A Dozen Red Roses - Pt 1

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! (Song of Solomon 2:1-6 ESV).

With just five days left until Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d turn our attention to one of the greatest books of poetry in the Old Testament. So many biblical scholars disagree on its interpretation it should not be a surprise that many find Song of Solomon confusing. In fact, it is a book rarely used as a foundational text in preaching. Some say it’s a drama or musical, and maintain that there are two or three main characters. It’s often called Song of Songs, and even the Canticle of Canticles. Most agree it that shows a beautiful picture of God’s design for love and the marriage relationship. Others say the book is an allegory of God and His relationship with the church. Still others claim that theory is nonsense. My opinion is a summation of all of these things, with one great exception. I know it is just as inspired of the Holy Spirit as any other; and, I am convinced that it has a very specific message to all of us in our contemporary culture. So, I am using this book in the next few days to focus on the example of God’s love for us and how that ought to affect our relationships with our family. The first verse of our reading today declares the identity of this character: I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys (v. 1). Spurgeon writes of this declaration: It is our Lord who speaks: "I am the rose of Sharon." How is it that he utters his own commendation, for it is an old and true adage, that "self praise is no recommendation"? None but vain creatures ever praise themselves, and yet Jesus often praises himself, he says, "I am the good Shepherd;" "I am the Bread of Life;" "I am meek and lowly of heart," and in manifold speeches he is frequently declaring his own excellencies, yet Jesus is not vain. Indeed! It is not vanity at all! The Holy Spirit merely expresses the coming Messiah in this book in a way that is most meaningful to describe the great love God will show us in the coming of Jesus. My work necessarily gives me a skewed demographic. Most of the folks I see are in crisis within their family. It may be a conflict between spouses, parents and their children, or extended family. I am still amazed at how little we understand of the commitment necessary to truly love one another. My desire is to give all of us reason to pause and reexamine our love for each other in our families this Valentine’s Day and every day following. Stat the process today by thinking on the love of God toward you expressed so vividly in Jesus.