The Coronavirus ~ and a Clash of Two Crowns

Believe it or not — the coronavirus is in the Song of Songs! We’ll have to jump to Chapter 3, to a part that puzzled me until now.

But first, it will help to know how this virus was named. Corona means “crown,” and it was named for its spike-like appendages and encircling shape when viewed under a microscope. ¹

But there’s more to a crown than meets the eye! A crown is worn by someone, specifically a king and/or queen, and so a crown also represents a kingdom and its authority. Basically, if you serve a crown, you serve whoever wears it.

There is a spiritual reason why a virus named after a crown has caused global economies to shut down, freedoms to be given up, and people everywhere to be terrified of being close to each other. But truth be told – this is not a crown that the Bride of Christ has her focus on! The coronavirus represents a crown in opposition to the crown worn by the King of Kings and His intimate kingdom of love.

Take a look at these words, (spoken by the bride) in the Song of Songs:

Daughters of Jerusalem, come out, and look, you virgin daughters of Zion. Look upon King Solomon wearing a crown, Song 3:10-11.

• First, notice the words: “come out.” If you recall Christ’s parable of the ten virgins, (Matthew 25:1-13) they too were called to come out of their houses with their lanterns of light, to meet the bridegroom. This happens to be the opposite of what fear causes people to do: that is to run away and hide.
• Second, they are called to “look” on the King. When you look upon something, you focus your attention and thoughts upon that person or issue.
• Third, they are to look upon the King who is wearing a “crown.”

Why a mention of his crown?

The Hebrew word for crown here is: “Atarah.” It comes from a root meaning to be encircled for attack, or for protection. The significance of this is easier to understand when seeing the context of Solomon wearing this crown. Just previous to all this, the bride sees the king:

…coming up from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense…Look! It is Solomon’s carriage-bed, surrounded by sixty warriors, the mightiest of Israel, all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night. (Song 3:6-8)

What an image! Solomon is coming with his carriage-bed (also called a litter or palanquin) to pick up his bride. This bed is escorted by, and entirely surrounded by sixty of the king’s finest soldiers. Like the spikes on a crown, these armed forces encircle and protect the authority of the King’s bed and His bride from the “terrors of the night.”

But it all begs the question, “terrors from what?” This is the part I’ve wondered about. Solomon’s reign was largely so peaceful.

Well, the Song itself doesn’t say, but in 1 Kings 1 and 2 we read of an attempt to usurp Solomon’s throne by his brother Adonijah, who gathered a significant opposition of people together. His crafty attempts came just before, and just after Solomon was crowned. In addition, I believe Solomon’s relationship to the woman in the Song was especially hated by Adonijah, because she was very important to the kingdom. But that’s a subject for another time.

For now, I hope its become more clear that the concept of the coronavirus is in the Song of Songs. It is the “crown” of another king and kingdom (other than Christ’s) that works to usurp the place that only God should have in our hearts. 

Whose Crown Will You Serve?

Thy kingdom come — on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10

Those who are awakened to the eternal kingdom of God know that the physical world is more of an illusion, than it is a reality. The reality is Christ, and everything else is a shadow that points to him.² Therefore what happens in the physical realm can, in fact, give us metaphors and pictures of what is happening in the spiritual. 

With these eyes, we are able to see that the coronavirus is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world clashing! One kingdom is coming for its Queen with love, and the other (trying to usurp itself) is gathering people together to bow to its authority, and its agenda through fear.

Most don’t see it of course, let alone feel it – but the Kingdom of God is already here, and is increasing. And according to Romans 14:17, it manifests internally in its subjects with “righteousness, peace, and joy.” 

Is it any wonder that the “Covid-19 crown” is working hard to rule its subjects with fear?  As a friend recently reminded me – biologically a virus has no viability on its own. Like a crown without authority, it has to resort to stealing from others, and intimidation, to have any power.

But the Bride of Christ knows:

♛ She is protected by the loving goodness and promises (“spikes”) of Christ’s crown. 

♛ She has nothing to fear as she is taken up into, and rests in His carriage-bed of intimacy.

♛ She is not encircled by a virus, but by the King of kings.

Isn’t this the most wonderful news ever? :-)

We have a powerful parable being illustrated here, that the Kingdom of heaven is coming in a fresh new way. Will we have the oil of joy to meet the Bridegroom?

If there is a perfect time for nurturing an intimate prayer life and “seeking first the Kingdom of God” — it is definitely now.

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus / ² Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 8:5,10:1