Have you been searching for the definition of the love between a husband and wife when both are born-again believers? When a husband and his wife have been “made one” by and in the Power of God, there is a special inner working of the love they share. In searching for the words to describe this love, I was brought to the Song of Solomon; which Solomon called “The Song of Songs.”
This book is a dialog between a man and a woman. The man is called by the woman, “My Beloved”; and the man called the woman, “My Love.” The Song of Songs begins with the woman speaking. She asks the man, her Beloved, four things in verses 1 through 7:
First, “Let him kiss me…” (verse 2);
Second, “Draw me, we will run after thee…” (verse 4);
Third, “Look not upon me…” (verse 6);
Fourth, “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth…” (verse 7)
We will start with examining verse 2. First, we note the physical, which points to the spiritual. This shows the desire of the Bride of Christ, the Church, to know Him; to know Him with a deeper spiritual communion. (See Philippians 3:9-14.)
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” (verse 2)
First, we look at “Who.” We see her attitude toward him. The phrase “Let him” indicates a submission to his position; it also shows her desire to repeat his action toward her. It sends a message to him to have him know of her request toward him; and lastly, it demonstrates a singleness of heart toward a certain man, not all men, but one man.
Second, we look at “What.” Here is her request of action toward her, “Let him kiss me.” Let him do what to me? “Kiss me.” The use of the word “kiss” is very expressive of the nature of her request, in that it has to do with love (a transfer of expression of affection, desire, passion, etc.) between the two. It is also expressing that she is ready for him; that is, for him to know she has a need for him to fulfill. She needs to know that he truly loves her; that he is not ashamed to reveal his desire toward her; which in turn gives her assurance, confidence, and peace.
Also the word “me” indicates who is making the request, only one and not another. I want to know I am the one whom thou lovest. This is not a boastful statement, but a statement of her desire for him and him alone.
Next we see “How.” She further describes her request by saying I want him to kiss me “with the kisses of his mouth.” These words indicate she doesn’t want him to kiss my cheek, my hand, etc. But I want him to kiss me with his mouth. When a man kisses a woman with his mouth on her lips, it carries with it a greater meaning than a kiss on the cheek, hand, etc. God designed the lips to be very sensitive. He designed that when a man kisses a woman on her lips, he is saying, I am communicating to you my desire for you, my affection of you, my love for you. When this happens, it activates the nerves in the lips to send messages of passion to the brain. Of course, the manner in which a man kisses a woman indicates the depth of his affection and passion for the woman.
These words also say that when you (the man) kiss me, I (the woman) will respond and show my desire, affection, and passion for you. God has designed consummation to begin with a kiss of passion. The woman knew from past experience the view from the top of the mountain of passion. Therefore, she desired to repeat that experience with her man (her Beloved).
Now we see “Why”: “…for thy love is better than wine.” That is, the woman knew “thy love,” or his affection, his passion, his lust, and how he expresses this to her as they climb the mountain, at the peak, and during the descent. Also “thy love,” and how it is expressed, is a matter of giving her assurance and confidence; to know his love is single-eyed; to know he truly loves “me” and only “me.” She also knew by experience that his love (both his expression of and his deeds of) “is better than wine.” Meaning that, as wine, his love tastes good; maketh the heart merry; and relaxes and brings on liberty. His love is better than something that only lasts for a short period of time. His love is everlasting.
The physical aspects of Song of Solomon 1:2 set the stage for the spiritual application. In looking at our text verse, we see the bride saying to her husband, her Beloved, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” To shift gears from the physical to the spiritual: the woman is the Church, and the man is Christ, her Husband, her Beloved.
The kisses of His mouth are the times that the Spirit of God reveals to His Bride of His Eternal Love of her. When the Spirit reveals to our spirits of His love for us, it is an individual thing. It is to “me.” It is applied to “me” as an individual in Christ. It is personal; I know it is directed to me. I know that this love to me is based on His Eternal Purpose in Christ Jesus, and is fulfilled (ratified; secured) in His Atonement on the Cross for my sins.
Also, the Bride of Christ is revealing her submission to Him as her Head:
“I want Him to know by my confession: Yes God, I love You. Yes God, I desire for You to touch my spirit, to reveal to me afresh of Your Love of Purpose for me. I need Your revelation today. I want an intimate relationship with You. I want You to fill me with Your Spirit of Revelation and Power and Comfort today. I need to renew my assurance and confidence that You are mine and I am Yours. I need this process to begin now, today. I want You to know I am submissive to You. I want You to know I am Yours.
“Christ, Your Love is better than wine (or anything of this world). I want You to hear my confession of what Your Love means to me. Your love Elected me, Called me, Justified me, and Glorified me. Your Love is an Eternal Love, never to be taken from me. The result of Your Love in me is Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Your Love has brought me to where You are; that is, a Place (a Position) of Knowledge of my oneness in You (a Place of Preeminence, Perfection, and Perception) and a Place of Knowledge of Your Love (a Place of Power to Perform). (See John 14:3; 17:21-24.) Your Love has given me Revelation and Regeneration; which has given me a witness that You are my Father, that I am Your child, and I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:14-17).
“Your Love has given me a sure hope, a sure witness that I am a Possessor of Eternal Life; that Christ, who is Eternal Life, dwells in me. Your Love has given me boldness and confidence that I will not be rejected when I desire the fulness of Your Presence. Your Love has brought me past the cross (as glorious as that is), for now Your Love has brought me to know You, to be found in You, to know You and the power of Your Resurrection and the Fellowship of Your Sufferings, and to be made conformable to Your Death (Philippians 3:7-14).
“Your Love has caused me to want more and more of You. Not just to know I am saved, but I want a deep, deep relationship of experience with my Beloved. Therefore, I make my request to be kissed with the kisses of Thy mouth, for Thy love is better than wine.”
Child of Grace, where are you with Christ today? Are you satisfied with just knowing you are saved? Or is there a deep, deep desire to really know Him? That is, to know Him intimately, to have Him kiss you with Truth, and with the understanding and blessings of Truth; to be able to walk in His Presence and hear His Voice of Love 24/7?
Are you on the outside looking in? Or are you where Peter, James, and John were; on the inside looking out? If you desire to be close to Him, let Him kiss you with the kisses of His mouth (with the Fulness of the Holy Spirit). Call on Him and make known your request of His Love daily to you; and you shall not be denied.
This devotion deals with our responsibility to our Husband, Jesus Christ. He has designed that His Wife, the Church, would love Him and desire His Fellowship above all others; for He is a jealous God. It honors Him and matures His Bride for her to confess her desire for Him.
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