LOVE SONGS #1: THE SOURCE OF REAL BEAUTY with Rabbi Brian Bileci 2-2-25

THEME VERSE: “O my love, you are altogether BEAUTIFUL and fair. There is NO FLAW nor BLEMISH in you!” - Song of Songs 4:‭7‬ ‭(AMP)‬‬

HOW TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF REAL BEAUTY IN YOURSELF & OTHERS:

1. VIEW BEAUTY THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE

1 The Song of Songs [the best of songs], which is Solomon’s. (The Shulammite Bride) 2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” [Solomon arrives, she turns to him, saying,] “For your LOVE is better than wine [“it’s intoxicating”]. 3 “The aroma of your oils is fragrant and pleasing; Your name is perfume poured out; Therefore the maidens LOVE you. 4 “Draw me away with you and let us run together! Let the king bring me into his chambers.” (The Chorus) “We will rejoice and be glad in you; We will remember and extol your LOVE more [sweet and fragrant] than wine. Rightly do they LOVE you.” - Song of Songs 1:1-4 (AMP)

“We tend to think of BEAUTY as physical attractiveness, but there is a growing movement to celebrate REAL BEAUTY..."~ Sharmila Bhanu Tirukovela

3 Your adornment [NLT: “OUTWARD BEAUTY”] must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; 4 but let it be [the INNER BEAUTY of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God. - 1 Peter 3:3-4 (AMP)

2. COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS THE BEAUTY YOU SEE IN THEM

1 You are BEAUTIFUL, my darling, BEAUTIFUL beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. 2 Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. 3 Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. 4 Your neck is as BEAUTIFUL as the tower of David,  jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. - Song of Songs 4:1-4 (NLT)

“TRUE BEAUTY is one of the hardest things to DEFINE. Beauty is officially DEFINED as, “a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form that PLEASES the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. TRUE BEAUTY goes beyond looks. When someone DESCRIBES another person as BEAUTIFUL, they aren’t always TALKING about aesthetics. They do say BEAUTY is in the EYE of the beholder, after all! That kind of beauty reaches far beyond PHYSICAL BEAUTY, and makes a person SHINE from the INSIDE as well as aesthetically.” ~ Dr. Sherly Soleiman

READ Song of Songs 4:7,9-11 (NLT)

“Outer BEAUTY is a GIFT. INNER BEAUTY is an ACCOMPLISHMENT." ~ Randi G. Fine

•  See the inner beauty in people as you notice their character and are aware of their behavior

•  Be descriptive in your words as you admire the kind of person they are and how they make you feel

•  Don’t become so enamored with their outer beauty of physical appearance that you neglect warning signs

•  Use discernment and wisdom in all of your relationships as you set healthy boundaries for engagement

•  Seek the beauty of God’s holiness and let it shine through you before you chase after people’s attention or love

 “OUTER BEAUTY turns the HEAD, but inner BEAUTY turns the HEART.” ~ Helen J Russell

3. ALLOW GOD’S LOVE TO BE THE SOURCE OF YOUR LOVE

READ: Song of Songs 6:1-3 (NIV); Matthew 3:16-17 & 12:18 (NKJV); Ephesians 1:4-6 (NTFE); 1 John 4:7-9,11 (AMP)