Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Week 15: Chapter 14 — Drawn In
Read Chapter 14 of Gentle and Lowly. Primary Scripture: Song of Solomon 1:2–4; Jeremiah 31:3.
This chapter takes an unexpected turn, drawing on the Song of Solomon to speak about the nature of the believer's union with Christ — a union that flows from his heart's attraction toward us. Come ready to think about your relationship with Christ in warm, relational, even romantic terms.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Ortlund uses the Song of Solomon — traditionally read by many in the church as an allegory of Christ's love for his people — to speak of Christ's passionate pursuit of the believer. Does reading the Song of Solomon this way feel natural or forced to you? What are the limits and the benefits of this interpretive approach?
2.Jeremiah 31:3 records God saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." Ortlund emphasizes the word "therefore" — the faithfulness is the result of the love, not its cause. What does it mean that God's continuing acts of faithfulness toward you are driven by love rather than obligation?
3.The chapter explores the idea of being "drawn in" — not merely invited but pulled by love into relationship with God. What is the difference between a God who issues an open invitation and a God who actively draws? How does this connect to the doctrines of election and irresistible grace?
a.Have you experienced being "drawn" toward Christ at some point in your life — a time when the gospel felt irresistibly beautiful rather than just intellectually compelling? Can you describe it?
b.How does knowing that God drew you (rather than that you simply decided to follow) affect your sense of security in him?
Closing Prayer
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