The Song of
Songs is the loveliest and best known of all the 1005 songs written
by Solomon (1 Kings 4:32).
Within this lyrical poem,
there are five different cast members. Most biblical translations do
not have the identification of these characters to assist the reader
to follow the narrative. But the NKJV (New King James Version) is
superb. It identifies the persons before their lines. This helps us
greatly to gain a clearer understanding of this ravishing song of
endless love.
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Historical |
Allegorical |
| The Bridegroom: King Solomon
Most
of his marriages were political arrangements, designed
to seal treaties and trade agreements with other
nations.
True
love could not be bought and sold like commodities on
the open market.
Solomon had many
wives, but the Shulamite was the only one with whom he
enjoyed a warm and enriching relationship.
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The Bridegroom:
: King of
Kings Jesus
Most of His
creation are objects of beauty. They are created for His
pleasure.
But man was
created in the image of God - to have fellowship with
Him. Man is being loved, and is to love God in return.
This awesome
choice to love or not to love God resides in the heart.
Pure love cannot be bought or sold. We love Him because
He first loved us.
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| The Bride: The Shulamite Woman
Not
a cultured princess but a lowly vineyard keeper whose
skin had been darkened by her long exposure to the sun.
In
the first section of the book, the Shulamite recalled
the many happy experiences of their courtship when she
visited Solomon in his palace in Jerusalem (2:4-7).
She
fondly remembered Solomon's visit to her home in the
country during springtime (2:8-17). She sang about the
painful separations from his love (3:1-5), as well as
the joyous wedding procession to Jerusalem to become the
king's bride (3:6-11). Solomon praised her in a
beautiful poem about the enchanting wonder of love in
Chapter 4.
In
the second section of the book, the love of the
Shulamite and Solomon for each other continued to grow
and deepen after their marriage.
But
their love was tested. She had a troubled dream when he
seemed distant and unconcerned (5:2-8). But Solomon
assured her of his love and praised her beauty
(6:4--7:9).
Longing to visit her country home (7:10--8:4), she
finally made the trip with Solomon. Their love grew even
stronger (8:5-7).
The
song closed with a blessed assurance of each to the
other that they would always remain true to their love.
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The Bride:
The Church &
Israel
We are undeserving
of His love and yet He chose us. While we were yet
sinners, He died for us. Paying the ransom price for our
sins, He redeemed us and forgave all our trespasses.
He daily
sanctifies us with His Holy Spirit. He loves us with an
everlasting love. He desires that none should perish but
that all should be saved by returning to Him in true
repentance.
We are changed in
His presence by the power of His love. We are deeply
rooted in love so that others will be able to see and
understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is the
love of Christ in our lives.
We are His Bride
being filled completely with godliness, holiness and
love. We are the Body of Christ through which God
reveals and manifests His glory to all men. By our love,
others will know that we are His.
Our love for God
have already begun but God is broadening our love to
include others also. Falling in love with God needs us
to be united with Him in His kingdom plans and purposes.
Initially we may
be struggling as we begin to do His will. In seeking His
kingdom and His righteousness, there will be a lot of
self-denials needed. But as we grow in His love, taking
our cross daily will become a delight. It will be no
longer burdensome.
It is in the Cross
that we bear the marks of Christ, the Lover of our
souls.
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The Daughters
of Jerusalem: Preparing The Bride
They
were the unmarried friends of the bride who attended to
her, grooming and beautifying her. Before a girl was
being taken to the king's chamber, she would be given
six months of beauty treatments with oil of myrrh,
followed by six months with special perfumes and
ointments (Esther 2:12).
These women of
Jerusalem were also royal servants who served as
personal attendants and maids to Solomon's Shulamite
bride. These ladies provided the light for the
bridegroom who came at night, as illustrated in the parable of the Ten
Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
In this love song,
they also served as chorus girls echoing the sentiments
of the Shulamite, accentuating her love and affection
for Solomon.
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The Daughters of Jerusalem:
Preparing The Church & Israel
These are the five-fold ministers who
prepare God's people for the Lord's service. They are
building up the Body of Christ, grooming her in holiness
and righteousness, and also in the love of Christ.
They prepare the Bride in their equipping and empowering
ministry.
They love the Church, Israel and all the peoples of the
earth.
At times they weep
and empathize with the Church and Israel over sin and
the results of sin. They comfort the Bride with their
words of comfort, praying with her for the soon return
of her Bridegroom!
Their hearts are burning zealously for Jesus with His
Holy Fire till He returns, never running empty nor dry.
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The Friends of The Bridegroom: Preparing The Way For
The Bridegroom
They were the unmarried friends of the
bridegroom who attended to him, preparing the way for
him.
They would run
ahead of the bridegroom, shouting and declaring his
coming.
One of them was
the best man in the wedding ceremony. He was the one who
assisted in planning and arranging the marriage. He was
a close companion of the bridegroom whom the bridegroom
loved and entrusted the awesome task of coordinating
this significant event.
| The Friends of
The Bridegroom: Preparing The Way For The LORD
These are the forerunners of the Lord.
Like John the
Baptist was the Friend of the Bridegroom for His First
Coming, there will be many Friends of the Bridegroom
preparing the way of the LORD for His Second Coming.
They are the ones
who are not afraid to confront the sins of the Church,
Israel and the nations. But they will not do it harshly
or self-righteously. Their hearts too are broken over
sin!
They understand
the heart of the Bridegroom. They dare not take matters
into their own hands without consulting Him.
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The Brothers of
The Bride: The Task Masters
These brothers of the Shulamite bride might be her
step-brothers.
The
poem indicated she worked under their command as the
keeper of their vineyards (1:6). They were the ones who
made her work until she had no time for herself. They
were also the ones who caused her to be blackened by the
sun.
They
despised the Shulamite (8:8-9), always saying that she
was not ready for marriage, and that she was not able to
take good care of herself.
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The Brothers of
The Bride: The Burnt Out Ones
These people are part of the leadership in the Church.
Beyond their hollow eyes are weary hearts already being
worn out over many years of ministry. They may be still
doing all the things that ministers are supposed to be
doing. But they are just going through the motions.
The
hopes they once had are now laid aside. There is no
longer passion for the Lord or the Lord's! They are no
longer feeding the lambs and the sheep. Instead they are
exploiting the lambs and sheep to work non-stop, turning
these helpless ones to become like them - overworked and
fatigued burn-outs in the work of the ministry.
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For the Bride of
Christ to be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus, the Daughters of
Jerusalem and the Friends of the Bridegroom must cooperate with one
another so that each can do their jobs well. There are no room for
finger pointing or accusing each other. There is no need to pull and
shove. God will make all things beautiful in His time! The Friends
of the Bridegroom are often found hurrying the Daughters of
Jerusalem to finish beautifying the Bride so that she will be holy
and righteous, ready to receive her Bridegroom. On the other hand,
the Daughters of Jerusalem often accuse the Friends of the
Bridegroom for their self-righteous and judgmental attitudes. At the
same time, the Brothers of the Bride must realize and acknowledge
their wrongdoings, and start doing things right. They need to renew
their love for Christ - be restored, refreshed and revitalized.
Eventually all of them and all of us will emerge to become the holy
Bride of Christ, and then the Wife of Christ (Rev 21:9).
Through it all,
the Bride of Christ will ultimately arise and shine gloriously. She
will have gone through the process of refining, thoroughly tested!
She overcomes by her faith in Christ, and is shining purest white,
full of the glory and grace of God!
She is not
love-sick! She is love-healthy. Her love for the Lord is balanced by
her love for the Lord's. She has both passion for God and His
people! The depth and height of her love is well-balanced by the
length and breadth of her love. Her vertical relationship with God
is certified by her horizontal relationship with His people. She is
not a burnt-out! Her love for God and others is burning stronger and
brighter everyday!
She is the
prudent and capable wife in Proverbs 31. Worth far more than
precious jewels, her Bridegroom has full confidence in her that she
will not put Him to shame! She has no time to gossip. She is not
proud, ill-mannered, selfish or irritable. She does not keep a
record of wrongs. She does not rejoice when others are suffering.
She rejoices in truth! She bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things and endures all things!
She does her
earthly works with a touch of heaven. Whenever and wherever she
ministers, she touches the hearts of those on earth, and also the
heart of the One in heaven! She is not lazy. She is busy doing her
Husband's business. She is diligent, hardworking and strong.
Respected by all, she knows the true value of everything she does.
She looks after the needs of her family. She is also generous to the
poor and needy.
Her people have
no fear of winter as she has their warm clothings and blankets made
and ready for use. She speaks with a gentle wisdom, being humble and
meek. Her Husband and His people praise her! One infallible sign of
her continual presence of God is the jubilant joy that radiates out
of a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving. Her inner beauty also
radiates out captivating everyone!
The Bride of
Christ is full, not impoverished and lacking! Full of the grace and
glory of her Husband, Christ Jesus! Everywhere she goes, she bears
the presence and power of her Husband. Every single act is painted
with His love, grace and mercy. Whether in a bustling kitchen, a
busy marketplace or a quiet room of prayer, she bears her Husband's
name bringing Him honour! Her prayers are fervent because she is in
constant touch with those she prays for. Her prayers have hands and
feet that tangibly reach out - touching lives and transforming
communities!
As written in
the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, may we pray as we become the holy
and ready Bride of Christ:
Lord, make
me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I
may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal
life.
Note: This Peace Prayer of St. Francis was
found in Normandy in the year of 1915. Its author is unknown. The
prayer was written on the back of a card of St. Francis, from which
the name was derived. Some believed Francis wrote it while others
believed otherwise. The last line was both quoted with and without
the wordings "to ourselves." There is no conclusive evidence to
which is the true historical edition. In both cases, the same
message remains.
Source:
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary