Title: Better Than Wine: A Thirst for True Intimacy
Text: Song of Solomon, Chapter 1
There is perhaps no book in the Bible that is more misunderstood or neglected than the Song of Solomon. It is a book of vivid poetry, raw emotion, and passionate intimacy. It doesn't contain laws or prophecies in the way we expect. It is simply a song about love. On its surface, it is a beautiful celebration of romantic, human love-a gift from God that we should cherish.
But for centuries, the church has seen something deeper in this song. It has seen a breathtaking allegory of the love between Christ, our heavenly King, and the soul of the believer. This book gives us the language for a relationship with God that goes beyond mere duty and doctrine, into the realm of deep, personal desire. Chapter 1 is the opening scene of this divine romance, and it models for us a faith that is not afraid to say, "I want more of You."
I. The Cry for Intimacy (vv. 2-4)
The song opens not with a statement of fact, but with a cry of overwhelming desire. The bride declares, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine." This is not a prayer for things. It is not a prayer for blessings or for a change in circumstances. It is a prayer for the person of the Beloved himself. It is a cry for a direct, personal, and intimate experience of his love. The soul is saying, "It is not enough to hear about you, to read about you, or to follow your rules. I want to know you. I want to experience your affection myself."
She then makes a profound value judgment: "Thy love is better than wine." Wine, in the ancient world, was a symbol of joy, celebration, and the very best of earthly pleasure. The soul that has tasted God's love declares that His presence is infinitely more satisfying than anything the world can offer.
But she recognizes she cannot achieve this intimacy on her own. She prays, "Draw me, we will run after thee." This is the paradox of the spiritual life. We are filled with desire, but we are powerless to reach the King's chambers in our own strength. We must be drawn by His grace. This is a prayer of dependent desire, asking the one we long for to be the one who enables our pursuit.
II. The Tension of Insecurity (vv. 5-7)
After this passionate cry, a new emotion enters: insecurity. The bride sees herself in the mirror and has a mixed reaction. "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem." She knows she is beautiful, that she is the King's beloved. But she is also painfully aware of her flaws. She is "black," she says, weather-beaten and scorched by the sun. This wasn't a choice; it was the result of harsh labor forced upon her by her angry brothers. She was so busy keeping their vineyards that her "own vineyard" she had not kept.
This is a perfect picture of the believer. In Christ, we are "comely"-we are declared righteous, holy, and beautiful in God's sight. And yet, we are so aware that we are also "black" we see the effects of our past sin, the wounds inflicted by others, and the ways we have neglected our own spiritual lives.
This insecurity leads her to a fearful question. She asks her Beloved, "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest... for why should I be as one that turneth aside?" When we are focused on our flaws, we begin to fear that we will lose our way, that we will be separated from the one we love. Insecurity always breeds fear of distance.
III. The Affirmation of the King (vv. 8-15)
How does the King respond to her insecurity? Not with criticism, but with overwhelming affirmation.
He doesn't even acknowledge her self-perceived flaws. His first words to her are, "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women..." She calls herself black; He calls her the most beautiful of all. This is the grace of the gospel. God does not see us through the lens of our sin or our scars; He sees us through the finished work of Jesus Christ, and in His eyes, we are fair, lovely, and righteous.
He then lavishes her with praise, comparing her to a majestic horse in Pharaoh's chariots and promising to adorn her with gold and silver. But his most beautiful words come in verse 15: "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes." He repeats his declaration of her beauty, and he praises her eyes the eyes of a dove, which were thought to be loyal and singularly focused. He sees her devotion, her single-minded love for him, and it is beautiful to him.
IV. The Joy of Mutual Presence (vv. 12-17)
Assured of her King's love, the bride's confidence returns, and the chapter closes with a celebration of mutual presence and delight.
"While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." In his presence, her worship-her fragrant perfume-is a natural and beautiful response. He is a constant comfort and treasure to her, "a bundle of myrrh... he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts."
Their communion is not stuffy or formal. It is vibrant and alive. She declares, "Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir." Their place of intimacy is not a cold palace, but a living, growing place, surrounded by the strength and beauty of God's creation.
Conclusion
This first chapter of the Song of Songs maps the journey of the soul in its pursuit of God. It begins with a deep thirst for an intimacy that is "better than wine." It moves through the valley of insecurity, where we are tempted to focus on our flaws and fear we will be cast aside. But it leads us to the assurance of our King, Jesus, who silences our fears by calling us "the fairest among women." And it brings us to a place of joyful, vibrant communion with Him.
This is an invitation to all of us. Is your relationship with God one of duty, or one of desire? Do you long for His presence more than the finest pleasures of this world? Let this ancient song give you the words to pray. Ask Him for a deeper experience of His love. Be honest about your insecurities. And listen for the voice of your King, who looks at you today and says, "Behold, you are fair, my love."
Amen.
