accompanied by the same smell, so that the Bride will not forget her Groom until he comes.

Knowing we are not the first to beg Jesus to “make haste,” as we age and our marriages go on, and even come to an end with death, how is this phrase comforting to us?

How are we constantly reminded and made certain of the fact that our heavenly Bridegroom will come? What makes the wait happy?

Hymn

Hymn verses this week: “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us,” v. 5, 7

(Listen to the melody here)

5. In yonder home shall never
Be silent music’s voice;
With hearts and lips forever
We shall in God rejoice.
The angels shall adore Him,
All saints shall sing His praise
And bring with joy before Him
Their sweetest heav’nly lays.

7. Thus God shall from all evil
Forever make us free,
From sin and from the devil,
From all adversity,
From sickness, pain, and sadness,
From troubles, cares, and fears,
And grant us heav’nly gladness
And wipe away our tears.

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.