Song of Solomon 2:7-17
It's wise to keep temptation at bay. That warning, to stay away from temptation, is certainly not a new message. It's been around for thousands of years. The Shulamite woman had obviously heard it and repeated these words of caution several times in Song of Solomon (2:7; 3:5 and 8:4).
Here in Song of Solomon this warning is clearly aimed at sexual desires with the message being to stay pure. This is so important especially in this day in age when sex is encouraged and exploited everywhere. But staying pure (not awakening our desires) is wise when it comes to many other areas as well. The less I go to the mall, for example, the less I "desire" or lead myself to believe that I need two pairs of new shoes or jeans or whatever. You get the picture.
So when temptation knocks, what are some things we can do to stay pure? How can we encourage purity (in sexual matters and other areas) within our families, to friends, even within our workplace? This is an important one. Would you take some time to give it some thought today? Tami W.
I was thinking about the staying pure in the work place. The first thing you think about is sexual purity, but I work with a lot of women and there is A LOT of gossip and back biting with the talk and stuff. It is very hard to stay away from it. This is a very good reminder to keep my thoughts pure in this regard also. Thanks for those words of challenge.
Recent findings have shown that pornography is as addictive, and works on the same centres in the brain, as heroin. If the precursor to pornography is that "stolen look" or "wandering eye", then the key is to keep the eye from doing that. I think the solution is to move to Tibet and live like a monk... :)
One thing I might suggest in our permissive society, especially when it comes to dress, is to consider what might cause a wandering eye at work or school for someone else. It's one thing to be noticed for wearing a nice outfit, it's another to cause car crashes on the way to work.
This reminds me of how the Lord sees us; how He sees me. He always has plans for our relatioship and our future together, and he calls to us to come to Him and go with Him. His words to us about catching the little foxes come after he calls us to come to and with Him. This reminds me of the woman caught in adultery, and one of the men He healed. First He blessed them, then He told them to sin no more. So often I have it backwards; I think I need to catch all the little foxes in my life first, and then look for Him. Here in this passage, He comes, He calls, and only then He says 'catch the little foxes'. So He calls, and we respond, and as we go to follow we soon must also catch the little foxes that in the past have ruined the fruit.
Thanks for sharing each day.