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Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters QUOTES

Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters QUOTES

1 " The Shulamite lives by a different set of values. One of the most horrible frauds perpetrated on western couples is 'trust your feelings' or 'follow your heart.' Solomon's family must never be left to whims. A wise Shulamite does not make life decisions based on feelings, alone. She takes God's point-of-view: 'He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.' --Pr 28:26
For young couples, a hard lesson to learn is: Their hearts will lie to them.
pg 3 "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

2 " We live in a time when we have a communal duty to receive and broadcast love. We must set aside our repeating arguments and get a handle on our destructive depressions.
pg vi "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

3 " Like your marriage, everything in the universe is trying to find its orbit. In the midst of this constant readjustment, both partners should be able to go to bed knowing that neither one is going to abandon a wounded, or struggling marriage. There is a comforting reassurance being with someone who keeps their promise.
pg iv "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

4 " No ancient Jew was ever promised, or expected, a heavenly life. That was a wild and outrageous teaching of Jesus. Holy text never offers a heavenly hope--before Jesus. Think about it: No matter how faithful Adam would have been, he could never graduate to heaven. Going to heaven was a 'Jesus teaching.' It simply does not exist in Torah.
pg xxvii "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

5 " Would you marry you? Be the right person before seeking the right person. Solomon's bride is carefully chosen for the good of his family, for the good of his kingdom.
pg 9 "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

6 " Like the chosen Shulamite, there will be times when you too will be faced with crude assaults on your virtue, or with solicitations that will be naked attempts to cheapen your marriage. Being polite is one thing, but there comes a time. Even the peace-loving Jesus took a rope to those who disregarded the boundaries of his Father's house. Your house has boundaries too. Do what you must.
pg 67 "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

7 " Genesis began with the Father losing His family. Revelation ends with Him getting them back. Is there nothing to be learned from this sad cycle? Truly, family is the legitimate theme of holy text.
pg vi "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

8 " Marriage is nothing to underestimate. Success in marriage is about getting back up, again and again. Ultimately, the Shulamite had to write her own role in Solomon's drama. She made Solomon's problems her problems. For her, that was worth every bruise.
pg ii "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

9 " Your partner may have injuries that you can't repair. Your partner may be trapped in a dark room without windows. Your life narrative might bring him more relief than an opiate. Some people make better windows than windows. Your kind words and enlightened perspective is a window of wonders to someone living in pain. "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

10 " In Song of Songs we are introduced to a new problem for Abishag: Solomon was choosing wives for political advantages, while she was wasting away in Zion--without children.
pg xxiv "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

11 " This is going to hurt, but you will have to watch other couples be happier, richer and louder than you. Wait. No obstacle can withstand patience. Wait. You may not think so now, but there will come a time when you will be tempted to run away. Would that be right? Would that be fair? As every matriarch discovers, entire seasons will pass without reward. As your mate's peculiarities add up, what do you do? Wait! "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

12 " A wife who obsesses on "fixing" her husband only succeeds in demeaning him. "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

13 " Our matriarchs had an interesting advantage over today's western women. Matriarchs didn't begin their marriage with love. Instead, they were taught how to love. They entered marriage with an earnest determination to grow a love that would sustain their marriage for a life time.
pg iv "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

14 " There is a predictable theme as to what upsets our matriarchs. Usually, matriarchs are known for their unified support. When it comes to kingdom matters, however, they are willing to drive out Abraham's son. (Ge 21:10) They are willing to reject Isaac's son. (Ge 27:6-13) In other words, they are not afraid to reject royalty ('shepherd-like acquaintances') to further God's kingdom goals. (Re 20:4-6) "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

15 " In marriage, those who persevere are rewarded with the most precious thing this earth has to offer: Marital love--a partnership that conquers the years. It takes time, but those who persevere are rewarded with, falling in love with their spouse.
pg v "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

16 " When we justify a flaw we are actually inventing a new one. When a woman neglects developing her own character, she not only chisels away her own reputation, but the reputation of everyone in her household. "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

17 " It sickens me to admit this, but the divorce rate is the same for religious couples as it is for non-religious couples. Is it preposterous for us to think that we can love someone for a lifetime? Marriage is held together with such flimsy things--lace, promises and tolerance. We humans are so unskilled at sustaining intimacy. We begin with such high hopes, yet lose our way so quickly.
pg i "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

18 " Abraham had eight sons--not one. All eight sons bring something to the table. Abraham loved all of his sons. He was a good father who made sure all his sons were literate, of good character and shared a common ideology with their father, Abraham. Abraham did good. Where did we go wrong? "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

19 " To erroneously assert that the unclaimed Shunemite does not treasure the opportunity misses the entire point of this superlative song. She wants to leave with Solomon. This earthly Shunemite would be willing to die to be with Solomon--but until she develops skills of value to his kingdom--she will remain unclaimed. "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters

20 " Today's marriages become toxic, with resentments, after only a few years. It's one thing to say, 'I forgive,' but most lack the enterprise to do the necessary work that follows. It was the day after that proved who had the wisdom of God and who didn't. "

― Michael Ben Zehabe , Song of Songs: The Book for Daughters