Morning Light – December 22, 2016 – Song of Solomon 1: Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of His Lips

Morning Light – Song of Solomon 1
Today: [Song of Solomon 1] Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of His Lips. Having now come to the study of the Song of Solomon we enter into a consideration of intimacy with God that many never even consider. The Song of Solomon is rejected by many as a salacious piece of erotic fiction, written by an ancient author. Even as early as the 4th century scholars rejected it altogether finding themselves incapable of seeing in its pageantry and language any redeeming, spiritual quality. Such will no doubt be the response of some following this study, but for those who long for a level of intimacy denied many – this book will enthrall you and deepen in you your sense of oneness and intimacy with Christ as the bridegroom of your soul.
[Sng 1:1-17 KJV] 1 The song of songs, which [is] Solomon’s. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine. 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 5 I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 6 Look not upon me, because I [am] black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept. 7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
We now come to a study of the Song of Solomon. Many scholars believe that this book doesn’t not belong in the canon of scripture. It is amazing that something written so long ago could generate such controversy still and Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. As early as the 4th century prominent thinkers regarded Song of Solomon as nothing more than the writings of an unchaste author penning a piece of ancient erotic literature. Regardless of these contrary viewpoints the preponderance of both Jewish and Christian opinion through the centuries have continued to venerate this unique writing. Jewish sources see the book as an allegory of God and Israel while Christianity see the same as an allegory of Christ and the church.
Truly it is the doctrine of the “bride of Christ” that compels us to give this book a deeper inquiry to discern its mystical meaning. This belief in itself is somewhat controversial. Many claim that Israel is the true bride and that the church cannot be both the body of Christ and the bride of Christ at the same time. Yet there are many scriptures throughout the bible that affirm that the church is the chosen bride. In Jer. 3:8 we find that God was indeed betrothed and married to Israel but wrote her a bill of divorce (so is the wording) and puts away Israel as an unfaithful wife. Ezekiel 16 and Hosea ch. 2 and ch. 3:1-5 repeat this same theme of Israel being put away as a bride. Matt. 22:14 where Jesus says “many are called but few are chosen” is stated in the context of the bridegroom choosing a bride for Himself. In 2 Cor. 11:2 Paul speaks of his role of espousing the church as a chaste virgin unto Christ. Eph. 5:22-32 gives a strong comparative of the husband and wife to Christ and the church in the end times saying:
[Eph 5:32 KJV] 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Rev. 19:7-10 describes an event at the end of time that constitutes from a spiritual point of view the joining of Christ and the church as a bridegroom to a bride. A celebration takes place as this cosmic union comes to its fulfillment. Therefore in consideration of these verses and many others we feel justified in treating this controversial book not as a mere piece of ancient eroticism but as a mystical writing of worship between the bridegroom who is Christ and the church. How does this have application for us? We can read these verses and perhaps see them as part of the purposes of God but how do they indicate something real and meaningful for us on a personal level. Verse 2 gives us our starting point.
Verse 2: Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.
What does this mean to us when we read it? The “him” that is spoken of is none other than Jesus Himself. He isn’t just sitting on some distant cosmic throne. Eph. 3:17 says that Jesus dwells in our heart by faith in order to make it possible that we would be rooted and grounded in the love of God in our personal lives. What are the kisses of his mouth? Psalm 2:2 says “kiss the son lest he be angry with thee…” but this is something more intimate than that. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better than wine. In other words this is the declaration of one who wants more than the words that come from the mouth of Christ – this is the heart of a person who wants and longs for intimacy with the heart of the one who spoke these words. Why? Because the love of Jesus is better even than wine which represents the joy that comes to us when we receive the words of His lips. This is saying in effect that though it is wonderful to have the blessings that comes from living for Jesus and accepting Jesus and His word – there is a deeper intimacy available and a deeper satisfaction of the love of God to be ours if we would just seek it.
Part of the theme of Song of Solomon is posing and then answering the question as to whether or not you will be satisfied in your life with the blessings of God in such a way as to disincentivize you from going on to know the Lord in a deeper way? This is portrayed for us in Gen. 25:6 when Abraham assembles the “dust seed” of the sons of Keturah and gives them gifts and sends them away, while reserving the whole of his inheritance for Isaac (Ishmael having been rejected altogether). Is this just some mystical nuance that the average believer need not concern themselves with? Isn’t the idea of this level of intimacy just for a select few while the whole of the body of believers in the earth should be to occupied with? Read the following:
[Mat 7:22-23 KJV] 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
God is dealing with us in the earth according to the level of intimacy that we have with Him. In verse 23 where it reads “I never knew you…” this is speaking of more than mere acquaintance or acknowledgement. The word “knew” describes deep intimacy and union as a man and woman who upon having intercourse know one another in the deepest way possible in the natural sense. The purpose of God is to do more than establish religious culture or a spiritual gathering of men and women for heavenly fellowship throughout time. He is seeking a bride for his son – one who as the bride in Song of Solomon longs for deep experience and intimacy with the one she cannot take her eyes off of.
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents. 9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of jewels], thy neck with chains [of gold]. 11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. 12 While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 13 A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 14 My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. 15 Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves’ eyes. 16 Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed [is] green. 17 The beams of our house [are] cedar, [and] our rafters of fir.
In verse 8 we see the answer of the bridegroom to the bride. He calls her the “fairest among women”. What is it that beautifies the bride of Christ, specifically your own soul in connection to God’s purposes. What is it that attracts Him to you? It is the longing for which you desire more of His presence, deeper intimacy and knowledge of who He is. Jesus did not die to relate us merely to a historical Christ, or a cosmic distant figure. We are doing more than looking for a future king who will one day stand before us as we bow in worship. Again, we are reminded that He dwells in our heart by faith and that there is a level of commiseration and intimacy available to us that many neglect. What is your focus in life. Are you caught up in the daily routine and totally captivated by an outward focus? Or do you long for His embrace as the Shulamite who in response to the unabashed gaze of her lover declares “a bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts….” What are the breasts of the church? They are the old and new testaments that have been produced, venerated and guarded by the church for centuries. John himself tells us that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was God. God and His word are one. Jesus is the word made flesh and ascended up into heaven continues to be the word on our lips and in our hearts. What is our relationship to the word? Is it a casual, nodding acknowledgment or a passionate intimate pursuit knowing as we spend time in the word that we are extracting far, far more than merely wisdom for living life on this earth?
To the invitation to lie with his bride the bridegroom responds describing his beloved’s eyes as resembling that of dove’s eyes. The metaphors here as throughout Song of Solomon are rich. The Spirit of God descended as a dove upon Jesus. He sees in the eyes of the bride the very eyes of the dove that descended the eyes of acknowledgment from the Father “you are My beloved son in whom I am well pleased…” To have the eyes of the dove means that Jesus sees in your spiritual eyes the echoing acknowledgment of that declaration saying on an ongoing basis “yes you are the only begotten son of God and I am posturing myself in life to ever hear what you might say to my soul that I might know you in the fullness and the power of Your might…”