His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend. (Song of Songs 5:16)
Sadly, western Christianity has often reduced faith to little more than an intellectual acceptance of truth, and any thoughts of “emotion” have been seen as excess or belonging to the fringe of Christian experience, rather than being right at the center of it. But Christian faith is not about our heads being filled with knowledge, but our hearts being filled with love. When we come into God’s presence, we should expect something to happen, to receive a fresh infilling of His love.
One whole book of the Bible is given over to the intimacy of love: Song of Songs (or, Song of Solomon). At its most fundamental level, it is a collection of love songs between a man and a woman, depicting love in all its power and wonder. But many have seen in it parallels to the love between Christ and His church, bringing home how very much He wants to be not just our Savior and our Lord, but also our Lover and our Friend. Church leaders throughout the centuries have stressed the importance of receiving God’s love. For example, St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “May the power of Your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven; grant that we may be ready to die for love of Your love, as You died for love of our love. Amen.”
What about you? Have you ever considered the Lord as your Lover? A striking image, we grant, but one that brings home the depth of His love for you far more than the simple phrase “the One who loves you.” Don’t be afraid of being intimate with Him; it opens the door for His love to flood in so that you too can say, “My beloved is mine and I am his” (Song of Songs 2:16, KJV).
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. (Song of Songs 2:3-4)
© Copyright 2017 Martin Manser and Mike Beaumont
