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Intimacy with Jesus: Verse by Verse from the Song of Songs
"Intimacy with Jesus" is a verse by verse commentary on the Song of Songs by Madame Guyon. She beautifully describes the advance of a soul into God by expounding on this most intimate book of the Bible. Surely our relationship with God goes beyond the church walls, and our journey in God does not stop when we accept Jesus as our Savior.
Be drawn deep into the love of Christ as you become lost in His goodness while reading this book. Allow the words within to release you from modern Christianity and into the arms of the Bridegroom.
Enjoy.
Be drawn deep into the love of Christ as you become lost in His goodness while reading this book. Allow the words within to release you from modern Christianity and into the arms of the Bridegroom.
Enjoy.
- GenresReligion
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2016
138 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Guyon
384 books105 followersJeanne Marie Bouvières de la Mothe Guyon (commonly known as Madame Guyon) was the leader of the Quietist movement in France. The foundation of her Quietism was laid in her study of St. Francis de Sales, Madame de Chantal, and Thomas a Kempis. At age 16, she married Jacques Guyon, a wealthy man of weak health, 22 years her senior. Until his death in 1676, her life was an unhappy one, partly due to the difference in their ages, and partly due to a tyrannical mother-in-law. Her public career as an evangelist of Quietism began soon after her widowhood.
Her first labors were spent in the diocese of Geneva, at Anecy, Gex, and Thonon, and in Grenoble. In 1686 she went to Paris, where she was at first imprisoned for her opinions, in the Convent of St. Marie in the Faubourg St. Antoine; she was released after eight months at the insistence of Madame de Maintenon. She then rose to the zenith of her fame. Her life at all times greatly fascinated those around her; the court, Madame de Maintenon, and Madame de Maintenon’s College of Ladies at Cyr, came under the spell of her enthusiasm. But the affinity of her doctrines with those of Michael Molinos, who was condemned in 1685, soon worked against her.
Her opinions were condemned by a commission, of which Bossuet was president. She then incurred Bossuet’s displeasure by breaking the promises she had made to him to maintain a quiet attitude and not return to Paris. She was imprisoned at Vincennes in December 1695, and the next year moved to Vaugirard, under a promise to avoid all receptions and correspondence, except by special permission. In 1698, she was imprisoned in the Bastille for four years. She spent the remainder of her life in retirement with her daughter, the Marquise de Bois, at Blois. She had numerous visitors of all ranks, some from foreign countries, and had a considerable correspondence. Her works fill some 40 volumes. (less)
Her first labors were spent in the diocese of Geneva, at Anecy, Gex, and Thonon, and in Grenoble. In 1686 she went to Paris, where she was at first imprisoned for her opinions, in the Convent of St. Marie in the Faubourg St. Antoine; she was released after eight months at the insistence of Madame de Maintenon. She then rose to the zenith of her fame. Her life at all times greatly fascinated those around her; the court, Madame de Maintenon, and Madame de Maintenon’s College of Ladies at Cyr, came under the spell of her enthusiasm. But the affinity of her doctrines with those of Michael Molinos, who was condemned in 1685, soon worked against her.
Her opinions were condemned by a commission, of which Bossuet was president. She then incurred Bossuet’s displeasure by breaking the promises she had made to him to maintain a quiet attitude and not return to Paris. She was imprisoned at Vincennes in December 1695, and the next year moved to Vaugirard, under a promise to avoid all receptions and correspondence, except by special permission. In 1698, she was imprisoned in the Bastille for four years. She spent the remainder of her life in retirement with her daughter, the Marquise de Bois, at Blois. She had numerous visitors of all ranks, some from foreign countries, and had a considerable correspondence. Her works fill some 40 volumes. (less)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 4, 2024
I listened to 'Intimacy with Jesus' by Hoopla, a web library.
I will introduce the French author, Jeanne Guyon of 'Intimacy with Jesus', as introduced in Wikipedia.
Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon (commonly known as Madame Guyon, French: [gɥi.jɔ̃]; 13 April 1648 – 9 June 1717) was a French mystic and was accused of advocating Quietism, although she never called herself a Quietist. Quietism was considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church, and she was imprisoned from 1695 to 1703 after publishing the book A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer.
'The Song of Songs' is such a beautiful book to read in the Bible. It describes the relationship between the Lord and Israel as a marriage.
Madame Guyon beautifully adds more detailed descriptions to 'The Song of Songs' using her imagination for an advanced soul to lead deeper into God.
I did not understand all the verses I listened to, but I felt the beauty and depth of Madame Guyon's verses.
I wish I were able to get the paper copy as well because I understand much better when I read.
According to Madame Guyon, there is no one left but the Lord and you in the end. You don't want to do anything but follow His Will. You do not need a word since you can communicate or understand each other in total silence. But this is not only Madame Guyon's belief; many saints already understood that and tried to persuade us to reach that level.
I will introduce the French author, Jeanne Guyon of 'Intimacy with Jesus', as introduced in Wikipedia.
Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon (commonly known as Madame Guyon, French: [gɥi.jɔ̃]; 13 April 1648 – 9 June 1717) was a French mystic and was accused of advocating Quietism, although she never called herself a Quietist. Quietism was considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church, and she was imprisoned from 1695 to 1703 after publishing the book A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer.
'The Song of Songs' is such a beautiful book to read in the Bible. It describes the relationship between the Lord and Israel as a marriage.
Madame Guyon beautifully adds more detailed descriptions to 'The Song of Songs' using her imagination for an advanced soul to lead deeper into God.
I did not understand all the verses I listened to, but I felt the beauty and depth of Madame Guyon's verses.
I wish I were able to get the paper copy as well because I understand much better when I read.
According to Madame Guyon, there is no one left but the Lord and you in the end. You don't want to do anything but follow His Will. You do not need a word since you can communicate or understand each other in total silence. But this is not only Madame Guyon's belief; many saints already understood that and tried to persuade us to reach that level.
March 11, 2024
A few months ago, I read the wonderful book "Holy Spirit: The One Who Makes Jesus Real" by Michael Koulianos. In this book, the author shared what an impact the writings of "Madame Guyon" had on his prayer life. Having never heard of her, I sought out her writings. Today, I finished reading her book "Intimacy with Jesus: Verse by Verse from the Song of Songs".
Now that I'm done, I researched a bit on Madame Guyon. According to Wikipedia, she was imprisoned for being a proponent of "'Quietism'[which] was seen by critics as holding that man's highest perfection consists in a sort of psychical self-annihilation and a consequent absorption of the soul into the Divine Essence even during the present life." (I have to ask "is that such a heresy? What is the crime?") This goal was expressed on every page of her book. She took the Song of Songs, verse by verse, and expanded each as an allegory of spiritual development. By the time her book concludes, the Spouse of the Bridegroom has transformed into a perfect reflection of the One she loves. It is the very embodiment of St. Paul's prayer: "He must increase, I must decrease."
Decades ago, I read Christian books that expounded on the Song of Songs as a preparation for my own marriage. (They taught that SOS was about Biblical lovemaking.) So at first, I was puzzled to see these same Bible passages interpreted so differently. Sometimes I wondered where Madame got all her ideas, because sometimes they seemed "over the top". But I think it likely that she received these revelations during many hours of prayer and worship. I have no doubt that I will mature into a deeper understanding of these ideas as I persist in prayer. Because of its depth, this is a book that will benefit the reader year after year.
Now that I'm done, I researched a bit on Madame Guyon. According to Wikipedia, she was imprisoned for being a proponent of "'Quietism'[which] was seen by critics as holding that man's highest perfection consists in a sort of psychical self-annihilation and a consequent absorption of the soul into the Divine Essence even during the present life." (I have to ask "is that such a heresy? What is the crime?") This goal was expressed on every page of her book. She took the Song of Songs, verse by verse, and expanded each as an allegory of spiritual development. By the time her book concludes, the Spouse of the Bridegroom has transformed into a perfect reflection of the One she loves. It is the very embodiment of St. Paul's prayer: "He must increase, I must decrease."
Decades ago, I read Christian books that expounded on the Song of Songs as a preparation for my own marriage. (They taught that SOS was about Biblical lovemaking.) So at first, I was puzzled to see these same Bible passages interpreted so differently. Sometimes I wondered where Madame got all her ideas, because sometimes they seemed "over the top". But I think it likely that she received these revelations during many hours of prayer and worship. I have no doubt that I will mature into a deeper understanding of these ideas as I persist in prayer. Because of its depth, this is a book that will benefit the reader year after year.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews