Meditations on the Song of Songs – Mutual Love and Mutual Praise
Meditations on the Song of Songs
The spiritual read this book and increase in their love for God. But the carnal need a guide when reading it, lest they misunderstand it and descend from its lofty meaning to worldly interpretations.
We notice in the Song of Songs a clear and consistent theme: mutual love and mutual praise between the Bridegroom and His bride.
A mutual love between Christ and the Church, between God and the human soul…
Mutual Love and Mutual Praise
The Church loves her Bridegroom, Christ, praises Him, and rejoices in Him. And the Lord Jesus loves His Church, praises her, and rejoices in her. It is a mutual love between the human soul and its Creator. This mutual love is what the Apostle John spoke of when he said:
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
God, in His love for His Church, praises her because she is holy and without blemish, cleansed and sanctified by His blood. Thus, we find Him calling her by a phrase repeated many times in the Song of Songs:
“O fairest among women.” (Song 1:8)
Truly, the Church is beautiful among all the different congregations, even if she appears dark in her narrow gate and difficult path, carrying her cross “in toil and hardship, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness” (2 Cor. 11:27), “in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes” (2 Cor. 6:4). Yet in all this, she is still beautiful among women, and her children sing with her:
“As deceivers, and yet true; as dying, and behold, we live; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor. 6:8–10)
Yes, the human soul is beautiful in the eyes of God, who calls her saying:
“Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; your eyes are doves.” (Song 1:15)
She is beautiful, washed in the precious blood, made “whiter than snow.” Beautiful, for she is “the image and likeness of God.” Beautiful, for she is “a temple of the Holy Spirit,” in whom the Spirit dwells, and her eyes are as doves. Yes, this soul is beautiful, for she has “put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:27) Beautiful, as she sings: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)
This “fairest among women” is praised by God for her beauty, as He says:
“I have compared you, my love, to my mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.” (Song 1:9)
Here the Lord speaks of the strength that the soul must have in facing evil, and of the strength with which the Church confronts Satan and all his evil powers—in her fight against atheism, heresies, materialism, and immorality, and in her testimony for Christ everywhere.
The horse in Pharaoh’s chariot is characterized by strength, and also by adornment and beauty. So is the soul, and so is the Church—adorned with virtues, righteousness, and holiness, possessing dignity and reverence before all.
Thus, the soul must not grow faint, lazy, or negligent in the work of the Lord, nor excuse herself with weakness or inability to walk in God’s path.
Whenever the devil tempts you with laziness, sleep, or surrender to sin, remember the Lord’s words: “I have compared you, my love, to my mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.” Be a horse in God’s chariots. Do not fear the power of the enemy, for the lazy are unfit for the Kingdom of God, and the fearful will not enter it (Rev. 21:8). Stand firm in your spiritual battles and do not cower before the demons. Remember the Lord’s words to the prophet Jeremiah:
“Do not be dismayed before them, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land… They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you,” says the Lord. (Jer. 1:18–19)
Explaining this spiritual strength that the soul should possess, divine inspiration says in the Song (3:7–8):
“Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, with sixty valiant men around it, all of them holding swords and expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night.”
The Lord likens the believers to mighty warriors who fight the battles of the Lord, overcoming the world, lust, and Satan. All are trained in spiritual warfare, all holding their swords ready to strike at the devil’s thoughts, desires, and temptations.
As St. Paul said, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness.” (Eph. 6:12) — but let us leave this topic for now, to discuss it later in another lecture or more. The important thing is that God’s children must be valiant in spiritual warfare, trained and ready to stand against the terror of the night.
Just as God praises the soul for her spiritual strength, the soul in turn sings of the Lord’s beautiful attributes, saying:
“My Beloved is white and ruddy.” (Song 5:10)
White in His purity and holiness, and ruddy in His blood shed on the Cross for our salvation.
White in His beauty, for He is “fairer than the sons of men.” (Ps. 45:2) White because He is holy and blameless, for whiteness symbolizes purity. That is why the priests wear white garments in the sanctuary as a symbol of purity. Likewise, the angels appeared in white garments at the Resurrection (Matt. 28:3, Mark 16:5).
“My Beloved is white” also symbolizes His eternity, as it is said in Revelation: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow… and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Rev. 1:14, 16)
The image of the Lord Jesus when He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to heaven represents Him as a man of about thirty-three years. From where, then, comes this description of His hair as white as wool, white as snow, unless it is a symbol of His being the Ancient of Days, who existed long before His incarnation—as He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
“My Beloved is white” for His majesty, for His face shines like the sun in its strength. “My Beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.”
A “ten thousand” represents perfection, and “chief among ten thousand” means the One distinguished among innumerable multitudes.
He is unique in all things—in majesty, beauty, miracles, teachings, conduct, and character. We cannot compare Him with anyone.
In His birth, He was born of a virgin—something that has never happened and will never happen again. In this, He is “chief among ten thousand.” After His death, He rose from the dead by His own divine power. He left the tomb sealed, just as He came forth from the Virgin’s womb while her virginity remained intact. In all these, there is none like Him—He is “chief among ten thousand.”
In His miracles, He did what none had ever done before—creating, healing, walking on water, rebuking the sea, raising the dead after four days, commanding nature, conquering demons, and entering through closed doors. In all these, He is “chief among ten thousand.”
In His profound spiritual teachings, spoken with authority, He was also “chief among ten thousand,” so that people marveled at His words and said, “Never man spoke like this Man.”
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1. Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine, Year 5, Issue 5, November 2, 1974
