Prayer Ponderings

Song of Solomon 4:9 “You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart w/ one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.” In other words, you have stolen, held hostage, held smitten, ravished and taken my heart away with just one look from your eyes, even from one strand or jewel of your necklace. (cp S. of Sol. 6:5)

 

MY BRIDE (כַּלָּה) (kallah which some say is from kalal = to make complete. As ones young Bride engaged or newly married makes her groom complete, Jn 3:29.

You have CAPTIVATED my Heart (לִבַּבְתִּ֖נִי): from the root word לבב); Verb piel stem perfect. (lāḇaḇ law-vav'): It means that just one look from his bride  encourages him and makes his entire inner-life stronger as she makes his heart beat faster.

The title sister was a common term of endearment between couples in the Near East in ancient times. Which indicated the absolute permanence of the intimacy, closeness and shared nature of their relationship that cannot be broken.

The Hebrew pictures two hearts opening up to each other becoming equally vulnerable to being hurt, grieved and even wounded. This represents God’s Heart and our hearts joined together in a love Relationship that cannot and will not be broken due to its shared nature. This Hebrew word has been used in literature for “pulling the bark off a tree.” The bark of a tree is seen as its skin and if removed it becomes extremely vulnerable and could even cause it to die.

Solomon was saying to his bride that just one glance from her eyes he becomes totally vulnerable and hopelessly in love with her.

He was willing to let his defense mechanisms go and for his protective layers be stripped away and become vulnerable to having his heart broken due to just one look from her eyes.

God Himself, took on man’s Flesh, voluntarily stripping away His invulnerability and became vulnerable to where He was hurt and deeply wounded, to the point of death.

Our Groom, Redeemer, Savior and deeply intimate Friend, is captivated by His Bride, His Church, Us. Is not this great love incredible to fathom?!

May we take the time to thank Him for first loving us with such an unconditional love and for enabling us by His Spirit to know such a great love.

Then, may that love be returned to Him from our deepest being and shared nature with Him, that it may be expressed in flowing out towards others are waiting to experience such a pure love.