Rich Maffeo on Nostr: The Song of Solomon has been believed by many theologians throughout the Church age ...
The Song of Solomon has been believed by many theologians throughout the Church age to be a picture of the love between Christ and his Bride (the Church). As I recently read through chapter five of the poem, my thoughts focused on verses six through the end of the chapter. I hope you will read the entire section. I can only copy here a few of the verses for the sake of space.
The ‘onlookers’ ask the Bride: “What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved?”
She answers: “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves beside streams of water . . . .” Her poetic description continues to the end of the fifth chapter.
But now look at the first verse of chapter six. After the Bride’s loving description, the ‘onlookers’ respond: “Where has your beloved gone . . . That we may seek him with you?” (Song 6:1)
I think there’s an important evangelistic point in these texts, and that point is this: Although we have never seen our Savior face-to-face, we STILL can describe our Beloved, can’t we?
Of course, we can.
Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Faithfulness.
And when we live as if He is all those things to US – then don’t you think our ‘onlookers’ – at least, some of them – that they might say to us: “Where is your Beloved, that we may seek Him with you’?
Sure, they will. And isn’t that what evangelism is all about? Telling others about our Beloved.
The ‘onlookers’ ask the Bride: “What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved?”
She answers: “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates and black as a raven. His eyes are like doves beside streams of water . . . .” Her poetic description continues to the end of the fifth chapter.
But now look at the first verse of chapter six. After the Bride’s loving description, the ‘onlookers’ respond: “Where has your beloved gone . . . That we may seek him with you?” (Song 6:1)
I think there’s an important evangelistic point in these texts, and that point is this: Although we have never seen our Savior face-to-face, we STILL can describe our Beloved, can’t we?
Of course, we can.
Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. Faithfulness.
And when we live as if He is all those things to US – then don’t you think our ‘onlookers’ – at least, some of them – that they might say to us: “Where is your Beloved, that we may seek Him with you’?
Sure, they will. And isn’t that what evangelism is all about? Telling others about our Beloved.