The Church, the Bride

“Draw me, we will run after You. The King has brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in You, we will remember Your love more than wine; the upright love You.” (Song of Solomon 1:4)

Remember that Solomon wrote this epic poem about the relationship between a bride and a bridegroom. It tells of that passionate love and devotion for each other at the time of their marriage. His poem is included in Canon Law because whether known or unbeknownst to Solomon, he wrote prophetically about the relationship between the church which is known as the bride of Christ and Jesus Who is known as the bridegroom. (Ephesians 5:25, 27; 2Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7,8)

The bride is speaking in this verse but notice that the pronoun “we” is used at times. Why is that? It’s confusing. In this verse we have another voice. It’s the voice of the Jerusalem women as expressed in other translations such as the New King James, the Christian Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, International Standard, NET Bible, New Living Translation and the World English Bible. The Catholic Public Domain version has the clearest translation. “Chorus to Bride: We will run after you in the odor of your perfumes. Bride to Chorus: The king has led me into his storerooms. Chorus to Bride: We will exult and rejoice in you, remembering your breasts above wine. Groom to Bride: The righteous love you.” I don’t know where they get the specific information about the voices, but this translation makes it clear that there are other voices in this verse. And we should be aware of that.

Who is this chorus, group of women, daughters of Jerusalem or Jerusalem women as they are identified in the different translations? Bible Hub explains it: “This phrase is often understood to refer to the young women or maidens of Jerusalem, who serve as a chorus or audience within the narrative of the Song of Solomon. Their role is to interact with the main characters, providing responses, reflections, or commentary on the unfolding love account.” In other words, they are to give clarity to the narrative. But if their voice in the translation isn’t identified, it makes it more confusing. It makes me think that it might have been performed with actors and the chorus.

“Draw me” says the bride. That is the desire of the church. It desires to be close to her Lord and Savior, the Lover of her soul. But we cannot do that on our own effort. We fail. We cannot come before a holy and righteous God in our flesh. Our spirits have been born of God. Our spirits are pure and holy, but we live in this flesh which has not been redeemed. The earthly and flesh can’t come near to God or it will be consumed. It cannot survive the holiness of God. But Jesus is the way. “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) Through Jesus, we can come near. And it is only through Jesus that we can come before the Almighty and be in His Presence.

“...The King has brought me into his chambers...” That’s the special place in the presence of the Lord. King David who had a relationship with Jehovah, trusted in the Lord and was led by Him, wrote in Psalms 16, “...in Thy presence is fulness of joy...” The Hebrew word that he used means satisfaction. When one is satisfied, there is nothing else needed. Peter wrote about the revelation of Jesus: “...Whom having not seen, you love; in Whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and having been glorified, obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1Peter 1:8-9) The joy of salvation in Jesus is too wonderful for words. What can express the gratitude of such great grace?

David wrote that there was help in God’s Presence. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and moan within me? Hope in God; for I shall praise Him for the salvation of His face.” In the King James Version, the last phrase reads, “for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” In the storm, His presence will calm the turbulence of that storm. (Mark 4:39) There is help in the salvation of the Presence of Jesus. We are never alone to face whatever comes our way. (Matthew 28:20) The Lord God is on our side, and He is present. There is help from Him.

The last phrase of that verse tells us the desire of the true believer, “...the upright love You...” The righteous love the church. Those who are redeemed, whose sins are forgiven and who belong to Jesus love the church. We love the fellowship of the brethren, the unity of the mission and the victory of the Lord through the church. The victory of Jesus is being accomplished through the church. The beauty is that one cannot do it on his own. Each of us has been given a gift that by itself cannot accomplish God’s Will for the church. But together we unite the anointings to become that perfect, Jesus like instrument to accomplish God’s Will. The righteous, those redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb love the Bride of Christ, the church. It’s through the church that the work of Jesus is accomplished on the earth.

In summary, Solomon’s prophecy of the church is told in his love poem for the bride and the bridegroom. The church desires Jesus, her Savior and Lord. She desires to be in His Presence. There is peace and help in His Presence. Help for hard times and help to accomplish His Will which is carried out by the church in unity, each member giving of his anointing to accomplish God’s Will and the work of Jesus on this earth.