Are You Cherishing the Full Embrace of Christ?
5/3 Reading Portions: Numbers 10; Psalms 46-47; Song of Solomon 8; Hebrews 8
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
5/3 Reading Portions: Numbers 10; Psalms 46-47; Song of Solomon 8; Hebrews 8
Song of Solomon 8:3
His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me!
EMBRACED
The Shulammite bride has expressed the very same words earlier, in the sixth verse of the second chapter. Each time I read this wonderful eight-chapter song, my love for it increases. She, the Shulammite maiden, represents our individual relationship with the beloved Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. The daughters of Jerusalem, who offer a chorus of instruction and encouragement throughout, is Christ’s assembled church. The watchmen are Christ’s pastors, preachers, and teachers who minister within the city of the Lord’s church, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2). Christ’s enduring and everlasting love, grace, and mercy are highlighted, while our hearts are drawn ever nearer to Christ, and punctuated by our intimate submission to the King, despite our frailties and tenderness as sinners saved by grace. In Hebrew, the right hand is often an expression of strength and power; however, in this case, where both left hand and right hand is mentioned, one hand is not inferior to another. That both hands are mentioned, we can be assured of Christ’s full embrace in everlasting love and infinite care. The strength and power of our precious Lord’s right hand upholds us, while His left hand gently cares for a head that can be so easily swayed by the turn of a fickle neck. Let us, this day, embrace the warmth, comfort, and security of our beloved Bridegroom’s hands— hands that not only turned over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple, but hands He also willing spread out across the tree to save the lives of you and me. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
A tender tome is Shlomo’s song,
Yet one with lofty truth from high;
Embrac’d by Christ t’whom we belong,
Whose tree-pinn’d hands He gave to die.