Why should I be like a veiled woman?
In the Song of Songs, the Shulammite wants to find the “one her soul loves.” She asks, in the NIV translation of Song of Songs 1:7 “Why should I be like a veiled woman?” I think I know what this means now — other translations will help — and I’ve gotten some good thoughts from some of you through my comments on my website — and some good thoughts from ancient commentators. But I want to hear from you first. What do you think this means? And how would you apply it?
Where can the One whom my soul loves be found?
Richard Wurmbrund, who is well known for his work with Voice of the Martyrs and who suffered torture and imprisonment for his faith in Christ in Romania, has written a devotional on The Song of Songs called The Midnight Bride. He opened my eyes to this next passage. Read it first from the CEV.
My darling, I love you!
Where do you feed your sheep
and let them rest at noon?(S. of S. 1:7)
Wurmbrand writes that Jesus cares for His sheep, especially the lost, broken, and hurting. In fact he leaves the ninety-nine who are safe to seek the lost. He writes: “Jesus has given us an exact address where we can find him. On the day of the last judgment men will hear these words from Him: “I was in prison and you came to Me…”
When we minister to the “least of these” — the lonely, the lost, the imprisoned, the hungry, the elderly, the children, the hurting…we are ministering to Jesus, and we have found the One whom our soul loves.
This is a picture of my beautiful friend Eunice (brunette in brown) who works in women’s jails in Omaha and now, also in after care, in a home helping women get back on their feet after jail. Look at the joy on her face. She has found the One whom her soul loves.
I think it is interesting that many who are participating in this Song of Songs journey have experienced real suffering — I think suffering shakes our world, making us let go of false idols. It also gives us a heart for the Lord, and then, for others who are suffering.
This was new insight for me from Wurmbrand. What do you think about it? Have you experienced “finding Jesus” when you have cared for the “least of these?” Or do you think he’s misapplying this passage?
Your sharing enriches us all.
I have found the One whom my soul loves
I know the greatest area of growth for me since Steve died, five years ago this month, is greater intimacy with Jesus. I’ve been so convicted by Tim Keller’s sermons on how we love God more for His stuff than for Him. I want to love Him for Him. I don’t think many Christians are there — and I am certainly just on the way — for I am so easily distracted by other things.
When I looked on google images for a picture for this verse from The Song of Songs, I found it was primarily used for wedding invitations — and though that is a beautiful earthly parallel, The Song of Songs is not just about marriage, not just about sex, not just about intimacy with an earthly soulmate. It is meant to point us to Jesus, the Lover of our souls, and the One who wants us to love Him in return. I ended up choosing this painting of Mary of Bethany, when Jesus was comforting her after the death of her brother Lazarus. I do think Mary of Bethany “found the One her soul loves,” for she is the one who lavished all her earthly goods on Him, that alabaster jar of precious ointment. She is the one who sat at His feet, “hanging on His every Word.”
This is how the CEV translates this passage:
I’m not one of those women
who shamelessly follow
after shepherds. My darling, I love you!
Song of Songs 1:7
If the conversations of Christians are any indication, most of us are not there. I guess the beginning is asking Him to help us find Him in this way — which is the next questions she asks in The Song of Songs… but before we go there — I would so love your reflections on this!
What does “your love is better than wine” mean?
The Song of Songs begins with “let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” Most of us can remember the longing we had to be kissed by the one with whom we were falling in love — Oh! That we would desire intimacy with the Lord like that. And truly, we should — for nothing compares to His touch. Now the Song turns from an analogy of physical intimacy to an analogy of wine! Why do you think the love of Jesus is said to be better than wine? Think about the accusation made against the disciples at Pentecost. What do you think wine represents in Scripture? What effects does it have? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by His love? If so, share your stories. I know The Song of Songs is challenging. I’m praying for some brave women to take a risk and explore and share their hearts.
Tell us how you’ve been kissed recently!
The Song of Songs opens with “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” We understand what this means on an earthly level — but what does it mean in the eternal relationship we have with our Bridegroom, Jesus?
A kiss from the King, according to Rabbinic tradition, is a “living word of prophecy.” Has a Word from the Lord jumped from the Scriptures and into your heart recently? When that happens, you have been kissed by the King.
Think about the best romantic kisses. It happens when you are yearning for only him, when you are still, when you feel beautiful because you know you are loved, when you are responsive… When you are that open, pure, and passionate in your time with God, you may just get kissed!
Let us know how He is kissing you!
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT SEX
Why do preachers and writers today think The Song of Songs is just about marriage, just about sex? Great preachers up until fifty years ago knew better. Charles Spurgeon said that it couldn’t just be about sex, it couldn’t just be about marriage — because it is “the Song of Songs,” which means “the very best.” Sex and marriage are beautiful gifts — but they were never intended to be the ultimate. That means we who are single would have missed it.
No — there are other reasons we are blind today. What do you think they are? We’re going to be exploring this fall some of the rich imagery of The Song of Songs, and it isn’t for the faint-hearted or hard-hearted. It is a beautiful parable — and parables are meant to hide mysterious truths from those who aren’t ready. But those who are ready to destroy the idols of their hearts, and to fall deeply in love with the One we were really created to worship, can come on this journey. “His banner over us is love” as the Song says — so why aren’t we seeing this in this lovely book?
Help me with this. Why are so many missing the main point of The Song of Songs today? Why does it seem to be studied only as a marriage manual? Why are people actually offended when you tell them it is about intimacy with Christ? Though it surely has value on the literal level, as a marriage manual, why are we missing the main point?
If you have seen some of the parallels, share what you have seen. If you haven’t, why do you think you haven’t?