As we continue with this series on God’s love, we are looking today at Song of Solomon 1:1-4, “The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the maidens love you. ‘Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.’ ‘We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.’” The Song of Solomon is an allegory about the relationship between God and the Believer.
From the commentaries I read, there was an actual Shulamite woman whom Solomon loved and married, and some believe this was a love song between the two of them. They also said the book is an allegory of God’s love for the Church. Some I read did not believe that this is an allegorical look at the love of God toward those who have accepted Jesus as Savior. However, J. Vernon McGee does see it as an allegory and has explained how we can see the relationship between God and the Church in this song.
In verse 2, the Shulamite woman is talking about the kisses of Solomon…she desires his love. Solomon was known as the King of Peace and the Shulamite was known as the Daughter of Peace, and according to McGee, the kisses are the kiss of peace. God speaks peace to the Church. Psalm 85:8 says, “I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants- but let them not turn to folly.” (NIV) John 14:27 also speaks of the peace of God, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV) The kiss mentioned in the verse refers to a personal relationship. We don’t usually go around kissing everyone we meet, only the one with whom we have an intimate relationship. That is the kind of relationship the Believer has with God and He with the Believer! In the marriage ceremony, the kiss seals the marriage vows. It is the beginning of a personal, intimate, relationship between husband and wife. Our relationship with God is sealed when we put our full trust in Him. He has shown us His love by the offering of Jesus Christ as our sacrifice on the Cross for our sins, and the forgiveness of our sins. (John 3:16) We show Him our love by our obedience and desire to spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study.
Verse 2 also talks about Solomon’s love is better than wine. McGee explained in his commentary that this is a love to excess. An extravagant love! God’s love is just like that! It is greater than anything we can even imagine. God tells us, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV) No other love is so great! Romans 8:37-39 tells us that NOTHING can separate us from God’s love!
Verses 3 and 4 talk about Solomon’s fragrant oil. He must have had some type of ointment or fragrance that reminded the Shulamite woman of His love for her. God’s love is fragrant also. When we are in His presence, there is a sweet aroma of His love surrounding us. I have been aware a few times of that aroma, an actual fragrance that I could smell. I believe it was God’s way of letting me know that He was with me and that He loved me.
The Shulamite woman asks Solomon to draw her to him. She desires to be in his presence. As Believers, we should also desire to be in God’s presence. The Bible tells us that no one can come to God except that He draws us. John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” (NASB) God is a gentleman, He doesn’t barge His way into our lives, He comes by invitation. When we ask Him to draw us to Himself, He gives us power to live for Him, to have an intimate relationship with Him through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Verse 4 also talks about the king (Solomon) bringing the Shulamite woman into His chambers. That is the most intimate place. In relation to God, the chambers are the secret of His Presence, the Sanctuary. God brings us into His Presence to have an intimate relationship with us. He desires that we would walk close to Him, to be with Him by spending time with Him, to love Him with everything that is within us, to give ourselves completely to Him. He wants to have an extravagant, Spiritual, love affair with us! His love is sweeter than anything we could possibly imagine, and it lasts forever!
Won’t you seek out His love? Immerse yourself in His love for you. Begin that love affair with God, and find His peace, and you will never experience a greater love in your life.
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