Sunday, February 4, 2007
“My Soul Loves”
Text: Song of Solomon 3: 1- 5
One of the most misunderstood books in the Old Testament is probably The Song of Solomon or called by some, The Song of Songs. One may wonder how is it possible that there can be a Book of the Bible that does not mention the name of God. Theologians have argued why this book was included into the Canon over the years. My training tells me to first read the Bible as it is. This is a love story and we are reading a love letter.
Have you ever received a love letter? Not, roses are red, and violets are blue. Sugar is sweet and so are you. No! I mean a real love letter that is written from the depths of one’s feelings that expresses the secret thoughts, desires and dreams. A love letter your loved one has sprinkled on it a drop of the finest – perfume, White Diamonds; or cologne – Hugo Boss. It reminds you so much of that special someone that sometimes you don’t reread it, you just smell the letter. Have you ever received a love letter whose language was so descriptive that you had to hide it between the mattresses of your bed to prevent anyone from seeing it? A Temptations type love letter: you have a smile so bright, you could have been a candle; you holding me so tight, you could have been a handle. Have you every received a love letter?
That’s what the Song of Solomon is a love letter between a bride and a groom. It was written by a love child – Solomon.
You remember his father David and his mother Bath-sheba. David one day looking over his roof top saw Uriah’s wife, Bath-sheba. From that day he desired her and had her husband assigned to a dangerous mission after trying to convince him to stay with his wife after David had spent time with her. Uriah was killed in battle and David took Bath-sheba as his bride. Nathan, David’s Pastor comes to him one day with a message from the Lord.
There were two men in one city; the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had brought up and nourished: and it grew up together with his children and was unto him a daughter. A traveler came to the king and instead of taking one of his many flocks and herds; he took the poor man’s one lamb for the traveler. David became angry against the man and said to Nathan, the man shall surely die for doing this thing.
Nathan said, Thou art the man and told him all of the evil he will bring upon himself because of this terrible sin.
David puts on sack cloth and ashes and says these famous words: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Solomon was a wise child.
He loved the Lord, walked in the law, and sacrificed daily. One night the Lord appeared unto him and asked what shall I give thee? Solomon answered that the Lord has been kind to David and permitted him, David’s son to sit on the throne. But, as a young child, how was he to serve and judge such a multitude of people. He asked for an understanding heart so that he would be able to discern between good and bad. The Lord was pleased with his request and told him he would give him a wise and understanding heart. Since he didn’t ask for long life, or riches, or victory over his enemies, he would also give him riches and honor; so that there will not be any among the kings like thee. And if he walked in him law and keep his commandments, he would lengthen his days.
He had a practical wisdom in statesmanship and administration of justice. He had an academic and didactic wisdom, in a world famed for wise men; he stood heads and shoulders above them all.
He was a charismatic child.
His fame and charisma was so great that The Queen of Sheba came to visit him with her caravans of spices, gold, precious stones, and camels. She brought all her riches and beauty and sat at his feet. She had heard of his fame and wisdom. She told him the secret desires of her heart and Solomon shared his wisdom and whatever she asked, he gave. After their rendezvous together, the scriptures say that there was no more spirit in her. Queen Sheba remarked that all the reports she had heard where true, “but the half has not been told.”
He was the love doctor.
Solomon loved many strange women. He used the marriage bed as a way of developing alliances with the people from neighboring countries. Even though God had told him not to go into these countries or allow those countries to come into Israel because they would cause him to turn away from God. At last count, Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.
Being a love child, or a wise child, or a charismatic child, or even a love doctor would not seemingly be reason enough to include this book in the Bible.
Why is this book in the bible with its suggestive, provocative language? Why is this book in the Bible that is so anatomically graphic? Why is this book in the Bible that is steamy and sensuous?
The reason this book is in the Bible is to explain God’s love as Eros.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrating his command of Biblical Greek in his sermon titled, “A Christmas Sermon on Peace” preached in December 1967. It’s the sermon where he uses the phrase, “That all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
He describes love from the Greek perspective: Agape, Philos, and Eros. Because he divides the terms into its three classical Greek meanings and since our minds process information in a compartmentalized fashion. People tend to think of these terms in three separate and distinct categories. In reality from the perspective of God they have a unified meaning. In other words God is Love: Agape, Philos, and Eros all at the same time.
Agape love is an understanding, creative love which gives without seeking anything in return. It’s witnessed when Jesus says no greater love is this, than a man lay down his life for another.
Philos love that is brotherly, sisterly or family. Scripture would say that it’s the kind of love that sticks closer than a brother. You find it in philosophy – love of wisdom, or philanthropy – love of mankind.
But, it takes Solomon, a love child, a wise child, a charismatic child, and a love doctor, to describe the Eros nature of God’s Love, the yearning of the soul for the realm of the divine.
You find three things:
1. When your soul loves; it’s intimate
2. When your soul loves; it’s exciting
3. When your soul loves; it’s enduring
If we just read the text as it is, that would not have been enough to have it canonized as Holy Scripture. A second look discloses the theological significance of the text. Because the bride is a metaphor for the church, and the groom is a metaphor for Jesus Christ.
The early church fathers realized that Solomon was expressing the Eros of God through language that was intimate, exciting, and enduring.
That’s why you have to be careful when you are dealing with the church. You are not only dealing with God’s mind, you are not only dealing with God’s heart, but you are dealing with God’s soul. I don’t fear any man, but I do fear God. We who make up the body of Christ; we who are members of his fellowship called the church. We must be careful that we do nothing that brings dishonor or shame to his bride. God loves the church. Jesus Christ died for his church. Jesus is coming again to receive his church without spot or wrinkle.
We must get ourselves and the church ready for the bridegroom.
What does the bride do?
1. She seeks whom her soul loves.
2. She cries out for whom her soul loves.
3. She embraces whom her soul loves.
If the Church wants an intimate, exciting, and enduring relationship with God; you must seek him, you must cry out for him, and when he comes you must embrace him and never let him go.
The Church and the people of the Church must be able to say with sincerity and depth of meaning: My Soul Loves – God.
