"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10-13

These beautiful words describe the blessings of springtime. It is a delightful season in which God's power is displayed. The cold winds of winter have given way to warm breezes and the barren shrubs and trees are now filled with lovely flowers. It is a reminder that God is a covenant-keeping God. He promised that that there will always be seedtime and harvest and the changing of the seasons confirms that God is still ruling over the earth.

We think of springtime with reference to the coming of Jesus into the world. There was much darkness in those old times when God's people failed to show gratitude for their many deliverances, and religion had become but an empty form. But the coming of Jesus was a time of renewal, the Light of the World had arrived. The warm message of the gospel was proclaimed and there was joy in the hearts of those who received the good news.

Let us pray for a springtime of blessings to come down upon the church in our day and that we can hear the Savior saying, "Arise, My love!"

Welcome to the Baptist Bible Hour! Motivated by a desire for God's glory, we exist to call men and women back to the beauty and sufficiency of the Bible. As God's perfect message to every man, woman, and child, this book stands alone in its majesty throughout history and in its contemporary relevancy.