The Bridegroom’s Longing
The beauty of the Song of Solomon reveals the intimate relationship of marriage between the Bride and the Bridegroom, that is, between us and Christ, between Him and the church.
I meditated on chapter 8, verses 13 to 14 the other day.
HE
“O you who dwell in the gardens,
with companions listening for your voice;
let me hear it.”
SHE“Make haste, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.”
Here, the Bridegroom calls. He calls to His beloved Bride, yearning, asking to hear her voice. The Lord desires to hear our voice, our prayers, our calling out to Him, our response, our heart. Though He knows it all, He longs to hear us speak to Him, to talk and commune together as friends, as companions.
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:4 ESV
And notice how the Bride responds. Her one petition is to see Him. To know Him. To be with Him. Make haste, she says, Come.
Is this our heart toward our Bridegroom? For Him to come, to return, to be with us? Whether in the moment, or upon His second Advent to this earth to bring judgement and reunify with His Bride at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? To take us with Him to the dwelling places of eternity in Heaven?
Why, how far we’ve wandered. How far we’ve wandered when we ask only for earthly goods, when our eyes are fixed on the things that perish, that grow rust and mold, that fade to dust as our lives do. How far we’ve wandered when we no longer find our Bridegroom’s face the epitome of beauty and grace, the heights of our love sunk deep into the pits of hell as we compromise for entertainment, for drunkenness, for slothfulness in our living out our callings.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” Ephesians 4:1 NLT
These verses from Song of Solomon are but a framework for how we ought to respond to our Lord. We learn He longs to hear our voice, yet do we respond in love or with pride? Do we match His longing, or do we fall short and display our spiritual harlotry? Oh, how we need to return to Him.
Awake, Bride, and put on your garments, for He stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). Tarry not to open to your beloved — don’t you remember who He is to you?
Song of Solomon, chapter 5, details the account of the Bride missing her Bridegroom as she hesitated to soil her feet and put on her garments in order to welcome Him. She wasn’t prepared, and she lost her love temporarily… may we never risk doing the same, for He is far too precious. Is He precious to you?
Let us return to our First Love, and keep our lamps burning. For He is coming, sooner than we know.
““Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Revelation 22:12
“And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”” Revelation 19:9 ESV