Love’s Excellency – Love Songs

The Bible is filled with such poetic prose, that if we are not careful, we could blush each time we read a line or two signifying the emotions and affections of love, especially between a man and a woman.  Most evidently, the Song of Solomon attests to the banters, dialogues, curiosity, pursuits and proposals of King Solomon to his Shulamite bride. The scene is a picturesque one.  There is a garden filled with fruits and trees of various kinds. In this garden, there is an intimate setting in which a man and a woman are introduced to us. They are planted in a scene of abundance and protection which portrays a peaceful  delight. Their interactions are playful, whimsical, shy and non-apologetic. The man whom we know to be a king, takes great care to notice the excellent physical features of his bride-to be. Solomon notices her lips,  doves eyes, teeth, neck, shoulder, legs and much more. He is captivated by her beautiful tresses and how she walks. He purposefully declares her value, productivity and fruitfulness. More importantly, he realizes his deep connection to her, and he therefore chases after her. The Shulamite bride feels very inadequate and somehow doesn’t feel that she is worthy enough to be loved. She takes note of her dark hue and the history of her past; as if to say she is not worthy to be chased. Nevertheless, the king stood firm in his conviction about the woman and purposely spoke loving, soothing, and affectionate words in his bid to woo her.

According to the Holman Study Bible NKJV edition, the central theme of the Song of Solomon is a celebration of the goodness and beauty of romantic love.  Romantic ideals are captured through sensitivity, emotional connection, forgiveness, respect and the security of love through the seasons. The love which is so beautifully and eloquently written in Song of Solomon is compared to that of the love that God has for Israel or the love He has towards His people. Ephesians 5:22-23 tells us that a man’s love for his wife should emulate Christ’s love for His bride the Church.  Solomon’s love shows how a marriage should be patterned after divine love.

God’s love is like fire, and much of this fiery epilogue is captured in the final chapter of the book. The power of romantic love cannot be quenched by waters, oceans or rivers. God’s love is so fiery, that He called Moses to purpose when He showed up in a burning bush ( Exodus 3: 2-6). The Fire of God removed what was out of alignment and so went ahead to purify a nation ( Genesis 19:24). The fire of God’s love also drew Adam to Eve when he saw her for the first time. He was so caught up that he said she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh ( Genesis 2:23). The Word of God was so much in the prophet Jeremiah’s heart, that he had to speak, his silence felt like fire burning shut up in his bones ( Jeremiah 20:9).

Romantic love is meant to consummate two people to become one. Symbolically, it also represents our relationship with Jesus Christ when He returns for His bride. The union of one is represented through the  Song of Solomon which makes perfect melody, harmony, pitch, tone, reverb, and other vibrations to create the sound of love. May married couples in Jesus Christ hear the heavenly love songs and love sounds. May the church attune its ears and frequency to the sound of heaven to sing songs of healing and deliverance and to truly set the captives free. Shalom.