Featured Image: Marc Chagall, Song of Songs IV, 1958

Where the third chapter of Song of Songs ends with the Bride gaining revelation of the cross and resurrection of Christ, the fourth chapter begins with the Bride’s identity in Christ and the sixth chapter ends in her victory through His victory. Finally, in the seventh chapter the Shulamite is described as fully mature and fruitful. Where she was previously described from her head to her feet she is in chapter seven described from her feet to her head. Here, the beauty and happiness of holiness in the Shulamite transcends all the beauty of creation. It is after this description that she is divinely commissioned in her ministry to nurture others, to walk in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and to continue in the first commandment (SOS 7:8-9a). She has finally found rest in God, unlike those who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and refused the rest the Holy Spirit wished to give (Heb. 4:3).Without hesitation, she rises with her love to the field. From this field she brings fruit for God that is both new and old. That is, she is strengthening believers as well as bringing the lost into the family of God. 

The call to follow Christ is a call to rest in His love. This love is defined by the life, cross, and resurrection of Christ. As John 15:13 states, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Growing in the love of God is not an option for the Christian but, rather, it is the most important commandment in the Bible. Having the Holy Spirit who gives us a willing spirit to serve God causes us to walk in joyful and fulfilling holiness. The believer, therefore, ought to seek God first, above all else. If we are found doing this, as we see with the Shulamite, works will follow as God commissions us. As we can see, it takes God to love God. A simple way to grow in this love is by pausing throughout the day and speaking over ourselves these words of affirmation; by pausing and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal more of the love of God to our hearts. 

In chapter eight the Shulamite finds in her love the comfort of an equal, even a brother. Truly, in His incarnation Christ has become our brother and friend (Heb. 2:11; Jn. 15:15). She rests in His love and asks the daughters of Jerusalem to not disturb or distract her from the communion she finds in Him. Their response is awe at her dependence on Him even as she comes up from the wilderness of trials, testing, and difficulties. She describes the beauty and splendor of Jesus from His head to his feet. He is victorious, His leadership is perfect, He is devoted and unwavering, His words are perfect and full of grace and truth, His hands take initiative with strength and care, and He provides stability and is able to build His Church. This section is so reminiscent, in fact, of Psalm 45 which describes the beauty of Jesus on the day of His victory and wedding (Heb. 1). 

This is one of the most excellent chapters to mediate on the beauty of Christ with. Each phrase is full of symbols of truth. It is hard to simply recall why we love Christ, but with these phrases and lines in the Song of Songs we are able to pause and recall the life and person of Christ as we slowly move through the text. A great way to integrate the truth of Christ’s identity into our hearts is through journaling in this way. When we take time with each phrase and connect each to the Gospels we soon may find ourselves connecting it with our own stories in Him. The fruit of growing in the knowledge of God is becoming more like God. We become what we behold. Meditating on who Christ is causes us to become more Christ-like. 

The love between the Bride and Christ is so firmly established that it is impossible for the Bride to even imagine any circumstance in life that would bring any separation between them. Similarly, Christ’s love is so fixed on the Bride that Paul writes of it, saying, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39) Out of this place of confidence, the Bride is able to understand, build up, and protect the spiritually weak as they continue their own journey to God (v. 8-9). The immaturity of other believers is not even noticed, but, on the other hand, they are lovingly called little sisters. The fruit the Bride gives her Christ is not ten percent, as is often the case in monetary offerings, but is all. Her attention is given fully to the first commandment and that which she gives others is from that overflow. Where the Shulamite was overworked, downcast, and burnt out in the first chapter, she is here found working much harder with vigor, strength, and joy. Truly, as Mike Bickle often has said, “Lovers always outwork workers.” As she cries and searches for others to come into relationship with God, to share the joy she has, the Song ends suddenly. Similarly to the book of Acts, in a sudden stop, we are left with anticipation of continuation. We are left listening in wonder of what will come next in our own personal communion with God.