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.
By Kelly Schumacher, Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts
Used by permission.
“This Madonna and Child is a representation of the Incarnation. Christ Jesus is true man, born of the Virgin Mary to redeem mankind from sin. The Christ child was often depicted nude to counteract the gnostic teachings that denied the coming of the Savior into flesh. Upon his circumcision, Simeon prophesied to Mary that a sword would pierce her heart; she would experience suffering as her son would.
Jesus is sitting in Mary’s lap; his pose imitates her posture. There is something strange in this painting however. Is she pulling her veil to reveal her son in her lap, or to reveal his fate in the background? The answer is both. The young Jesus points toward the upper right hand corner of the painting, with a sense of knowing in his eyes. Christ Jesus was born to die as a man for the salvation of us all. Mary clings to the cross, piercing her own soul as well.”
Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts
Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts on Facebook
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.
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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