Song of Solomon 4 - Praying God's Word

Please read Song of Solomon 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/sng/4/1/s_675001

Meditate on verse 9.

You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride;

you have made my heart beat faster with a single

 glance of your eyes, with a single strand of your necklace.

What an incredibly holy and passionate chapter in the Word of God!  Marital intimacy is so important to the LORD; it is part of  “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” from Genesis 1 and 2 (Genesis 1:31).  Marital intimacy is a gift from God and the ability to return to the perfection of the Garden of Eden.  Savor the gift; do not neglect it or take it for granted.

Husband, say these words to your wife:

“How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are!

You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.”

—Song of Solomon 4:1, 7

Wife, when you are blessed to hear your husband say words similar to these, receive them with joy and love.  Do not say or do anything that would hurt your husband in the giving of such precious words to you.

Pray Song of Solomon 4:16 over the marriages you guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, awake the north wind and let the wind of the south come. 

Make the garden of ________________ breathe out fragrance. 

Let its spices be wafted abroad. 

May __________ come into his garden as the beloved of __________.

 May they eat its choice fruits.

For the glory of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Song of Solomon 3 - Praying God's Word

Please read Song of Solomon 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/sng/3/1/s_674001

Meditate on verse 4.

Scarcely had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves;

 I held on to him and would not let him go

until I had brought him to my mother’s house,

and into the room of her who conceived me.

This woman wants her husband!  Leading up to the wedding night, she desperately wants him to be with her; nothing and no one else can meet her needs (v. 1).  He is the one whom her soul loves—there is no other (vs. 1-4).

If you are married, say these words, putting your spouse’s name in the blank:

“On my bed at night, I seek ___________, whom my soul loves.

No matter where I go, I only seek __________, whom my soul loves.

I inquire about and seek the wellbeing of ___________, whom my soul loves.

I have found ____________, whom my soul loves;

I only hold on to and will not let go of ___________.”

Now, pray Song of Solomon 3:1-4 over the marriages you guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, on their bed night after night, let __________ only seek _________. 

Let their souls only love each other.  Let them seek and find each other.

Let their souls only love each other.  Let them inquire about and find each other.

Let their souls only love each other.  Let them hold on to each other and never let go.

Let their souls only love each other. 

Because of Your love, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Song of Solomon 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Song of Solomon 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/sng/2/1/s_673001

Meditate on verse 15.

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes

that are ruining the vineyards,

while our vineyards are in blossom.

The couple is thriving in this chapter, taking great delight in each other, pursuing and embracing each other (vs. 3, 5, 8-9). But while their vineyard blossoms, little foxes come to destroy it (v. 15). These rascals must be caught before they can damage this fabulous vineyard.

Destructive foxes can quickly crawl into a marriage. Be aware of them and remove them immediately, before they hurt the relationship.  Unforgiveness, bitterness, unkindness, and jealousy are just a few of the foxes’ names that want to ruin your marriage. If they have already crept in, do not be tempted to throw your hands up in defeat; the damage can always be repaired with God’s help.

Talk to your spouse about the foxes that have been allowed to enter; then prayerfully purpose to throw them out.  Fox-proof your home and marriage in the strength and love of Christ and His Word.

Pray Song of Solomon 2:15-16 over the marriages you guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, catch the little foxes for us,

 the little foxes that are ruining the vineyard of _________.

 Let our vineyards blossom with no foxes to ruin them. 

Let ___________’s beloved be hers alone and let her belong to him. 

May he faithfully pasture his flock among the lilies.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Song of Solomon 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Song of Solomon 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/sng/1/1/s_672001

Meditate on verse 2.

May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! 

For your love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon is a love story.   There are different interpretations of this book.  The literal interpretation is the love between a husband and wife.  Symbolic interpretations are of Israel’s relationship with God, the church’s relationship with Jesus, and an individual’s devotion to Christ.¹ As you read and pray the book, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the interpretation in which He wants you to gain understanding.  For these devotions, we will focus on the literal interpretation of a love story between a husband and wife, praying the prayers over existing marriages and marriages yet to be.

In this chapter, the bride and bridegroom acknowledge the surpassing value of each to the other.  His love is better to her than wine; she is the most beautiful of all women to him, and they do not hesitate to tell each other those truths.  Do not hesitate to tell those you love how special they are to you.

Pray Song of Solomon 1:15-17 over the marriages you are guarding as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ___________ say to his bride:

‘How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! 

Your eyes are like doves.’

May ___________ say to her bridegroom:

‘How handsome you are, my beloved, and so pleasant!’

Make their (our) couch luxuriant!

 Let the beams of their (our) home be made of cedars

 and their (our) rafters of cypresses.

Because their (our) home and marriage are built on You, Jesus~”

1.     Retrieved from: The New Inductive Study Bible @2000 Precept Ministries International, pgs. 1078-1079

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

David's Song of Deliverance - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 22.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/22/1/s_289001

David’s Song of Deliverance

Meditate on verses 2-3.

He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation,

 my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.”

Years ago, I wrote “David and God” in my Bible as a theme for 2 Samuel 22.  Today, I wrote “Marsha and God” next to these incredibly intimate words written by an adorer of the One to be adored.  I love that God’s Word can be read as if it were personally written for the reader; that is how I approach it every time I open the precious pages of Holy Scripture— “LORD, what do You want to tell me, today?” 

You can reread this entire chapter, personally saying it to your LORD.  Here are some of the verses to get you started—2 Samuel 22:2-4, 29, and 47, and 50-51.

“LORD, You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my rock,

in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;

my Savior, You save me from violence.  I call upon You, LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.  You are my lamp, O LORD; You illumine my darkness. 

LORD, You live!  And blessed are You, my Rock, and exalted are You, God, the Rock of my salvation!  Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations,

and I will sing praises to Your name.  You are a tower of deliverance to me, and You show lovingkindness to Your anointed, to (your name), and my descendants forever.

Thank You, in Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

The Song of the Bow - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Samuel 1:17-27.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2sa/1/1/s_268001

The Song of the Bow

Meditate on verse 24.

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,

who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

David sang this funeral dirge for Saul and Jonathan after they were killed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31). Saul spent the last years of his life hunting and trying to kill David. David had every reason to rejoice over his death, yet he genuinely laments the loss of both his best friend, Jonathan, and his archenemy, Saul. What a powerful testimony to David not allowing bitterness to overcome his thoughts and emotions!

Bitterness is an incredibly destructive emotion. It defiles you and keeps you from taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (Hebrews 12:15; 2 Corinthians 10:5). That is why God commands you to get rid of it:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor

 and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

—Ephesians 4:31

Ask the LORD to search your heart for bitterness; let Him remove it, so you can speak about the mighty things God has done in your life and how He brought beauty out of difficulty (v. 19).

Use the last phrase from this lament (2 Samuel 1:27b) to ask God to remove the bitter thoughts that are warring in your heart and mind.

“LORD, the weapons of war perished

 with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.

Let the weapons of war of

my bitter thoughts and attitudes

perish as I surrender them to You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Hannah's Prayer Song - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Samuel 1:24-2:1-10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/1/1/s_237001

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1sa/2/1/s_238001

Hannah’s Prayer Song

Meditate on this sentence from verse 1.

My heart exults in the LORD.

Imagine how Hannah felt as she prayed these words. As promised, Hannah gave her beloved little boy Samuel to God, leaving him at the tabernacle to live with Eli the priest. She could easily have sung a begging prayer, asking God to let her out of her commitment. Instead, she worshiped, acknowledging God’s supreme holiness and power.

Pray Hannah’s song, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“My heart exults in You, LORD; my horn is exalted in You, LORD. 

My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies because I rejoice

in Your salvation.  There is no one holy like You, LORD; indeed,

there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like You, God. 

Let _______ and me boast no more so very proudly;

 do not let arrogance come out of our mouths,

 for LORD, You are a God of knowledge, and with You

actions are weighed.  Shatter the bows of the mighty

 but gird the feeble with strength.  Let those who

are hungry cease to hunger.  Let the barren give birth to seven. 

LORD, You kill and make alive; You bring down to Sheol and raise up. 

LORD, You make poor and rich; You bring low; You also exalt. 

You raise the poor from the dust; You lift the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor,

for the pillars of the earth are Yours, LORD, and You set the world on them. 

You keep the feet of Your Godly ones, but the wicked are silenced in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.  Shatter those who contend with You, LORD;

thunder against them in the heavens.  You will judge the ends of the earth,

and You will give strength to Your king and will exalt the horn of Your anointed.

For Your name’s sake, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell