“…Therefore the virgins love you”, Song 1:3
The Song of Songs is arranged like scenes in a drama, with three main speakers. It’s hard to know who is speaking at times, but there are clues within the original language that help. We hear King Solomon, (the “Beloved”) the Shulamite, (The Bride) and a “chorus” group called the Daughters of Jerusalem, which I believe are the same as the “young virgins” (or young women in some translations). It is these “other women” that I’m thinking about today. For right at the beginning of the Song, and throughout, they are being wooed and attracted to the Bride’s Beloved! How?
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Here is a breakdown of the first 4 verses from the NKJV…
THE SHULAMITE
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth- For your love is better than wine.
3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you.¹
4 Draw me away!
THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM (the virgins)
We will run after you.¹
THE SHULAMITE
The king has brought me into his chambers
THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM (the virgins)
We will be glad and rejoice in you². We will remember your love¹ more than wine.
THE SHULAMITE (to the Beloved)
Rightly do they (the virgins/daughters of Jersusalem) love you.¹
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Notice the end of verse 3, “Therefore the virgins love you.” ‘Therefore’ is a connecting word. To what?
In a previous post about the first part of verse 3 we pointed to the fragrant “anointing” oil of Jesus Christ, who is our Beloved King. And the intimate union of being in Him and He in us is how we become the aroma of Christ to the world, 2 Cor.2:15. A knowledge of His Name is poured forth through our testimony of how we are to one another. As a result, those who have a hunger and thirst for divine romance are attracted and drawn to Christ. “Therefore the virgins love you.” We don’t even have to say anything. It is a beauty beyond words.
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Who are these young women?
As it was the custom, queens had attendant young women who were both friends, and sometimes like “children” to her. “Bridesmaids” of sorts, that even extended beyond her wedding. They attended to her, and in exchange she taught them about true love, and they looked up to her.
By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, Titus 2:4
But behind the shadow of the relationship in the Song, there is but one Husband/Beloved, and all are being drawn to Him.
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I once spent some time in my 20’s in a very bad slump. I wore a plain brown dress and didn’t wear any makeup or put jam on my toast. I walked around feeling the weight of the whole world on my shoulders, feeling guilty that I wasn’t warning literally everyone I passed on the street they needed to be saved.
But then entered Jesus. Telling me that I didn’t have to save the world. He already came to accomplish that. What relief! And then He outstretched His hand saying, “follow Me into My rest.” Enter into relationship, and stay here until I impart unto you My own Life. Cease from your own strivings, and trust Me to fill you. “The King has brought me into His chambers.”
It is exactly here in this intimate place of submission that we can’t help but be filled, then overflow with this great Love. As a result, Christ is formed in us! The glow of spiritual pregnancy causes desolate wombs to leap. Those that desire romance cry,
“We feel hope and joy in your presence, O Bride of Christ.
We are impacted by your love, O Beloved, more than our wine.”
(interpretation of verse 4)
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As it is, if we have been in religion for very long we have probably heard of the so-called “Great Commission” of Jesus to evangelize the world. But what kingdom are we spreading when we pull out a law book on the matter? The Kingdom of God is an intimate kingdom. It is spread by inner life exchanges.³
In fact, I really like how how a brother worded it, “Let’s enter into the ‘Great Com PASSION!'”
In the Hebrew: ¹ Masculine singular / ² Feminine singular / ³ Romans 14:17