Today’s Scripture Reading (May 1,
2013): Song of Songs 7
There is an
episode of the old “Two and a Half Men” show with Charlie Sheen where Charlie
and Chelsea are seen eating at the kitchen table and the viewer realizes that
Chelsea is taking a trip. Charlie is in the midst of volunteering to take her
to the airport. And so she starts discussing what time her plane leaves. And as
she is talking, Charlie starts to do the math. If the plane leaves at this time
and she has to be at the airport a couple of hours before the plane leaves, and
if it is going to take this amount of time to get to the airport – and there is
this sudden realization that all of this means that they are going to have to
leave for the airport really early. And so he makes the comment – “that means
we have to leave by _______ .” And Chelsea looks at him and starts talking
about the traffic that they might have to endure and then she’s the horror on
Charlie’s faces and so she stops and asks him one question – “do you want me to
phone for a cab?” And without missing a beat Charlie replies “of course not,
I’ll call one for you.”
This verse
in the Song of Songs has caused a little confusion as to who it is that the woman
in the Song is talking to – because apparently any fool knows that farmers get
up early and kings get up late. Is it possible that the stress of marriage life
has already taken its toll on the young couple and she has gone back to other
lovers? But there is really no reason to assume that. However, the reality is
that she is testing the love of her king. Will he go with her into the
countryside, leaving the safety of the city and the comforts of the palace –
and get up early when every fiber in his body wants to stay in bed and sleep
into the day?
It is one of
the hardest things about relationships at any stage. I know that I love you and
I am owned by you – but do you feel the same way about me. Up until now in the
song it seems that Solomon has wanted the relationship to go his way – this has
been about him. And the question comes from his partner – will you sacrifice
for me the way that I have sacrificed for you.
Love was
never intended to be a one way street. In fact, I believe that love on a one
way street is something else – maybe lust. True love takes two people that are
equally and maybe insanely committed to the relationship. And that just might
be the reason why true love is so rare in this life.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Song of
Songs 8
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