#7 Her Responsibility to the Younger Generation

# 7:  Her Responsibility to the Younger Generation - the final segment in the study of the Shulamite woman from the series "Then I Became in His Eyes as One Who Found Peace"


In our nation, we see many examples of people being blessed to be a blessing.  Celebrities give out of their wealth.  Social clubs and colleges are routinely involved with humanitarian work.  I’ve even seen people living here from other countries send back assistance to help family and friends reach selective goals in business or education.  Many of us have caught on to the idea that when we find ourselves in a better place, we should help someone else.  For the church though, our outreach should exceed the work of the average helping hand.  Christians have a responsibility not only to reach out, but also to help carry the Gospel to every nation while living a life of enticement that will inspire future generations.

In Song of Solomon, It seemed that the Shulamite woman understood her responsibility to the next generation.  Her role as Queen was an opportunity for influence and favor given to her by God.  It’s interesting and inspiring how she used her position to instruct the young women who ran after her.  She was careful to help them understand her success.  The Shulamite woman not only made it to a better place but she wanted to teach other women how to make it as well.  You would be surprised at how many successful businesses and ministries have been built on these same desires.

Today, there are many offers on the table for women.  The world is offering promises and rewards from many different products in many different ways.  As women, we are more likely to be targeted by manufacturers than men.  They understand that a lot of women are not only desperate for change but they are more than willing to pay for it.  Unfortunately though, most of what the world is selling women is a farce and the end result will probably be pain.  God’s offer is and shall remain the best on the table.  He offers truth with an end result of peace.  The Shulamite woman found peace.  She put all of the elements of virtue and godliness together and found lasting peace.

If you are searching for a better result than what you keep getting then it’s time to make a change.  If what you are applying is not bringing a return of peace then it’s time to apply a new principle.  Sometimes we blame a bad harvest on the ground and never check into the kind of seed that we are sowing.  Only the word of God has power in every principle, that when applied, can and will bring a positive change.  God’s word works!  For the women who said amen to that last sentence, what are you doing right now to help the younger generation?  Let me challenge you to make it a priority today to tell a young woman about the love of Jesus Christ and the peace that is genuinely found in GOD.

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

#6 Her Understanding of True Love

#6  Her Understanding of True Love - the continued study of the Shulamite woman from the series "Then I Became in His Eyes as One Who Found Peace"

I am convinced that at least half, if not more than half, of the world is clueless to the meaning of true love.  We have piles of love songs, poems, books and movies that portray the romantic notions of love, but very few icons where its depth and true meaning are clearly seen or defined.  This is a sad truth because if we live in a society that only understands love in the concept of romantic feelings then we are all in trouble.  Young men and women who don’t understand the difference between emotion and devotion will never have any quality relationships.  These young men and women I am referring to could easily end up being our children and grandchildren.

One of the most admonishing passages to young women from Song of Solomon is the words of the Shulamite woman: “His banner over me was love”.  She was fully convinced of the king’s love for her.  Not only could she identify it, but she obviously knew the importance of pointing it out to the younger women who were following her example.  She understood the value that the king had placed on her by making her his bride.  His banner over her was obvious and identifiable by the engagement and ceremony as well as the wedding night.  His banner over her was love, not lust.  The Shulamite was able to return and validate the King’s desire for her because of her knowledge and proof of his banner.  No woman should ever accept a man’s desire for her without it being inside the boundary of true love.

A man’s desire for a woman without the shelter of love can easily end up in disaster.  Desire alone has the potential to rob, devour and devastate a woman.  God gave men a STRONG desire for women but He only gave it legal access under the banner of love.  Why?  Because God knew that a man acting within his desire wouldn’t be much more than a taker but, in love, he would want to protect and give to her as well.  What a brilliant God!  Pretty good set up if you ask me. 

God never intended on women being used or abused and there are certainly women who have ended up in both situations unaware and unintentionally. Truthfully though, we all know of someone (maybe even us) who decided to go into a relationship without checking or even acknowledging what his banner over them (or us) really was.  It is not as difficult as we sometimes make it out to be.  Identifying the banner can be as simple as asking a few good questions.  Is there a ring or a wedding date?  What is his banner over you, love or something else?  I have learned that women who understand true love will not settle for anything less, but women who lack understanding will settle for just being desired time and time again.  Be smart and remain in peace like the Shulamite woman...  His banner over her was love.  She understood and so should you.

Log on next week for the final study of the Shulamite woman and how to find peace in  #7, "Her Responsibility to the Younger Generation".

Loving U like A sister,

Regina

#5 Her Respect of Jealousy

#5 Her Respect of Jealousy - the continued study of the Shulamite woman from the series "Then I Became in His Eyes as One Who Found Peace"

Her words, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame”…… The Shulamite woman understood the anguish and passion of jealousy.  She understood that there would be enticements that would pull for the king’s affection.  She also understood that there would be distractions that would pull for his time.  It’s interesting though, she never gave up her right to feel protective over their relationship.  Her request for the king’s devotion and commitment to her wasn’t childish or brazen. Her desire seems to be more in line with what God requires in His relationships from all of us.

In the Bible, we learn of God’s character, standard, and will.  He proclaims that He is a jealous God. He is mindful of worldly competition and expects our complete attachment and devotion to Him.  God is Holy and has neither thought nor action that is in any way evil or carnal.  Yet, He is jealous over our relationship with Him.  So as a wife, we too can have a proper respect for jealousy that is not based on anything hateful or insecure but on protectiveness and wisdom.

The Shulamite woman had a respect for jealousy that she used to her advantage.  She understood that the closer she got to the king, the better the relationship would be.  Intimacy in marriage is a major defense against many enemies.  Because of jealousy, she was vigilant and fervent to do everything in her power to stay on his mind and in his heart (I could give you a lot of good suggestions here, but I'll let you use your own imagination!).  Back in her time, the seal was a symbol of her being his possession.  She loved the idea of completely belonging to him!  We have come a long way, haven’t we?  Have we?  lol!

So, these days, wives contend with husbands who have business opportunities, ministry opportunities, recreational opportunities, and many, many other opportunities!  Some of these opportunities have the potential to defraud the wife (and the entire family, for that matter) in one way or another (I'm only speaking balance, not restriction).  What’s a girl to do?  Harden your heart and say, "why bother"?  Silence will probably cost you more in the long run.  Many women in their later days spew out poison from what was held back in their former days.  Just being quiet about something and being at peace with something is not the same thing.  Pretending not to be bothered will show up again in the form of bitterness and hate when you least expect it.

The Shulamite woman found peace through speaking her heart to her husband and voicing her jealousy. She not only voiced her concern with jealousy but she respected it enough to let it motivate her toward working on a closer relationship with him.  Maybe you too could benefit from identifying how you feel about jealousy.  You don’t have to drown in it to respect it.  It could be a great tool to help you become an even greater wife.   Believe it or not, it could be one of the key factors hidden in your marriage that helps bring peace.

Log on next week and find out more about the Shulamite woman and how to find peace in study #6, "Her Understanding of True Love".

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

#4: The Fight for Her Sexual Identity

#4: The Fight for Her Sexual Identity - the continued study of the Shulamite woman from the series "Then I Became in His Eyes as One Who Found Peace"

The correlation between past experiences and now behavior is evident and can be used as a study to help people understand how they ended up where they are.  This is extremely good news to the people who struggle with their sexual identity.  A lot of times we tend to think only of homosexuality but there are many areas of sexual confusion that are developed or programmed into women because of situations from their past.

For many years I have prayed with women who have had struggles ranging from sexual deviance all the way to being indifferent or cold toward their husbands.  These are very intimate issues so most of the time they suffer silently in their anger or shame.  The good news though is that none of these issues are too difficult for God.  Through the power of His anointing, yokes are destroyed and identity can be built back by His word.  We really can be reprogrammed back into the person that God intended us to be before we were wounded.

In Song of Solomon, there is a passage about a dream that the Shulamite woman had one night.  She was awakened by an inner struggle of passion, timing, and confusion over what was appropriate.  In her struggle, she left the safety of her room and went out into the night.  The watchmen found her and they struck her.  They wounded her and took her veil away.  The veil can represent anything from virginity to specifically belonging to a certain person or group.  So in other words, taking away the veil was damaging to her identity and damaging to her future.

For the Shulamite woman, this was just a very bad dream, but for millions of women around the world this is a reality.  The number of women that have suffered some type of abuse keeps growing... Therefore, the number of hurting women coming through the church doors is growing and growing… Only God can change back what would have been and should have been before one was struck down and wounded.  The Shulamite woman found peace when she woke up from her bad dream.  For the rest of us, peace will be found in a relationship with a loving and healing God.

Log on next week and find out more about the Shulamite woman and how to find peace in study #5, "Her Respect of Jealousy".


Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina