“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”-Song of Solomon 7:10 

Song of Solomon is correctly read as a book about the romantic love a husband and a wife have toward each other in marriage. However, being that the Bible is the book about Jesus (Luke 24:44-45), I want to read this verse in a Christocentric way. When we do so, we find that it is a beautifully redemptive one.

In the Garden of Eden - literally, Eden means delight  - Adam and Eve had a perfect romantic relationship and marriage. Adam calls Eve “bone of my bones” and “flesh of my flesh,” signifying the likeness and union they had with each other (Genesis 2:23-24). However, when the Fall happens and Adam and Eve both disobey God, God (justly) punishes Eve in part by telling her that her desire will be for her husband, and he would rule over her (Genesis 3:10). The word translated desire is the same in Genesis 3:10 and this verse can mean a longing and craving of a woman for a man (Blue Letter Bible). Eve would long for her husband, but he would rule over her - something that was not so prior to the Fall (Genesis 1:26-27). Keeping in mind that Eve was designed as Adam's helpmate (Genesis 2:18), I believe that Eve would long for him, but as a part of the punishment God gave, he would rule over her. 

However, in this later Old Testament passage, we see the redemption of love and desire. In this verse, the husband's longing is for his wife, who is dark yet lovely (Song of Solomon 1:5). His inclination isn't to dominate - it's for her and her alone. This echoes the beginning of creation where the author of Genesis writes that a man will leave his family's house to live with his wife, and the two would become one (Genesis 2:24-25).

Prior to this part of the verse, the woman says, “I am my beloved's.” In other words, I belong to him and him alone. The nature of marriage is faithful, exclusive, and lifelong. And is this not how Jesus, the Son of God, the Bridegroom, loves His bride, the church? Jesus is loyal to us, undivided in His affections for us (Ephesians 5:22-25). He is the only way by which we can come to God for the marriage supper of the lamb, and He is jealous, or protective, of us (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Isaiah 54:5, Song of Solomon 8:13). Finally, because Christ is God and God is love, Christ will love His church forever - meaning nothing will separate us from His love for that is who He is (Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 John 4:7-8). 

Marriage on earth is thus a portrait of the love Christ has for the church. We belong to God and His desire is for us, so much so that He redeemed us with His blood on the cross, rose again for our justification, and has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us by which to come home. 

What if you are not married? How then can you express the gospel to those around you? In his book 7 Myths about Singleness, Pastor Sam Allberry (a single man) says that marriage expresses the gospel's shape, while singleness expresses its sufficiency. Regardless of our feelings on the matter, Paul identifies singleness as a gift from God, thus making it a good one. Believe me when I say this conviction is borne out through experience. I am joyfully single because it gives me more time to serve the Lord, as well as grow in my relationship with Him - like Paul. Whether it's writing these devotionals for Tirzah, helping with media at my church, or volunteering at my local Legal Aid, I have more time to share the gospel and bear witness to the love of Christ than if I were married.

Do I get lonely? Yes, I do, sometimes. But no matter what, the truth remains that Christ loves me with an everlasting love, that His desire is for me, and that He will never leave me nor abandon me. Therefore, I have hope. And the same is true for you, beloved.

• How is your view of God impacted by the truth that God's desire is for you?

• How does it make you feel that through his Son, God the Father redeemed you and reconciled you to Himself, such that you belong to Him and are accepted by Him forever?

• What is one thing you want to do this week to remind you that God is your Redeemer?