Thanksgiving is not the only time to realize that we have everything to be joyful about. The Lord has saved us and redeemed us. The Lord is our Shepherd and King who cares for us and puts us in a place of honor as His bride! The Lord has taken us out of the stench and mire of our old lives. He has elevated us to a place of dignity, purity, and authority in Christ! JESUS LOVES US!
The Song of Solomon gives us a clear illustration of Christ's love for us. When reading The Song of Solomon keep in mind that Solomon represents Christ, and the Shulamite woman represents the church…and the individual Christian. Through this book we see how the love of the Lord pursues us and changes us. We, in turn, begin to pursue Him to know Him more intimately.
***SONG OF SOLOMON 1:1-4 (amp)- The Song of songs [the most excellent of them all] which is Solomon’s. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! [She cries. Then, realizing that Solomon has arrived and has heard her speech, she turns to him and adds] For your love is better than wine! [And she continues] The odor of your ointments is fragrant; your name is like perfume poured out. Therefore do the maidens love you. Draw me! We will run after you! The king brings me into his apartments! We will be glad and rejoice in you! We will recall [when we were favored with] your love, more fragrant than wine. The upright [are not offended at your choice, but sincerely] love you.
For the Shulamite woman, nothing compared to being in his presence. Solomon was her first priority. She desired to feel closer to him. (Draw me! We will run after you. V. 4)
Much like the Shulamite woman, the sincere Christian has a desire…a hunger… to be closer and closer to the heart of the Lord. God is so awesome. He wants to reveal his will and nature to us. Everyday He reveals His love to us in very specific ways. God’s love for us surpasses any earthly pleasure. (…your love is better than wine. V.2) When we truly enter into a relationship with the Lord we cease to long for the things of this world. He becomes the desire of our heart.
The Shulamite woman honors Solomon’s name. (…your name is like perfume poured out. V.3) Have you ever noticed that you talk about what you think about? Someone in love talks about their beloved all of the time. Why? Because they are constantly thinking of the one they love. They can actually wear out their listeners, but in their excitement, they don’t notice. Our passionate love for Christ should stir us to tell others about Him. The more we fall in love with Jesus, the more he is on our mind and on our lips.
***SONG OF SOLOMON 1:5-6- I am so black; but [you are] lovely and pleasant [the ladies assured her]. O you daughters of
The Shulamite woman felt insecure and ashamed (V.5). She saw herself as being unworthy of Solomon’s love. She compared herself to the daughters of
Comparing ourselves with others is a sure way to take our focus off of our calling and our Lord. God created us as unique individuals. We should feel free to live in the custom-made plan that God has designed for our lives. Just as the daughters of
The Shulamite woman realized that she had not kept her vineyard (V.6). She knew her mistakes were obvious to those around her. She was repentant. She now desired to live Solomon’s way, and she hoped that he would receive her.
Each of us has been given the responsibility of tending to a vineyard. It is our life… the way we are living. The Lord wants us to tend to our vineyard by making Godly decisions…Decisions based on honesty, morality, and purity. When we commit sin, we are destroying our vineyard. Thus, we cannot produce good fruit in our lives.
What do we do when we find ourselves in a situation like that of the Shulamite woman? An outcast. Burdened with guilt. Alienated by shame. How does the love of the Lord restore us, take away shame, and bring us to a place of honor? By making us a new creation in Him!!! The old person is passed away, and all is new. I am so glad that Jesus did not see me for what I was. Instead, He saw what I could be through Him. The Lord always sees the potential in a person. YOU are full of God-given potential.
***SONG OF SOLOMON 1:9-11;15-16- O my love [he said as he saw her], you remind me of my [favorite] mare in the chariot spans of Pharaoh. Your cheeks are comely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels. We will make for you chains and ornaments of gold, studded with silver. Behold, you are beautiful, my love! Behold you are beautiful! You have doves’ eyes. [She cried] Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved [shepherd], yes, delightful! Our arbor and couch are green and leafy.
Solomon begins to restore the Shulamite woman. Through his words and actions, he builds up this lowly woman to bring her to a place of honor. He tells her that she is his favorite (V.9). He dresses her in a beautiful garment that he made for her (V. 10-11). He affirms her over and over again with his words. He builds her confidence and trust in him. The Shulamite woman knows that without Soloman she would be nothing. However, because of him, she is now in a position of worthiness, honor, and value.
JESUS SEES YOU AS BEAUTIFUL. It doesn’t matter what you have done, or where you came from. It doesn’t matter what you think about yourself, or what you see when you look in the mirror. It doesn’t matter what other people think about you, their opinions, negative words, and fault-finding. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. He has dressed you in a royal robe. He has put you in a position of honor. Walk with confidence in Him.
Just as Solomon built up the Shulamite woman with his words, God wants to build us up through His Word. The Bible reveals who we are in Christ. We have been made perfect through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13:20-21). We can do all things through Christ’s strength (Phil.4:13). We are precious enough to die for (John 3:16). We have the power to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).
