Find Yourself Someone

The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” – Song of Songs 2:8-9a, 10-11 (NRSV)

Yesterday, I played hookey. Snuck out to a pub at 2pm to watch my favorite soccer team. (Toon Army!) Beside me at the bar was an extroverts’ extrovert, introducing himself to everyone in a 3-stool radius.

I listened to him network through the first half until he turned to me. He asked about my line of work, and I figured that would shut things down.

But suddenly he dropped the brash businessman act. Told me how he’d grown up in the church. And why he’d left. And then, with real sweetness, he said, “But I love Jesus. Jesus is the most important person in my life.”

It reminded me of the meme that says, “Find yourself someone who looks at you the way x looks at y.” Accompanied by a picture of x gazing adoringly toward y.

Like every good progressive pastor, I take any opportunity to tell folks that Song of Songs is not a love song between Jesus and the Church. It’s not.

And yet, that’s how it’s been read for a long time. These sweet words of adulation and longing. Butterflies in the stomach. “The voice of my beloved!” 

They’re not about Jesus. At all. But the Church read them and said, “Yes, that’s how it is to love him. It looks just like that.” 

Thanks to Jake for the reminder. 

Prayer
O Come, let us adore him.

About the Author
Vince Amlin is co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago, and co-planter of Gilead Church Chicago, forming now.