SoS!!! Kiss me, now!

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine.
Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
Draw me away! (Song of Solomon 1: 1-4)

Look up Chapter 1 in Bible Gateway! (You can select a Bible version from the drop-down list.)

Warning: These next eight weeks might get a little steamy. Young people might be traumatized to know that their parents actually felt and feel this way about each other.  Spoiler alert: there is no stork who brought you from heaven.  And while we’re at it, no Easter Bunny, either.

There are two protagonists passing these Biblical love notes: Beloved, the wife, and Lover, the husband.  Both are really, really, really, into each other. There are all sorts of erotic metaphors that Solomon uses to describe their passion for one another.  We Christians have sometimes tried to sanitize this book, saying it’s how Christ feels about His church.  Well, aside from “his banner over me is love” in Chapter 2 verse 4, I really hope not.

I believe that God allowed this book to be written to remind us that He gave us love, intimacy, and erotic pleasure to be enjoyed within the bonds of matrimony. That’s the ticket, too, because only within marriage can it be fully experienced as He created.  When two people who love each other unite their commitment under God, then what they experience in love-making is completely freeing.  There is no guilt, no baggage, no secret to be hidden—it’s just the two of them fully expressing their passion for one another.

Yes, sex is a good thing!  It’s not supposed to be dirty or evil.  We’ve allowed ourselves to be drawn into temptation and consider it ugly.  We’ll hesitate to speak about it in our churches or to each other because we think it’s not the thing to do.  But sex is as much God’s creation as the sea, the land, and the stars.  It’s beautiful, because God just doesn’t make ugly. (Hey, a platypus is crazy hot to another platypus, OK?)

But back to Beloved and Lover.  I love how this Song starts with her saying, “Let him kiss me!”  We’re right into the story with an open invitation for her man.  Lover must be a good kisser because she wants him to claim her and draw her away!  I like how she mentions that the other virgins also love him.  I read that as, “Baby, you so fine, no wonder everyone is mad for you! But you’re mine so, take me now!”

She praises his name, his fragrance, and so wants to be near him.  It’s not enough that she asks to be called into his chambers, but she also wants to know where he’ll be at midday.  (Where are you resting your sheep?  I don’t want to stand aside in someone else’s field.  I want to be with you!) When women are deeply in love, we want to spend all of our time building that relationship, and that intimacy.  Hold me in your arms, kiss me, and take me!  Where are you going to be later, and I’ll drop by so we can be together again!

Lover makes me swoon.  He has no problem expressing how beautiful he finds his woman.  But he also makes me laugh in this chapter.  Why?  Because he compares his Beloved to a horse (Verse 9).  It’s not the first thing I think of when a man describes my beauty, but Solomon means it as a great compliment.  A mare who pulled Pharaoh’s chariot was magnificent to look at, the finest creature, and strong.  It is also harnessed.  Is Solomon desiring to unharness her and join her with him?  Possibly indeed!

While the king was at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.
My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.
My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En Gedi. (Verses 12-14)

“While we were eating dinner that day, I just looked and him and my body said, ‘Yes, please!’” And as they are resting together afterward, she compares Lover to a sachet of myrrh¹ and a cluster of henna² blossoms.  Both of these things are pleasingly fragrant, but what I find interesting is that myrrh oil has a lot of healing properties.  I guess I re-read this and think, “When I am with you, I am wholly well.  Nothing obstructs me from completely relaxing in your arms.”  Henna is often used to as a stain to decorate new brides in Eastern traditions.  Beloved might be saying that Lover is not only overwhelming her with his presence, but his love is leaving a permanent mark on her, so that it will be known that she is his and he is hers.

Finally, in verses 15-17, they say sweet things to each other.  He says she is beautiful with eyes like a dove, and she says he is handsome and charming.  Then, she declares the ripeness of their marriage bed, and he declares the strength of their house (I read this as the strength of their bond.)

So, we go from kiss me, to take me away, to where are you going to be later so I can be with you, to take me again, to you’re gorgeous, to look how wonderful our life is!

And this is just the first chapter!

My word, I think I need to cool off a wee bit!

^{1.  Read more about myrrh!}

^{2.  Read more about henna!}

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