Song of Songs 1:1-2

Solomon’s Song of Songs: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine.”

I wrote a post on the first part of this verse last week (missed it, or forgot? click here).  I’d like to address the second part of the verse this time: “.. for Your love is more delightful than wine.” 

Remember again that Song of Songs is a song/poem, and as such, it communicates truths using symbols and poetic pictures, i.e. there’s more than meets the eye here J.  Here the Wise man, Solomon is picturing the love of God as being 1) enjoyable (“delightful”), and 2) comparable to wine. 

So, stop for a minute.  Perhaps you’ve heard these words before, but consider them again.  God’s love is enjoyable, or as I would say, FUN!  It’s something to experience and enjoy; something to look forward to, and even seek out. 

YES, REALLY!  C’mon, let’s be real.  For many followers of Christ, the idea of God’s love, and loving God is a very austere, mechanical, transaction-type of thing.  It goes like this: “Yes, I know God loves me, that’s why Jesus died for my sins”.  The underlying attitude is that God showed us His love in that sacrifice, so we should just “believe it and receive” it.  While there’s Truth there, it denies the most powerful reality: Because of His great love expressed in Christ, He has opened up a living experience of His love in EVERY moment of life, and ongoing, ever-increasing encounter with His vibrant love for You RIGHT NOW in your heart and in your soul — not just an fact in your mind.

Solomon draws a parallel with wine concerning this Love.  Wine is the drink of merriment, the drink of a celebration, and (as with other alcoholic beverages) that which people like to “lose themselves” with.  What kind of celebration is being offered to us in the Love of Christ?  Don’t we all long to lose ourselves in something, to feel free?  Wine here really symbolizes all the pleasures of the world – all the things we look to for our fun, enjoyment, and satisfaction.  

Isaiah 55: 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,      
come to the waters;      
and you who have no money,      
come, buy and eat!      
Come, buy wine and milk       
without money and without cost.
 2 Why spend money on what is not bread      
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 
 and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 
 3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
 I will make an everlasting covenant with you my faithful love promised to David.

Wait, so this would mean that God’s love is better than your favorite entrée or dessert?  Is it better than your favorite book series or sports channel?  Is the experience of His Presence on your heart actually more enjoyable than your favorite hobby and your favorite person to be with?? YES! YES! YES!!!  And, it’s FREE and available all the time!! 

He leads us to a banqueting table of His love.  This is truth.  But, we don’t truly believe it because we haven’t experienced it.  Most likely it’s because we’re so full of these other things in our soul, that we have no room left for the RICHEST pleasures that God has to give us in His love!  We’ve allowed the devil to steal from us by planting unbelief in our hearts concerning how GOOD He really is. 

You do have to be thirsty (as it says in the verse above).  If you’re satisfied with your life and current experience of God, then that is all that you will have.  But, if you put yourself in a place of hunger and thirst (by removing some of the things that you’ve been consuming), THEN you will be able to eat that which is truly good (verse 2 above).  Therein, you will find true life.  There’s a reason Jesus says “blessed are they hungry, for they WILL be filled” (Matthew 5:6). 

So, I want to encourage you.  If you’ve not truly entered into this 504 season by putting away some things (food, entertainments) in a way that makes you thirsty and hungry for something more, something real – do so now, it’s not too late, the Lord will meet you.  If you’ve been abstaining from things but haven’t yet experienced anything like what I’m talking about, ask the Lord to come and to fill the spaces you’ve opened for Him.  He promises to do it (Luke 11:13).  Renounce your agreement with the deception that says He’s not really that enjoyable or that we shouldn’t expect to experience God!  Agree with the Truth that He is good, and that it is His LOVE that will endure forever (Psalm 136) – it is more lasting, more fulfilling than the lesser pleasures of this life.

His love IS better.