God's Love for You and Me

We have embarked on a study of Song of Solomon during our Sunday morning messages at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  The epic romance of the Shulamite and her beloved is like a rich tapestry, with multiple layers of meaning and insights into the love of God.  It is amazing to think of royalty courting and marrying a common working woman, but even more phenomenal to consider the great love of God for people.

As I studied the beginning of chapter 2, it dawned on me how Solomon's love for the Shulamite was revealed in at least five ways.  The love God has granted us by His grace ought to be love which marks our lives towards God and all we meet, especially those of the household of faith with whom we have been made one body through Christ.  The way Solomon displayed love for his betrothed is a striking parallel to the way the love of Jesus has been given to me.

Solomon's love for his betrothed was personal.  He affirmed his love through sincere compliments, and she was all fair in his eyes.  He preferred the company of his beloved over all others.  To him, it was as if she was the only woman around:  if she was a lily, all others compared to her as thorns.  He was a protector of his future mate, offering refuge like a shade tree from the sun's heat.  He provided for his beloved with their future in mind, building a lovely house they would share together.  Solomon also displayed his love publicly without embarrassment, and he rejoiced to claim his beloved as his own.

Isn't this strikingly similar to how Jesus has revealed His love for us?  The love of Jesus is personal:  He shed His blood for me.  Romans 5:8 reminds us, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  He prefers the company of those He calls friends, those who love Him and keep His commandments.  Jesus Christ is my refuge in whom I find rest.  He has provided for all my needs in this life, and is also preparing a place for me and all others who trust Him in heaven.  He has displayed His love publicly, dying on the cross to atone for sins.  As it is written of Christ in John 1:11-13, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Since God's love has been shed abroad in the hearts of Christ's followers through the Holy Spirit, so His love is to be dispensed through us to all.  Loving God and others with the sacrificial, active love of God confirms that we are indeed His, adopted into His royal family.  It is all of grace.  Let us not be ashamed of Christ or His gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.