I belong to my lover and his desire is for me. Song of Songs 7:10
Dear Lord Jesus, the Song of Songs has never been one of the most underlined books in my Bible, but the more I look for you in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27), the more I’m drawn to its startling… scintillating… sensual imagery. To read Song of Songs is to tap into our deepest longings for intimacy, playfulness, passion, and delight… knowing and being known by you.
Indeed, you are the great lover of whom this book speaks. In our best moments, our love for one another is a mere hint and whisper of the way you love us. And we are the beloved… the Bride upon whom you’ve set your deepest affections, and for whom you’ve given your very life.
This isn’t the gospel I grew up with, but this is the gospel. To be desired is to be wanted, pursued, enjoyed… seen and accepted… known and nourished… remembered and cherished… all of this is promised and provided in the gospel.
Only the Holy Spirit can enable us… can enable me, to believe and experience the liberating truths… the unparalleled beauty… and the oceans of delight… revealed in this book and held out in the gospel.
So I cry out today, Come, Holy Spirit, come… rescue me and my friends from our unbelief… de-throne my false notions of God and the gospel… soften my hard heart. It’s one thing to rest in Jesus’ finished work, but another thing to be alive to his present desire… do a great work in our hearts, Holy Spirit… do a fresh work in my heart.
Forgive me, Jesus, for believing that any human being could possibly satisfy the very longings you created in me. Forgive me, Jesus, for assuming I could ever be to someone else what you alone can be. Help all of us—the unmarried… the happily married… and the miserably married, to realize that you, Jesus, are the spouse we always wanted…the one to whom we belong.
And more importantly, Jesus, help us to believe that you are the Spouse that always wanted US. So very Amen, we pray, in your peerless name.
