The Love Stories of the Bible Speak: Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith
By Shannon Bream (Fox News Books)
God fills the Bible with love stories of all kinds—joyous and joyless, functional and flawed, fleeting and eternal. In The Love Stories of the Bible Speak: Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith, media personality and attorney Shannon Bream uses those narratives to offer a biblical view of romantic love and abiding friendship with happy or not-so-happy endings.
Some might consider the volume a Bible study while others will read it as a series of short stories or use the 12 chapters in monthly devotionals. Regardless, the New York Times best-selling author divides the accounts into two themes. “Romantic Love” explores the relationships of Solomon and his Song of Solomon bride, Samson and Delilah and Samson’s parents, Adam and Eve, Joseph and Mary, Esther and Xerxes, Ruth and Boaz, and David and Abigail. David naturally bridges to “Friendship Love” with David and Jonathan; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; The Friendships of Paul; Job and His Friends; and Jesus and John. The ending emphasizes God’s unconditional love for us, and a broad index augments the volume.
The writer generously quotes Scripture passages in their entirety with Bible references, which makes the title easy to read on-the-go or as an audiobook performed by the author with clear expression and gentle nuance. Bream also shares pertinent personal anecdotes and offers glimpses of her own heart and life.
Although Bream’s earlier best-sellers, The Women of the Bible Speak and The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, express distinctively feminine points-of-view, Love Stories appeals to both men and women. However, Bream hasn’t lost her ability to draw lessons applicable to today while remaining true to biblical context. The Love Stories of the Bible Speak would make an excellent wedding, anniversary, birthday or just-because friendship gift, but beware of the honest passion displayed in scriptural accounts of romantic relationships.
Kathy Robinson Hillman, former president
Texas WMU and Baptist General Convention of Texas
Waco
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.