Jesus, the true lover of your soul; Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon points to Jesus, the true lover of our souls.

If you’ve read it you might be wondering how that can be. The whole letter is the back and forth between a husband and wife who are deeply in love with one another. Surely this book simply shows the depth and nature of a deep and intimate relationship between a husband and wife… And to be honest many are uncomfortable with the intimate language of Song of Songs in worship service or church gathering… and to that I say your wires are crossed! If you can listen to classic country or rock songs about whiskey, sex, and loose living without being ashamed, then you have yours wires crossed if your awkward or ashamed of the poetry of the Bible…

The Song of Songs/Solomon is good for us. In fact, the people of Israel would read this before they celebrated the passover… why you may ask, Aaron Menikoff writes and says, “In the Song of Songs they saw more than wisdom for marital living, they saw something of God’s covenantal love for his people.” - Aaron Menikoff

For Isaiah 54:5 says, “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer” (Isa. 54:5).”

Israel understood the relationship it had with God to be like that between a husband and wife. God uses marriage throughout the entire Bible to illustrate His relationship with us. This understanding of the relationship between God and His people is found throughout the entire Bible.

Genesis 2:24 (ESV), “24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (via Ephesians 5)

Ezekiel 16:8-14

Jeremiah 31:32 (ESV)

32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.

Hosea 2:7

Jeremiah 3:20

Hosea 9:1 (ESV), “Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God. You have loved a prostitute’s wages on all threshing floors.”

Ephesians 5:25–33 (ESV), “25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

John 3:29 (ESV), “29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”

Matthew 9:15 (ESV), “15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Matthew 25:1-13

2 Corinthians 11:2 (ESV), "2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”

Revelation 19:7–9 (ESV), 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Revelation 21:2 (ESV), “2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Revelation 22:17 (ESV), “17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

The imagery of marriage to compare the relationship between God and His people helps us in so many ways!

Jesus loves you (desire)

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Song of Solomon 7:10, “I am by beloved’s and his desire is for me.”

“We are Jesus’s beloved because he, the Beloved one, set his inexhaustible and unwavering affection upon us. We are the Gomers who looked (look) for love, and gave (give) our love, to anyone and anything other than Jesus. Jesus is the great Bridegroom who, on the cross, became the not-loved one, that in him we might know the lavish love of God for us — for you, for me. May we never get over or get used to this bold declaration: “For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21)" - Scotty Smith, Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN.

Ephesians 5:25–33 (ESV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Jesus loves the church deeply and His desire for us is evidenced in His sacrifice for us. The love of Jesus is the pattern and example for men to follow as they love their wives. The kind of love that we see in Song of Solomon is the love that we see and experience in Christ. It is not only a deep or desirous love for us, it is a covenant and faithful love toward us.

Jesus is committed to His bride

Song of Solomon 8:7 (ESV) says, “7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.”

The bride of Christ is the church, and Jesus is committed to the bride in a way that cannot be drowned or quenched. Not even your sin can quench the love that Jesus has for you.

Paul describes it this way in Romans 8:37–39 (ESV) “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate from you from the love of Christ… Nothing. Not death, not life, not angels, not demons, not the present situation, or the thing that is to come… not even the power of evil and sin itself can undo the love that God has for you. No height, no depth, nor anything that has been created can separate you from God… and the reason that nothing can separate from you from Him is the love that He has for you!

Jesus loves you and He is committed to you. He loves you with an always and forever love.

I think one of the highlights of being a parent is leading your children to understand the Word. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Jesus Story Book Bible with each of our kids because the main point of this little children’s bible is the gospel. It’s not about characters and stories, it makes sure that everything fits under the gospel and points to Christ. When describing God’s love the Jesus Story Bible says that God loves His children with a Never-Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. - Jesus Story Book Bible

“You see no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children with a Never-Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. And though they would forget him, and run from Him, deep in their hearts God’s children would miss Him always, and long for Him — lost children yearning for their home.” - Jesus Story Book Bible

The love that God has for you is like this… it is a never giving up, unbreaking, always, and forever love. And, everyone who knows this love through Jesus Christ is like the bride in the amazing marriage of Song of Solomon. The church, the bride of Christ, is made up of believers. People who’s lives have been changed and transformed by the love and grace of God… and these people, the church have a longing to be close with Jesus like a bride longs to be with her husband.

This un-breaking love is the love that our marriages are made of. We are called to emulate the covenant love and sacrifice that Jesus makes for the church. Jesus doesn’t copy our love, he calls us to copy his love.

God uses our marriages to demonstrate His love in the church and to the world

Men, this means that your love is to be like the love Christ has for the church. Your love is to result in the purity, maturity, and faithfulness of your wife and family. Being the man of the house means that you represent Christ in the home. It’s true that Jesus is the King of the Universe… but He is also responsible for the universe. It’s normal for men to want to be in charge, but being in charge means you are also responsible… and if you are responsible then you should exercise that responsibility with the same providential care and purpose that God does for the Universe. The same kind of purposeful, intentional, and loving care that Christ gives to the church.

Women, this means that your love for your husband is to be like love the church has toward Christ. A love that follows the one who is responsible and careful to care for your needs. It’s not a blind love, its an eyes wide open love for the one who has given himself for you. It’s a committed love for him and not for anyone else… just like the love that He has given to you. The husband is responsible, and his responsibility is to build you up and help serve you in your relationship with the Lord too.

The covenant relationship we see between Christ and the church is the example for the nature and commitment of our marriages as Christians. Our marriages are called to have a never giving up, un-breaking, always, and forever love. Christian marriage serves as a parable or illustration of God’s relationship with the church…

I know that even as I say these things I can think of ways I can be more godly and better bear the weight of my responsibility as a husband. But, I can also say that the intimacy and depth of desire displayed in the book of Song of Solomon also helps us to see the depth of relationship and intimacy God has given to us in marriage.

Teens and singles… purity is the way of the Christian. And in marriage there is much to be enjoyed between husband and wife in the name of purity. It’s not just that it’s worth the wait, the wait is part of the calling to marriage. To wait and save our hearts, minds, and bodies for the one we make a marriage covenant with. And this kind of purity and commitment to holiness is foundational for the kind of marriage and relationship God has called us too.

Again, the marriage relationship serves to demonstrate the kind of relationship God has established with us… and that leads me to make one more point that we learn from Song of Solomon. Because the relationship is one of intimacy and enjoyment it shows us the desire that true Christians have to be close to Jesus.

We long to be close to Jesus

Song of Solomon 6:3 (ESV) says, “3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” If you belong to Jesus then Jesus also belongs to you. The relationship is real and it is filled with love that flows from Him to us and back from us to Him.

1 John 4:19 (ESV), “19 We love because he first loved us.” And the love isn’t just the love we have for one another or the world around us. The love that John is writing about is the love that we have for Jesus… and that love comes with all of the accompanying desires and expressions that you would expect… and one of them is right here in Song of Solomon 1:4,  "Draw me after you; let us run.”

The bride in Song of Solomon has a desire for her husband that illustrates the desire that the church has for Jesus. The bride wants to be close and with her husband, and the church wants to be close and with Jesus.

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:23 (ESV), “23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” This desire that Paul has to be with Christ is pure, it is as pure as the love and desire that is illustrated in the Song of Solomon.

Song of Solomon is not sinful or distorted. It is genuine and it is pure and it points to the love that Christ has for the church… and it shows us the desire and love that the church (believers) are to have for Christ.

Song of Solomon 1:1–4 (ESV)

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; 3 your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. 4 Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.

The language that is used in Song of Solomon is language and desire that is reserved for marriage. And… this language shows of the kind of relationship with is reserved for those who belong to the Lord.

In the same way the bride in 1:4 says, “Draw me after you…” Believers can call upon Jesus to draw them closer to Himself.

Speaking of the special relationship between the church and Christ Charles Spurgeon said, “We do not need to be born again; we who are believers in Christ have had that miracle wrought upon us already. We are not asking now for pardon and justification; as believers in Christ, we have these priceless boons already. What we want is the gentle influence of the Holy Spirit to attract us nearer to Christ; so each one cries to the Lord, “Draw me.” We are not dead; we are quickened and made alive. Our very pain and anguish, because we are not able to come to Christ as we would, prove that we are alive. I commend this prayer to you, “Lord, draw me; draw me.” It is the work of Christ to draw. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” It is the work of the Father. “No man can come to me,” said Christ, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” It is the work of the Spirit of God to draw a soul towards Christ. I pray this for myself, and I trust that you will pray with me, “Come, Sacred Spirit, and draw us nearer to Christ; enliven our hopes; incline our hearts; arouse our desires; and then help us to yield our whole boing to thy gracious influences!”“If thou hast drawn a thousand times, Oh, draw me, Lord, again!”

As a born again believer, one who is a committed relationship with Jesus, the Jesus who loves you and gave Himself up for you… as His church you can call out to Him to draw you close to Himself and He will do it… which is why you must be ready to run to Him and with Him when He does!

But, if you are not a born again believer, then you need Jesus. You are missing the relationship that serves as the foundation for all things. You are missing the relationship with the one who loves you more than anyone in this world, Jesus. Jesus loves you and loves you so much that He gave Himself up for you. He sacrificed Himself for you so that you could be with Him. He loves you and He offers a covenant relationship with Him that will literally transform your soul. It is not just a thing you do, its a change you become. God saves us through faith in Jesus and according to His grace He makes us new. Every Christian is different than he or she was before salvation. They are not the same. There are new desires, new goals, new purpose, and a new relationships. Those who are saved can call out to God to draw them close and He will… but if you don’t know Christ as your savior you need to cry out for forgiveness so that you can be close.

But there’s more here than just the point you can call out to God to draw you after Him…

In the same sermon I quoted from a moment ago, Spurgeon also said, “If we would be fully prepared to remember Christ, we must get into this running pace: “Draw me: we will run after thee.” Be quick, my soul, be quick, about heavenly things! Creep, if thou wilt, about thy worldly business; but run after thy Lord. Oh, that we might every one attain the running pace to-night! Oh, that we might speed along towards our Lord with that strong, impetuous desire which will not let us rest till we are close to him: “Draw me, we will run after thee.”

Spurgeon points out that those who cry out to God to draw them close must be ready to run after Him when He does… because He will draw them close.

Too many believers cry out to God to draw them close and then lay there in the dirt when He calls. You must be ready to run, sitting in runners position. He has promised Himself to you. He is committed to you and He desires you… but when you call you must be ready to go to Him, to run with Him, and to go wherever He takes you.

Are you calling out to Christ, but not ready to go wherever He has planned to take you?

You cannot call out to Jesus to draw you close and then have stipulations on where or how He can lead you. When you call out to Him to draw you out to Himself you do so with the humility and openness to go wherever He leads.

This means you call out to Him ready to say yes. So, ask yourself the question, am I really ready to go and do whatever Jesus has in store for me?

Did you know that Jesus has plans for you? Absolutely He does! His plans for you pre-date the foundations of this world! Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This means that before the world began God had a plan for you… He has prepared good works for you… and when you call out to Him to draw you to Himself it means He is going to lead you walk in the works that He has prepared for you.

So, are you ready? Are you ready to walk in the ways God has prepared for you? Are you ready to cry out to Him to draw you out and bring you close? If so, call out to Him now… and get your heart and mind in a place of readiness to walk in the ways He has for you. And if you aren’t ready… then ask the Lord to show you why not? It may be that you have your own plans… but you need to lay them down. It may be that you know His plans mean letting go of sin… well it’s time to let it go. It may be that you know it means changing jobs, changing some things with your friendships, or even making some changes to your habits… well make those changes and do what it takes to walk in the way the Lord has for you.

Do as the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:1 (ESV), “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Lay it down, cry out to Jesus, draw near to Him, and be ready to run with endurance the life that He has set up and prepared for you.

Let’s pray…

Notes, Quotes, Resources:

Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly (Charles Wesley, 1740)

From Aaron Menikoff…

“The Song of Songs really does point forward to Christ. As the wife longs to be with her husband (1:4; 3:1–4), so the Christian longs to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). As the husband woos his wife with words (4:1–16; Eph. 5:26), so Christ woos us with his Word (John 10:27). As the love of a husband and wife is to be indelible (8:7) so nothing can separate us the love of Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:37–39). For centuries the Jewish people read the Song of Songs aloud in preparation for the Passover. Why did they do this? Because in the Song of Songs they saw more than wisdom for marital living, they saw something of God’s covenantal love for his people, “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer” (Isa. 54:5).”

Charles Spurgeon… (Song of Solomon 1:4)

We do not need to be born again; we who are believers in Christ have had that miracle wrought upon us already. We are not asking now for pardon and justification; as believers in Christ, we have these priceless boons already. What we want is the gentle influence of the Holy Spirit to attract us nearer to Christ; so each one cries to the Lord, “Draw me.” We are not dead; we are quickened and made alive. Our very pain and anguish, because we are not able to come to Christ as we would, prove that we are alive. I commend this prayer to you, “Lord, draw me; draw me.” It is the work of Christ to draw. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” It is the work of the Father. “No man can come to me,” said Christ, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” It is the work of the Spirit of God to draw a soul towards Christ. I pray this for myself, and I trust that you will pray with me, “Come, Sacred Spirit, and draw us nearer to Christ; enliven our hopes; incline our hearts; arouse our desires; and then help us to yield our whole boing to thy gracious influences!”

“If thou hast drawn a thousand times,

Oh, draw me, Lord, again!”

That, then, is the first preparation for the holy memory mentioned in our text, divine drawing: “Draw me.”

If we would be fully prepared to remember Christ, we must get into this running pace: “Draw me: we will run after thee.” Be quick, my soul, be quick, about heavenly things! Creep, if thou wilt, about thy worldly business; but run after thy Lord. Oh, that we might every one attain the running pace to-night! Oh, that we might speed along towards our Lord with that strong, impetuous desire which will not let us rest till we are close to him: “Draw me, we will run after thee.”

Divine drawing is the first preparation for the holy memory, and next comes speedy running.