The Song of Solomon 2

As we continue into the second chapter of this dream-like love poem, I am struck that we seem to be in such a different world than that of Ecclesiastes. Yet in reality throughout the world of "vanity of vanities" there were many encouragements to enjoy your wife, though your pleasures may be fleeting in this world below. Here in the Song of Solomon we seem to have entered a place of lasting joy. Though the chapters yet to come will challenge some of that bliss for brief moments, for at least these verses we are seeing something of heaven in the great love of the young woman for her valiant man.

In the last chapter we saw that she had seemed conscious of her lowliness and unworthiness. Now with the renewing strength of her husband's expressions of his desire for her, the chapter begins with her willing acceptance of his delighted appraisal. Will our wives dare to believe that we really do desire them, admire them, and love them? Will we really believe that we are loved by our Lord - that we (the church) are a rich inheritance in the eyes of our God (Eph 1:18)?

In the next verse the man extols his lowly maiden as a lily among all the other women. What joy she again expresses in her man! She is delighted to sit in his protecting shadow. She speaks of his intimate embrace as a woman who is overcome with love-sickness thinking of her man.

It is hard to tell what is real and what is the exploration of desire or fancy as the verses proceed. This superhuman shepherd-king is heard and known by his voice as he is bounding through forests and leaping over mountains and then is suddenly gazing through her window. What is he saying to his love? He calls her his "beautiful one" and he has come to her to woo her - to lead her away with him. He wants her in the freshness of springtime. He wants to see her face. He wants to hear her voice. Anything that will endanger or spoil their adventure of love (little foxes) will be trapped and put away. They must be in a world of beauty together at the rebirth of a new earth.

They are for each other, and they must be together. Nonetheless, when the night is over he will leap away again as a majestic stag who seems to break mountains in two as the dawn's first light shines. This is the very best man. He loves his wife. He delights in her. He rushes to her. He woos her. He says the right things, and he is a man, a man who seems to have the power to move the natural world at his will. This great man loves her!

Husbands should seek to be great men of faith, righteous men whose prayers make a difference, men who are not only hearers of the word, but who are also doers of the word, men who understand the times and are both spiritual and practical. Great men like this are needed and such men should greatly desire their wives. Every woman of God should have such a great man and should know that he wants her. He comes to her in strength, but with true love for her. He pursues her and finds her, and she feels so blessed to be loved by such a man. This man will never be harsh or cruel to his wife, and God will hear his prayers (1 Peter 3:7).

Where can a man like this one be found? Where is the hero who comes bounding through the forest with desire for his lover, who spends a day and a night as her everything, and then rises again with power - off to do good things in the land beyond? There is only one such man - a man who is far greater than any other man. He accomplishes everything with a word. He is powerful and loving. His wisdom is beyond compare, and He comes from a far country to rescue His bride even at the cost of His life. But when the dark night is spent He rises again with healing in his wings. He is the bright morning star, and He loves His church.

What a great man Jesus is! To think that we are loved by such a man! How blessed we are! Like the love-sick maiden of this song, the praise of our Lord should be on our lips, and we should always be impressed with our Savior, who is greatest of all husbands.