The Song of Songs – Song 1
The majority of most modern music seems to be about ‘love’. This desire for love is not a new one. It goes back to God the Trinity who is love and was love for all eternity. It goes back to the Garden of Eden where God brought the first man and women together in marriage. It goes back to the Song of Solomon, called the ‘song of songs’ meaning the greatest song there is.
The love of a man and a woman in marriage is the relationship that God chose to be a type of His love for the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 says:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
So, as we read the Song of Solomon, we can learn about how to cultivate and maintain a beautiful marriage relationship that both mimics and shows God’s love. We can learn about how to love others in general. And we can learn about how much God loves us.
In Song of Solomon chapter 1, we see:
- Love is a most wonderful thing to experience (v.2 ‘thy love is better than wine’).
- Love should be based on more than the physical attraction (v.3-4 ‘thy name is as ointment poured forth’ – name speaks of a person’s entire being; their character).
- Love is threatened by personal insecurity which we must deal with and which we must help others to overcome (v.6 ‘Look not upon me’ – she is ashamed of her appearance).
- Love is cultivated by being together (v.7 ‘Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest’; also v.16-17 they go for walks in the forest to spend time together).
- Love used words to build up and gifts to beautify (v.9-11 After her expressions of insecurity, he compliments her and gives her jewellery.)
- Love thinks fondly of each other and trusts one another (v.12-15 As perfumes continues to fill one’s nostrils, so thoughts of each other were pleasant. Doves were types of purity and cleanliness, and that is how she saw him as pure and trustworthy).
So, as you cultivate love in your marriage, in your family, in your church, in all your relationships, what lessons can this teach you? What insecurities threaten love? What words can you use to encourage and build up? What thoughts do you have? Ones of fondness and ones of trust?
Regardless of the quality of your human relationships, what a joy to know that God loves us unconditionally! He gave Himself for us on the cross of Calvary. He loves us.