Jumping right in here, literally, it was noted in the last post that the Song also takes a leap, straight into a very passionate expression. If there was any courtship, it is now over, and for this moment of love the searching and “second guessing” is gone as well. Perfect love has cast out all fear, and the cry of the Bride pierces the silence…
“Kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is more intoxicating than wine!” Song 1:2
If there is any doubt of the implied urgency in the Bride’s voice here, the Hebrew word for “love” in this verse is “dodhim” and like it’s Greek counterpart, eros, it means sexual ”love-making.” (See for example Prov.7:18, Ezek.16:8)
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Also, in regards to the kind of kissing that is desired, Jay Ferris in an email about this verse translated it as, “fasten me with His mouth, and went on to explain,
“‘Kiss’ in the original seems to have its meaning in the sense of an attachment or a fastening up; even with a military connotation. I guess when you are in a war, and we surely are, you don’t want to become detached from Him. In such a case the wine might get spilled. Looks to me like in the original language this verse is even more powerfully intimate than it appears in any English version that I’ve ever seen. :-)”
Truly, there is such peace in knowing we are fastened by the Lord. It was very revolutionary in my own life to finally receive the assurance I was His and, “no one can pluck me out of His hand,” John 10:28. Most of my years growing up was spent on a roller coaster of feeling like I was losing my salvation at every fall, and trying to feel secure through a “keeping of grace.”
But in the fullness of time the door of heaven opened for a relationship anchored in His everlasting love, not fear. :-)
He bent, their lips kissed, Lo their lips were sweet, Sweet as grapes
She rose, their lips kissed, Lo their lips were locked in sweet embrace
The wine was shared, pressed through the veil of death
Filled with the Spirit, filled with fullness of grace.
Taking it from a more personal level into the corporate, how do we ‘fasten’ one another? In Romans 10, Paul shares how a distinguishing aspect of our salvation in Christ apart from the law is that the Word of God is in our very mouths. “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” Romans 10:8.
That is pretty close.
Jay Ferris also explored this image of closeness with a Hebrew scholar friend, coming to a conclusion afterward that the words, “Let him” and “Let him kiss me” (which is in most translations) is implied in the original, and what is really happening here is not a prayer of the Bride that contains any doubt, but she is responding in faith to a Face who was, and is, leaning very close to her face. “Kiss me…” is more in line with what she is saying, or, “Kissing Be, and Kissing Was.”
This appears to also be the case with the first words of God in Genesis 1:3, “Light be, and light was,” rather than, “Let there be light.” (as if God needed to get someone’s permission to create light) The significance of this difference Jay shared in his post, ”Being & Doing1.“
It is also interesting to note that here in this moment of history, and for whatever other reasons I do not fully understand yet, the one who is speaking the opening words of the Song is the Bride. What comes to mind is, “The Spirit and the Bride say come,” Rev. 22:17.
Conversational Kissing
“Kiss me with the kisses of HIS mouth” (We don’t want to be fastened down by any kisses but His).
Within our communications it is beautiful to see “kissing” as a mutual act of engaging one another for an impartation of Christ within intimate, spiritual relationships that God gives to us; done in the sensitive dance of listening, encouraging, validating, admonishing, and responding to one another in Love – with the desire for spiritual oneness. It is this latter motivation that sets apart communicating in love, from mere “word rape.”
I am sure there is so much more that could be said on this verse. One thing I am thankful for is the ”holy kissing” I’ve experienced among God’s people who dwell in unity.
1 https://lovinglikegod.com/2012/09/09/being-doing/
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this Love that unites, invites, and delights is as pure as the streets in the “New Jerusalem” pure gold that is a clear as class. This Love is open to those who have been ‘opened up’ by Love.
The profound intimacy that is expressed in the shadows of marriage is indeed the ‘mystery of Christ and His Bride’ this shadow of earthly marriage is used as a Love language to communicate the Spirit. The profound intimacy of Christ and His Bride, of His indwelling presence, His profound closeness, the profound oneness that transpires after the ‘courtship’ is beyond words.
As we explore this Love we are drawn to the saints, we ‘see’ the expression of Christ ‘in’ their faces. The eyes that dance to the same ‘Love song’ The song of songs brings us together, we gaze upon one another, and we Love openly, with pure hearts, and His full blessing. This Love that is expressed can only be identified as “Loving like God” and we are filled with His Love.
We then ‘see’ this is the ‘key’ for humanity. All of mankind’s searching, and longings are put to ‘rest’ when we are ‘in’ His Love, and Love loves to Love.
Thanks for sharing, Jim! :)
Wonderful post Pam, thanks! Spoke right to my heart – and may there indeed be much ‘holy kissing’ between us in up-building, encouraging and lifting each one of us closer to the Lord. Great response, Jim, as well! Lord, draw us all more and more into YOUR love-song!
Wow! I have been Holy Kissing the Lord and His Body for many years. Intimacy is an awesome thing indeed and to share that with the ones you love is a feeling that is beyond explanation. I love Him and HIs Body!
Yes :) It was a pleasure to have met you this last weekend my new brother!
“This Love is open to those who have been ‘opened up’ by Love.”Yes! To me this is the beginning of the true Christian experience. Truly an amazing place to start. And extremely vulnerable. I think it’s so important to emphasize how important good (spiritual) parenting is as a pre-requisite or in conjunction with receiving this Love. Jesus was well parented by the Father, and in such a place of submission to the Father that He “only said what the Father said, did what the Father did”. He did not venture to Loving His Bride until the time when “his time had come”. In Song of Songs the warning is to not stir up awaken Love until it pleases. Several things need to be in place to Love with this kind of Love… one of the most important, I believe, is learning how to Love with this Love in the context of those relationships that the Lord puts us in in particular (we look to Him to give us to one another, as He did with Jesus (John 17:6). Choosing people on our own volition is a recipe for disaster, I believe. If we know someone is ours by the Father’s doing, not only are we pleasing Him by following His lead, but we have something substantial to sustain us when the rubber meets the road (which is guaranteed). Whatever He puts us in, He can get us thru.
There’s a lot of wisdom in your words, Lisa. The full expression of the love in this book is not for the faint of heart. It will costs us our old life, our reputation, and a new priority in our relationships that brings a sword. Not that I fully understand this death, but see and feel it happening. I agree with you on the importance of spiritual parents in helping to be grounded and learning how to live in this love. There’s a lot that could be unpacked in your words and I hope that we do so in the days ahead.
This concept of “kissing” in an open and mutually vulnerable dialogue needs to be addressed in the body of Christ. Well done, Pamela. There is nothing worse than leaning toward another with a kiss and have them not respond or even push you away. Oh how fearful it was for me as a vulnerable and socially awkward young man to attempt that first kiss to my date. All too often it was not received well.
With this in mind, I have found that seeking true heart to heart fellowship with “Christians” is equally vulnerable and more often than not, disappointing. Sharing ones heart in truth and being open and vulnerable about ones shortcomings has proven dangerous more often than it has been a time of healing with others reciprocating in His love. Pamela wrote:
Within our communications it is beautiful to see “kissing” as a mutual act of engaging one another for an impartation of Christ within intimate, spiritual relationships that God gives to us; done in the sensitive dance of listening, encouraging, validating, admonishing, and responding to one another in Love – with the desire for spiritual oneness. It is this latter motivation that sets apart communicating in love, from mere “word rape”.
Well said, dear sister! IN Christ where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, male nor female, engaging with one another where nothing is hidden, that is, heart to heart communication should be common place. It is like washing one another’s feet with Jesus’ love. This is what true brothers and sisters in Christ do as we bear with one another’s burdens in His love. We engage with one another in honesty and vulnerability seeking the best for the other even when it costs us. Paul put it this way:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Gal 6:1-3)
The “law of Christ” is love. This is what love demands of us. Where are we tempted? It is to look down our spiritual noses at the one who has dared to become vulnerable, as a self defense mechanism, hiding behind our religious fig leaves instead of truly getting down face to face and bearing one another’s burdens in His love.
I for one will not let the evil eye of another make me retreat behind a religious mask. Give me His kisses, dear saints, and I will continue to do the same with you.
Beautiful, Michael! And thank you! In your second to last paragraph, you put temptation on a whole other level here for me – of judging those who freely love Christ. This reminds me of the evil thoughts toward the woman overflowing kisses on Jesus.
EXACTLY! That woman poured out all that she had on Jesus that day. She wept over his feet and dried them with her hair and then covered them with kisses. She even pour out a vile of perfume on Him and all that the Pharisee in the room could do was judge Jesus for letting a woman like that touch Him. Even the disciples chimed in saying, “Why this waste? That perfume could have been sold and the money give to the poor.” To the religious and self-righteous, extravagant love and transparency in another brings out the worst in them. Jesus poured Himself out for us on the cross because of His Father’s love for the world in Him. Should not we who are members of His body be doing the same, laying down our lives for one another with open hearts?
Paul wrote,
“Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride; Love’s ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil; It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true; Love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things.” (1Co 13:4-7 BBE)
Jeremiah observed, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9 KJ2000). But God Ezekiel the answer:
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Eze 36:26-27 KJ2000).
Only with a NEW heart and Jesus’ Spirit abiding in us can we know the fullness of what is our in the NEW Covenant and love others as HE loves. Adhering to the rules and morays of dead religion can not do this.
Lord, make us that NEW Creation with a complete transformation you have promised that we might be instruments of your love. Amen.
Amen & Amen!!
I appreciate being fasted to Him it feels secure as His right hand upholds us with His strength and yet He is the consummate gentle man/God as the word nashaq is also used as “to touch Gently”
So tender also. :-D
““Kiss me with the kisses of HIS mouth” (we don’t want to be fastened down by any kisses but His).
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Within our communications it is beautiful to see “kissing” as a mutual act of engaging one another for an impartation of Christ within intimate, spiritual relationships that God gives to us; done in the sensitive dance of listening, encouraging, validating, admonishing, and responding to one another in Love – with the desire for spiritual oneness. It is this latter motivation that sets apart communicating in love, from mere “word rape.”
Isn’t this Body life, Kingdom life, a life that embraces the concept that Jesus admonished us all to follow in.
“Love one another as I have Loved you”
“done in the sensitive dance of listening, encouraging, validating, admonishing, and responding to one another in Love – with the desire for spiritual oneness”
This is how I perceive the Love of Christ, and it is how I desire to express the Love that is ‘in’ me, and to Love as I have/are being Loved.
So much to ‘see’ here, thank you so very much for this beautiful ministry.
It’s interesting that nashaq also means “to be armed”. So let Him arm me with His mouth [word/sword].
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Amen. It is interesting. I think what is unique for the Song, is that right from the beginning, the metaphor of kissing reminds us the Bride of Christ isn’t equipped for battle so much by her head knowledge of the word spoken or written, but her oneness with it through intimacy with the One whose lips the words came–and still come. I hope that wordy rant makes sense. :-)