June 16-20
[M] Proverbs 29-31; 1 Thess 4
[T] Song of Sol 1-3; Ps 72; 1 Thess 5
[W] Song of Sol 4-6; 2 Thess 1
[T] Song of Sol 7-8; Ps 127; 2 Thess 2
[F] 1 Kings 5; 2 Chr 2; 2 Thess 3
Dwell Plan Day 121-125 | CSB | Digital PDF | Printable PDF
Notes from Jon & Chris
Monday
Proverbs 29:27 | This is the clash between Babylon and Jerusalem—two kingdoms at war not just in history, but in every human heart. The righteous, shaped by God’s justice, are out of place in a world that worships power and compromise. But Jesus, the true King from Jerusalem, was rejected by Babylon so we could be made citizens of His unshakable kingdom. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we should expect to feel out of place in Babylon: misunderstood, outnumbered, and sometimes even despised. But that discomfort is a sign we belong to another city, whose foundations are laid in righteousness, and whose King is coming soon.
Proverbs 30:7-9 | This little wisdom nugget is invaluable. It calls us to walk wisely about wealth, to neither seek too much or to have too little. There are dangers on either side of that balance, and we’re called to walk it.
Proverbs 31:10 | It’s remarkable to read this description of a Godly wife. She’s a powerhouse and practically a girlboss. This squashes any attempt to say that the Scriptures are misogynistic. The woman described here is amazing—she’s industrious, loving, caring, and entrepreneurial. She’s a superstar. Women are not second class citizens of the kingdom and the Bible doesn’t treat them that way. Look at everything she does, the leadership she takes, the business she settles, and all the details she oversees. She is the woman that men should be looking for, and she’s the woman that other women should try to emulate.
1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 | This passage calls us to live quietly, mind our own work, and carry ourselves with integrity toward outsiders. In a world that prizes self-promotion and noise, this kind of steady faithfulness is deeply countercultural. Quiet lives of humility, hard work, and love may not go viral, but they speak volumes to the watching world. When we live this way, we earn the respect of others—not by flashy words, but by the consistency of our lives. It’s a kind of everyday apologetic, showing that the gospel shapes not just what we believe, but how we live. A quiet life isn’t a small life—it’s a powerful testimony.
Tuesday
The Song of Solomon is bold, joyful love poetry—celebrating the beauty, longing, and delight between bride and groom. Its vivid imagery of gardens, fruit, and desire reminds us that God created love and intimacy as good gifts. While the poem doesn’t mention God directly, its echoes of Eden and the language of seeking and finding reflect deeper biblical wisdom. This eight chapter collection of love poems is first and foremost just that: love poems about a love between a husband and wife.
In Ephesians 5, Paul helps us see that all marriages ultimately point to the greater mystery of Christ and the church. So while this song celebrates romantic love, it also serves as a signpost to the Gospel. Christ is the true Bridegroom who lovingly pursues His bride, the church, with joy and sacrifice. Whether married or single, this poetry calls us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and our response to it. Every longing for love, every act of affection, whispers of the One who gave Himself to bring us home.
Song of Songs/Solomon | Why does this book have two names? “Song of Songs” is the Hebrew title of the book, which means “the greatest of songs,” similar to how “King of kings” means the greatest king. “Song of Solomon” comes from the first verse, which attributes the song to Solomon, either as author or inspiration. Both titles refer to the same book, just emphasizing different aspects, either its supreme poetic beauty or its connection to Solomon.
Song of Songs 2:7; 3:5; 8:4 | Each of these verses has this instruction: do not awaken love before its time. This is the only real command that comes out of the book, and it’s so valuable. We tend to rush into love and feelings. It’s our natural excitement to do that, to push emotional and physical limits quickly. But it isn’t wise. Time and time again people rush into marriages and relationships, excited by the joy and pleasure that they feel. Falling in love creates a powerful emotional and hormonal cocktail of good feelings, which is why many fall in love with falling in love. This is a romantic dead end, where love becomes a selfish search for personal bliss. This wisdom puts up guard rails for us about physical intimacy. It’s very easy for physical attraction to create more emotional connection than is really real. Taking it slowly and carefully protects our hearts and bodies from pain and sin. This old advice is as good and fresh today as it was three thousand years ago.
Psalm 72 | This is a royal psalm that describes an ideal king who rules with justice, defends the poor, and brings peace to the ends of the earth. While originally written for Solomon, its language quickly surpasses any earthly king. It speaks of a reign that is eternal, universal, and marked by righteousness—qualities only fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true King who brings justice for the oppressed and whose name endures forever. In Him, the hope of Psalm 72 becomes reality as the nations are blessed through His reign.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | This is a good text to memorize. It’s simple and direct in the three commands given. It answers directly a common question we hear: what is God’s will for my life? Folks ask that question often, seeking a roadmap for their career or guidance about a marriage partner. But here we have God’s will spelled out for us. It’s in these three commands to globally and persistently praise, pray, and give thanks. All the time, in all contexts. Each of the commands has this universal edge to it, ending with this clear claim: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Any question about God’s will for your life has to begin here. And this is the beginning we need, because if we’re doing these things, then discovering God’s “will” for your life and career becomes possible. But it’s the secondary question about God’s will, not the primary one. Christ taught us this when He said not to worry. Seeking first the kingdom of God is saying the same thing. Prioritize God’s will in seeking this intimacy with Him, because out of that flows everything else in our lives.
Wednesday
2 Thessalonians 1:3 | In this text, Paul praises the church because their faith is growing and their love for one another is increasing. True faith always leads to love: when we trust God more deeply, we’re freed to care more selflessly for others. The two are inseparable; faith without love is hollow, and love without faith lacks its deepest source. If our belief in Christ isn’t making us more patient, kind, and forgiving, something’s off. Genuine faith roots us in God’s love and overflows into love for others.
Thursday
Psalm 127:1–2 |This text reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor do so in vain. Church planting requires strategy, hard work, and creativity; but none of that matters if God isn’t in it. These verses re-center us: it’s not our branding, preaching, or planning that makes a church grow, but God’s sovereign grace. Rest comes when we trust that success isn’t earned, but given. So we work faithfully, but we sleep peacefully. Because the church belongs to Jesus, not to us.
Psalm 127:3–5 | These verses say that children are a heritage from the Lord, and it’s true—kids are a gift and a blessing. But sometimes these verses get twisted to say that having children is the main purpose of life, especially in certain fundamentalist church circles. The truth is, while the Bible honors parenthood, it never says your value comes from whether or not you have kids. Jesus—the most complete, joy-filled human to ever live—never had biological children. Paul, who planted churches across the ancient world, called singleness a gift, and lived a full, fruitful life without a spouse or kids. Some people can’t have children. Others remain single their whole lives. And some choose not to have kids so they can pour into others through ministry, discipleship, and service. These men and women often become spiritual mothers and fathers in the best sense. So yes, children are a blessing—but they’re not the basis of your worth. Your deepest identity is not “parent” or “childless,” but “beloved child of God.”
2 Thessalonians 2:11 | One of the terrible judgments of God is to “send a strong delusion.” We see this time and again in the stories of the Old Testament, where God’s people are victorious because of some confusion and fear that disorients their enemies. They hear or see things that confuse them, and either start running or they start slaughtering one another. God sends a strong delusion that makes them destroy themselves.
We see this self destruction work itself out in many people’s lives and we’re shocked by the foolish things that some folks can’t seem to see. You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but it has no effect. They are fully deceived and can’t see the truth. This is one of God’s most frightening judgments, because no one can turn it around except God. Once we realize this is one of God’s judgments, we begin to see it around us. Let us pray earnestly for those who are under such a judgment from God.
Friday
2 Chronicles 2 | There’s something special in Hiram’s assistance in building the temple, especially in this telling, where Hiram affirms that “Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.” Hiram is an early picture here, a foreshadowing of how God’s kingdom will spread to the nations, to all of the people of the earth. This was the promise to Abraham about his fathering many nations himself. Its trajectory is to bring God’s love to the world. Here, in the very building of the temple, we see not only the involvement and commitment of gentiles, but even their recognition of who God is in His love. This has always been the goal of God’s kingdom expansion, to bring the good news of God’s love to the nations, and here we see its beginnings—and how it’s always been God’s purpose and design.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 | Paul’s prayer here is that the church would experience the peace of God in every circumstance. This peace of God is built on something deeper—the peace with God that we already have because of Christ. We were once at war with God, but through Jesus, that war is over and we are now reconciled. Because of that, we can actually experience real peace, even in hardship. Paul isn’t just talking about calm feelings; he’s praying that the reality of our salvation would shape how we walk through life with steady, gospel-rooted peace.