King Yeshua in the Song of Songs
Lake Tiberius, Israel (aka the Sea of Galilee)
The Love Story of the Shepherd King
I have a very vivid memory of the first time I read Song of Songs. Between the ages of 4th through 6th grade, I was sitting on a hard wooden pew on the far left side of the church with the rest of the youth group. As the minister preached, my best friend Kendra and I thumbed through those chapters, horrified at first, then giggling, plastering our hands over our mouths at several points. We were beyond floored that “those kinds of things” were in our Bibles: God’s Word.
Today, after recalling that memory, I plan to teach my children about the beauty of God’s love letter to us through the pen of King Solomon. How awesome is it that we have the dream of every love-starved man and woman written down in black and white in the pages of our Bible—a relationship that only some are blessed to know? When reading through Song of Songs, I ask myself, “Has humanity become love-starved? Could that be why there is such a focus on quick “love” from cell phone applications like Tinder or such a thing as “one-night-stands?”
The Song of Songs is one of the Bible’s most mysterious and beautiful books. Filled with poetic imagery, passionate love, and deep longing, it paints a picture of intimacy, devotion, and pursuit. While often read as an allegory of marriage, this book also reveals something even more significant—the love of King Jesus for His Bride, the Church.
As Christian women, we can read the Song of Songs not only as a celebration of human love but as an invitation into a deeper relationship with our King. His love is pursuant, steadfast, and redemptive. The longing we see in the pages of this book is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, our Shepherd King.
A Love That Pursues
One of the most striking themes in the Song of Songs is the constant pursuit between the Lover and the Beloved. This back-and-forth dynamic of seeking, longing, and finding echoes the way God relentlessly pursues us.
"The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills." (Song of Songs 2:8)
"I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not." (Song of Songs 3:1)
This seeking and finding reflects our relationship with Jesus. He pursues us, even when we wander. He calls us by name, even when we doubt. He draws near to us, even when we feel distant. Just as the woman in Song of Songs longs for her beloved, our hearts yearn for deeper intimacy with Christ.
The Intimacy of Love
One of the most beautiful truths found in the Song of Songs is that love is not just duty—it is delight. In this book, the Bride and Groom take time to admire, praise, and cherish one another.
"Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves." (Song of Songs 1:15)
"You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes."(Song of Songs 4:9)
This delight is a picture of how Jesus sees us. We are not a burden to Him, but His joy. He looks at His Church, His Bride, and calls her beautiful. He rejoices over us, sings over us, and takes deep pleasure in His relationship with us (Zephaniah 3:17).
Returning to the Garden with the King
Throughout the Song of Songs, we see rich garden imagery:
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed." (Song of Songs 4:12)
"Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits." (Song of Songs 4:16)
This language takes us back to the Garden of Eden, where God walked with Adam and Eve in perfect intimacy. But because of sin, humanity was exiled from the Garden. Tim Mackie eloquently draws out these Garden narratives found in Song of Songs. He stated, “There is something interesting about the book; the pervasive use of Garden imagery. Can you think of another place in the Bible where a male and female are in a Garden and are seeking to become one? We are for certain… reflecting back on the pages 1 and 2 of the Bible, and of the nature of God’s purpose for marriage and relationships; the image of the man and the woman being naked and unashamed on page 2 of the Bible.”
Jesus, our Bridegroom, is restoring what was lost. In Him, we are invited back into God's presence. The love story of Song of Songs is a shadow of the greater love story—the redemption of God's people through Christ.
Unbreakable Love
The Song of Songs closes with a powerful statement:
"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death… Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it." (Song of Songs 8:6-7)
This covenantal love points us to Jesus, who sealed His love for us with His very life. No power, sin, or failure can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39).
The Song of Songs and Our King
Song of Songs is not just about earthly love; it reflects divine love.
Jesus is the Lover who pursues us.
Jesus is the King who delights in us.
Jesus is the Bridegroom who brings us back to Eden.
Jesus is the Redeemer whose love never fails.
So, as Christian women, let us embrace this truth: We are loved beyond measure. We are pursued by the King. We are His delight. And one day, we will sit at the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7), fully united with the One who has loved us with an everlasting love.
Let His love transform you today.
So today:
Do you feel distant from Jesus? Know that He is always calling you to Himself. Seek Him in prayer, Scripture, and worship, and you will find He has been pursuing you all along. Jesus is inviting you to walk with Him. He has broken down the barriers of sin so that you can enter deep, intimate fellowship with God. Will you accept the invitation?
Do you feel invisible to Jesus? He sees you, and you are His delight. The world may try to define your worth by beauty, success, or relationships, but your identity is found in the One who calls you beloved. If you have ever felt unloved, abandoned, or forgotten, know this—Jesus' love for you cannot be quenched. His love is victorious.
