Are You Living in the Divine Romance?
July 14, 2023
Are You Living in the Divine Romance?
By Brooke Holt
“The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountain, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.” Song of Solomon 2:8-11
For centuries, Song of Solomon has perplexed preachers, bible teachers, commentators, and bible readers. What does God want us to do with this unusual, romantic-sounding verbiage in Scripture? What kind of love story is this?
As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Since the books of Scripture include Song of Solomon, you can be assured this book contains truth God wants you to apply to your life.
Song of Solomon depicts a romance, but not like the love stories you watch on television or read in books today. It is a divine romance. King Solomon wrote these inspired words to depict the love of Jesus Christ and his pursuit to win the love and devotion on his bride (you and his church). Throughout the chapters of this divine romance, the Shulamite (Solomon’s bride) resists Solomon’s love. She hides behind pain, shame, and a sense of unworthiness. Yet, Solomon faithfully continues his quest to win her and redeem her.
In our Scripture verse for today, the Shulamite speaks of her beloved Solomon. She admires everything about him from his looks to his countenance and athleticism. While she is overwhelmed by his pursuit of her, she also delights in it. The king calls to her to come to him, to let him love her, and to see herself as he sees her – beautiful and clean: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone” (v. 11). He tells her to stop looking back at who she was and what she did. The guilt, stains, and unworthiness have been washed away by the rain; the dead of winter has been renewed; the old has gone, and the new has come.
These words are Jesus’ invitation to you today. You are his beloved. Jesus is on a quest to win you as his bride. He calls you to himself. He longs to lavish his love upon you and to make you his own. He invites you to see yourself through his eyes of love and redemption. You are beautiful to him! Nothing you have done or will do will stop his pursuit of you.
Will you come to your beloved today?
Reflection:
The Lord has called you into his divine romance. How will you respond to his outpouring of love upon you today? How will you respond to his divine pursuit for your heart? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
Our honest prayer before God is evidence that we understand the ways He loves, cherishes, sees, and hears us. Through prayer, we can acknowledge with Hagar, “You are the living One who sees me” (Genesis 16:14). When we pray, we are affirming the same. Why do we often hide from this privilege? Why do we avoid God, the One who sees us as we are and stands ready to provide and answer us in his holy, timely way? In this 8-week study on the prayers of Job, Ruth, Hannah, and David, grow your prayer life by facing your honest need and bringing your whole self before God. Acknowledging God as the One who guides your path can change your heart. It can take you past fear and into faith, strength, and hope. Learn more about Honest Prayer.
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