Our Beloved Awaits

Last Week’s Sermon

Title: Our Beloved Awaits (Abraham Frausto)

“The song of songs,” begins the book The Song of Solomon (i.e. Song of Songs). This idiom is a Hebrew superlative that expresses the idea “this is the best song of songs.” So, what is that song?

The song of love between husband and wife. For that reason, “Many Jewish interpreters have taken the Song as an allegory of the love between Yahweh and Israel, while Christian scholars have often accepted the book as praising the love between Christ and the church.” Scholars come to this conclusion on the basis that such passionate love between two young lovers points to the passionate love between Creator and His creation. 

So what can we glean from such a love song found in the Scriptures?

First, admit the passion between lovers. Love, even sexual love, is not evil. Rather, it should lead us to recognize the image of God in which we have been created. God’s love is not cold. He yearns for each one of us. 

Second, in the middle of the book, the Shulamite woman is arrested by her feeling of excitement as her beloved knocks at the door. Sadly, in her hesitation, her beloved is gone and the Shulamite woman is momentarily left with her desire unmet (Song of Sol. 5:2-6).

Contemplating this portion of this love song confronts us with an assessment of our own personal relationship with Jesus, the Beloved. It bids us to consider:

• As we wait for Jesus’ return, do we share the excitement of the Shulamite woman for her beloved?

• Are we remaining faithful to our covenant with Him?

• What inconveniences remain hurdles in our relationship with Jesus? 

Though the Shulamite momentarily remains unsatisfied in these verses, it is important to understand that this love song is highlighting the faithfulness of lovers to a covenant. So we can rejoice in knowing that though we may have hesitated in the past, if there is still breath in us today, Jesus remains faithfully at the door. The question is: Will we open the door to Him today?

Scriptural Text to Contemplate

2 Timothy 2:11-13 [NKJV]

11 This is a faithful saying

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

12 If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him,

He also will deny us.

13 If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He cannot deny Himself.

Prayer

Our God, great is Your faithfulness towards us. You have not only created, You also redeem and sustain life. Our faith is cultivated within the life You have graciously given us. Not only our physical but also our spiritual life. You have awakened us to our deepest desire, which only You can satisfy. Our hearts yearn for you. Give us Your Spirit of truth to teach us, confront us, comfort us, and empower us to remain in Your love. In the name of Jesus, the Beloved. Amen.