The spiritual journey of the soul
This book of Scripture talks about the spiritual journey of the human soul until she reaches her eternal home.
Two important verses mark the beginning and end of this journey; one is in the first chapter of the book and the other is in the last chapter.
In chapter 1 verse 5 we read the words of the human soul saying: ‘I am dark, but lovely…like the tents of Kedar’. This verse reveals the state of a soul on whom the darkness of the world and its evils were imprinted. But, she knew the Savior and found that He is a Bridegroom who seeks her love and leads her in a journey.
This journey ends in chapter 8 verse 14 where the soul says: ‘make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices’. The mountains of spices refer to ‘mountains of separation’ where the soul is separated from everyone to enter her eternal place. In chapter 8 verse 5, we clearly see the soul getting ready to depart to her eternal home: ‘who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?’ The soul is coming out of the wilderness of the world accompanied by her beloved who has found her, walked with her, and ultimately led her to her eternal home.
This journey of the soul is like a play which consists of 8 scenes or chapters. After each scene, the curtain is drawn to be reopened unto a new scene which is the next chapter of the book until the story ends. The chapters are like stations or stops in a journey; each chapter takes us from one station to the other.
Chapter 1: The First Station
This chapter starts with a kiss of love: ‘let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth’. This experience is different from all human experiences. It is a kiss which reveals that the Bridegroom, Jesus, is a wonderful lover who is completely different from all human beings. He is ‘fairer than the sons of men’ (Psalm 45:2). Also in Hebrews 7:26, we read about Him: ‘For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.’
As the soul starts to discover her beloved, she sees herself –through the mystical beams of his face –as ‘dark, but lovely’. She has come from the world of darkness and sin where no one was able to find goodness in her; even ‘her mother’s sons (the other believers) were angry with her’. No one was able to understand her because of the mystery of her life –which we will clarify shortly. She is unique in everything: ‘My dove, my perfect one, the only one’. The path is usually difficult for such unique souls!
In verse 7, we read: ‘tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed your flock’. Though the Bridegroom will be close to her and will look after her at all times, He knows that due to her frailty, it will sometimes be difficult for her to discover Him –especially when the enemy sieges around her and she is surrounded by darkness. Therefore, in His wisdom, He leads her to ‘the footsteps of the flock’, that is, other faithful and mature souls. He also leads her to “the shepherds’ tents” where there are pastoral visitations to such souls. The beloved Bridegroom directs faithful pastors to these souls to strengthen and encourage them in their sojourning in this world!
Though she stumbles a lot at the beginning, the Bridegroom encourages her. He reveals to her that He sees her different from how she sees herself. So, He says: ‘I have compared you, my love, to my filly’, a reference to being fast. He then continues: ‘your cheeks are lovely’. He adds: ‘we will make you ornament’, that is, a crown. She is being prepared to be a queen. These are God’s amazing and wonderful thoughts regarding us as revealed in Ezekiel 16:1 – 14.
However, from the very beginning, He also tells her about His cross: ‘a bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me’. This refers to the pain and suffering of the narrow path. How honest is the Bridegroom with us from beginning to end: ‘these things says the Amen, the Faithful and True witness’ (Revelation 3:14). Her beloved can also sometimes be seen as: ‘a cluster of henna blooms’, the henna of the bride on the night before her marriage refers to joy and salvation.
The chapter ends with the following scene: ‘Behold, you are fair, my love…Behold, you are handsome, my beloved’ (verse 15, 16). Though the bride may not have yet understood everything the Bridegroom had told her, she has started to feel secure in the warmth and truthfulness of His love!
For a complete commentary on the book of Song of Songs, follow the link to purchase the book (coming soon).
