Answers

1. The human body is described as a tent (2 Pet 1:13) as it is temporary, a seed (1 Cor 15:42) as it will be transformed remarkably after death, and as a temple in the case of the believer (1 Cor 6:19) as it is honoured by God’s indwelling.
2. Hezekiah’s tears and prayer changed God’s mind after Isaiah had told him he would die (2 Ki 20:1-6). A later generation who tried to elicit sympathy from God were rebuked by Malachi (Mal 2:13-14), because although they ‘flooded the Lord’s altar with tears’, their crying was not accompanied by contrite and sincere repentance.
3. In order to be approved as God’s workmen, we should handle the word of truth correctly (2 Tim 2:15), avoid fruitless quarrels and godless chatter (2:14-16), flee the evil desires of youth , and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace (v22).
4. The beloved (Song 1:6) asked her lover not to stare at her ‘because I am darkened by the sun’. Her lover is not perturbed, and says ‘how beautiful you are my darling’ (Song 1:15).