17th March 2026

17th March 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Song of Solomon 1v1-2v6) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Have you ever heard a husband speak of his marriage in this way - "We've been married for 35 years, if I'd killed her I would have been out by now." I'm sure you have and before you accuse me of being humourless I'm well aware that such a statement is just a little bit of black humour. Even so, I wonder how you and I talk about those whom we say we love?


The language of the Song of Solomon is about as far away from black humour as you can imagine. Instead the woman and the man speak of one another in loving and deeply passionate ways. She longed for his kisses (1v2) and wanted to be reunited with her love (1v7). He considered her the most beautiful of all women (1v8) with eyes like doves (1v15). This love was so red hot that the woman describes herself as lovesick (2v5). Why didn't she want to become just another of Solomon's conquests? Because she didn't want something fleeting and fake but something passionate and real.


Let me return to my earlier question - how do you speak about those whom you say you love? Are we so comfortable with one another that our love has grown cold? Do our words about our other half show passionate love or bitter contempt? The Lord was clear that wicked words flow our of the wicked heart (Luke 6v45). That's challenging isn't it? When we run someone in our life down with our words we are betraying the condition of our heart. No wonder James called the tongue a fire and a world of unrighteousness (James 6v6).


Brothers and sisters, when was the last time you told your wife that she is beautiful? When did you last extol your husband and his ways? When did you last speak tenderly to your children? When was the last time you thanked your friend instead of tearing them down?


The Song of Solomon is hard to follow and sometimes it makes us a little bit uncomfortable with it's white hot expressions of love. But if it portrays love as it was in the beginning and if it gives us a little glimpse of the love that Christ has for us then we would do well to strive to love as we have been loved. Listen well to those who you love, speak tenderly to them and speak passionately. Show the love you have for Christ in how you love others.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q17 Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
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