Once upon a time there was a young girl who with all the fears and doubts that sometimes comes in wondering whether there could ever be someone who would love her. She longed for love, hoped for love; yet, when she looked in the mirror she could see all of the blemishes and felt herself comely and unworthy of love. A Prince came and standing upon a hill in the distance, would sing to her a love song. Her heart would leap for joy to hear His voice, she would long to see Him there on the hill and would come to the meadow often in hopes to see His face and hear His love song. She longed to know more of Him; yet, she was afraid that if He were to look closely He would see the scars and the dark blotches that covered her, He would see the filthy rags that she wore as a slave and He would then reject her. Her fear of His rejection caused her to search for other loves which never filled her heart with joy; indeed, at times they caused her greater pain as she felt rejected, abused. So she would return to the meadow and Her prince again would arrive and sing to her a love song. He wooed her heart and she longed to be with Him. He told her of the price He must pay to free her from her slavery and that He must go away for a while; but she would have His love letters to remind her of Him and He would send one who would guide her, teach her of her beloved, would gently cleanse away all the blemishes and dark blotches so that she would be the spotless bride when He returned as her bridegroom. With exuberant joy, with hope, and with great anticipation, she awaits the return of Her Beloved Prince. Her love for Him so fills her that she finds that she must tell everyone she meets about her true love. She wants everyone to know who He is. She never ceases to be amazed by the depth of His love for her. He loved her in her most unlovely state. He patiently waited when she searched after other loves which were only counterfeit. He wooed her. He was willing to pay the price for her release from slavery. Then, He sent her a helper to prepare her for the wedding day to come when she will see her Beloved face to face in all His Glory, seated on His throne as she bows to kiss the feet of her beloved while her tears of joy wash His feet. That girl was I and that Prince is Jesus Christ, my beloved Savior. I will forever be amazed that He chose me.
In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Matthew 9, and Matthew 25 we may note the reference to Christ as the bridegroom and we the believers as the bride; yet, there is no more graphic picture of the love of Christ for His Bride than that demonstrated in the "Song of Solomon". There are two interpretations of the book. First, it is the expression of pure marital love as ordained of God in creation exalting the holiness of marriage as God ordained. Yet, there is a second and much more profound interpretation as this is symbolic of the love story of Christ (the Bridegroom) for His Church (the Bride).
Song of Solomon 2: (AMP)
10 My beloved speaks and says to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For, behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. [b]Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 [So I went with him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved shepherd said to me] O my dove, [while you are here] in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see your face, [c]let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
15 [My heart was touched and I fervently sang to him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the [d]little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom.
16 [She said distinctly] My beloved is mine and I am his! He pastures his flocks among the lilies.
17 [Then, longingly addressing her absent shepherd, she cried] Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, return hastily, O my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart as you cover the mountains [which separate us].
Footnotes:
- Song of Solomon 2:6 Do I have a constant sense of my Shepherd’s presence, regardless of my surroundings?
- Song of Solomon 2:13 Do I take time to meet my Good Shepherd each day, letting Him tell me of His love, and cheering His heart with my interest in Him?
- Song of Solomon 2:14 Do I realize that my voice lifted in praise and song is sweet to Him, or do I withhold it?
- Song of Solomon 2:15 What is my greatest concern, the thing about which most of all I want Christ’s help? When He asks to hear my voice, what do I tell Him?
"Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible,
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
So I would ask of you the same 4 questions listed in the footnotes of the Amplified Bible as listed above to which I would add?
Have you met my Beloved Prince?
Have you realized that He is standing on the hill, singing His love song over you, and asking you be His?
Have you fallen completely in love with Him and seek Him as your greatest treasure?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=kbFEWYFJfOo&feature=endscreen