Song of Solomon 7:10-8:4

I am my beloved’s,

   and his desire is for me.

Come, my beloved,

   let us go forth into the fields,

   and lodge in the villages;

let us go out early to the vineyards,

   and see whether the vines have budded,

whether the grape blossoms have opened

   and the pomegranates are in bloom.

There I will give you my love.

The mandrakes give forth fragrance,

   and over our doors are all choice fruits,

new as well as old,

   which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.

O that you were like a brother to me,

   who nursed at my mother’s breast!

If I met you outside, I would kiss you,

   and no one would despise me.

I would lead you and bring you

   into the house of my mother,

   and into the chamber of the one who bore me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

   the juice of my pomegranates.

O that his left hand were under my head,

   and that his right hand embraced me!

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

   do not stir up or awaken love

   until it is ready!

Comment:

The Song of Solomon is a collection of poems and fragments of poems intended to be recited at the occasion of a wedding. The verses are sensuous, with no overt religious significance at all. Metaphysically, however, we can feel the intrinsic love and desire as reflective of the relationship between our divine Self and our human persona. The discovery of our own unique expression of the Christ—and the introduction of that Christ awareness into our human lives—can be as overwhelming and exciting as the sensations of love. It's especially thrilling that we do not need to shut ourselves up in private in order to feel and nurture this spiritual Oneness. We can take it "into the fields, and lodge in the villages" and experience its Power and loving Presence in all parts of our lives.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed