THE SONG OF SOLOMON
Because of Valentine's Day, romance is in the air everywhere we turn. New loves are lit…old loves are honored. It has always been a time to show the one that we love what they truly mean to us. In light of that, I'd like to dig off into what I believe is the most romantic book of the bible… the Song of Solomon. Here's just a taste:
(From him to her:) "You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace. How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love and the scent of your perfume than all spices! Your lips, O my spouse drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon." Song of Solomon 4:9-11
and...
(From her to him:) "My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand. His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves by the rivers of water, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, banks of scented herbs. His lips are like lilies dripping with liquid myrrh. His hands are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is carved with ivory inlaid sapphires. His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of fine gold, his countenance is like Lebanon excellent like the cedars." Song of Solomon 5:10-15
What? Yep…that just happened.
(Note to self: Put visiting Lebanon on your bucket list.)
That was simply a brief exchange of letters and poems exchanged between King Solomon and a young Jewish woman who had caught his eye while he was touring one of his royal vineyards in his kingdom. I urge you to read the entire book because it will give you a refreshing, eye-opening lesson on love, romance, marriage, and sex from God's point of view through the dialogue and poetry between Solomon and his bride.
Of course, Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba, the heir to David's throne and the third king of Israel. Not only did David pass down his ability to lead a nation to his son, but he also passed down his talent of writing music and poetry, as demonstrated in this book. King Solomon was regarded as the wisest man who ever lived, but even with all of that God-given knowledge, he nearly rendered all of that knowledge ineffective by disobeying God by marrying pagan women for political advantage to consolidate his power.
However, his romance with the young Jewish woman in the vineyard was smiled upon by God.
The story goes like this: As King Solomon was touring his kingdom and visiting all of his royal vineyards, he was so taken by this young peasant girl that the attention he focused on her embarrassed her so much, she ran and hid. Too late… the King was already smitten. He later returned, disguised as a lowly shepherd, approached her, talked to her, wooed her, and over the course of time, they fell in love BEFORE he revealed to her that he was the king that she ran from earlier. As much as she realized that her stunning beauty could make a man want her for the wrong reasons, Solomon was quite aware that because of his wealth and power, women could want him for the wrong reasons, also, and through his wise approach to her, they were able to both see that they loved each other for who they really were on the inside. The book "Song of Solomon" is a collection of God-inspired love poems and love letters celebrating how they met, their engagement, wedding night, and the growth of their marriage.
I have three takeaways I would like to share with you after reading this book of the bible:
1.) "I charge you, o daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the doves of the field, do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases." Song of Solomon 2:7. In other words, God is telling us to take our time and find the right love. Don't rush into anything. Feelings we think are love can often overpower us and make us force the issue, causing us to rush to the altar based strictly on our "strong feelings" only to later discover that it is not enough to sustain a long-lasting relationship.
2.) As you re-read Chapters 4:9-11 and 5:10-15, Solomon and his bride spend a lot of time pointing out what they love about each other inside and out. They loved who they were to each other even more than how they looked to each other…and their inner beauty made their outer beauty that much more intense. Looks fade and health fails, but spiritual commitment, integrity, sincerity & true love never fade. In fact, the longer you stay together, the deeper the bond of love becomes.
3.) "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death," Chapter 8::5. True love is as strong as death. That is because it is a gift from God. Time, distance, or death can never kill love. The love God has for us was given freely to us and is always shared with us, and shown to us when he sacrificed His only Begotten Son, even when He was nailed to the Cross and had his side pierced and was mocked and spat on. God's love for us allowed His Son to rise on the third day so you and I could have everlasting life…proof that love is stronger than death.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1st Corinthians 13:4-7
This is the definition of what the love God gives to us is, and is the example that God expects us to obey (read 2nd John, verses 4 through 6). God has that undying, unconditional agape love for His creation, and because we are born into sin, this kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is impossible for us to love someone unless we put aside our own desires, knowing God's love is a gift to us and put the ones that we love ahead of ourselves at all times…
So, fellas, when you run out and get your girl flowers, chocolates…or maybe some silver heart-shaped earrings…and ladies before you get your man a beautiful card, those silk pajamas or plan that special date night please remember the greatest gift you can give to the one you love is your love, time, energy, creativeness, integrity, and sincerity.
Stay prayed up.