The Shulammite
Romance in the Bible? Oh yeah! Just read the Song of Solomon. This book is the passionate story of King Solomon and his special wife, the Shulammite girl. It speaks of how love conquests the heart of a young maiden, how love is rebuffed and then how it is restored and matured. The reason this book is included in the canon of the Bible is that it reflects the very heart of God. It is all about LOVE. It is, in many ways, the story of God and His people; of Jesus and His Church. The initiative, of this love affair, comes from the Bridegroom. He pursues the young maiden and she is overwhelmed by His love. The Bridegroom loves everything about this woman. She is perfect in His sight. Isn’t this the same about the love God has toward us? He sees us as complete, holy and perfect. Nothing distracts the Lord from pursuing us; nothing can separate us from His love.
The Hebrew for Solomon is shelomah, and the Hebrew for Shulammite is shulamith. Both names come from the word shalam, which means restoration. The difference between the two is in the gender; one is masculine and the other feminine. If we read the Song of Solomon, with this in mind, we can see a whole new aspect to romance. Even though love may be perfect and intense, in its passion and determination, there must be a response by the one loved. It is not just one way. God loves us, that is a given fact, (John 3:16), but we must respond. The Shulammite girl had to open herself up to be loved by Solomon, for love to be consummated in marriage.
Solomon and his Shulammite bride were intoxicated in their love for each other. It seemed like their honeymoon would last forever. This beautiful maiden was the envy of the whole kingdom. Solomon’s eyes were only for her beauty. No one else compared to her. Yet, one night, the king desired to come to his bride, but she did not open the door. Not that she didn’t love her husband, it is just that she didn’t respond to his call. When she finally opened the door, her beloved was gone. (5:6) In panic, she ran through the streets of the city looking for her husband. She talks to the other daughters of Jerusalem about her love for he husband, but it wasn’t the same; He had gone. This reflects, so often, the story of man’s relationship with God. The passion of the “first love” wains as the busyness of life pushes God into a small corner of: “when it is convenient”.
The Shulammite, once conquered and infatuated by the love of her husband, needs restoration. But now, it must to be her initiative to seek for Him. She knows where to find Him. He is among his flocks in the garden of lilies. In the secret place, she finds Him and cries out: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” This relationship prefigures Christ as bridegroom and the Church as the bride. He is the restorer and she is ultimately the restored one. The love of God is constant and pure, but we must be perfected in our love for Him. We can fall down and even walk away from His love, yet there is restoration. The story of redemption is the story of returning to the Lord. It is getting back what has been lost. If you find yourself indifferent and lukewarm in your relationship with the Lord, it is time to be restored. The Lord, your Solomon – the restorer, is waiting for you. You know where to find Him. If you just let Him, He will sweep you off your feet once again.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Song of Solomon; Rev. 19:7-8; Eph. 5:25-33