Song of Solomon 8:1-5: a reflection

1Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me. 2I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. 3His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me. 4I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. 5Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.

In this passage from the Song of Solomon, amid its poetry of love, a striking image appears: Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? The bride comes up out of the wilderness, not alone, not in her own strength, but leaning on her beloved, supported by the one who loves her. And through the ages, God's people have heard in this an image of the soul's relationship with God: coming through the wilderness of life, leaning on the Beloved.

Notice the image of leaning on the beloved. The bride does not come up from the wilderness on her own strength, standing alone; she comes leaning on her beloved, supported by him, resting her weight on the one who loves her. Read as an image of the soul and God, it pictures the way we are meant to come through the wilderness of this life: not in our own strength, standing alone, but leaning on God, supported by him, resting our weight on the One who loves us.

That image of leaning on the Beloved is worth taking to heart, for we often try to come through the wilderness of life on our own strength, standing alone. But we are meant to come leaning on God, resting our weight on him, supported by the One who loves us. To lean is to admit we cannot stand on our own, to rest our weight on another; and this is how we are to come through life, leaning on God. Do not try to come through the wilderness of this life on your own strength, standing alone; lean on God, as the bride leaned on her beloved, resting your weight on the One who loves you. There is no shame in leaning; it is how we are meant to come, supported by God through the wilderness. Lean on your Beloved, resting your weight on him, and come up through the wilderness of life not alone, but supported by the God who loves you.

Lord, in the Song of Solomon a striking image appears: who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? The bride comes up not alone, not in her own strength, but leaning on her beloved, supported by the one who loves her; and your people have heard in this an image of the soul coming through the wilderness of life, leaning on you. Take that image to my heart, for I often try to come through the wilderness of life on my own strength, standing alone. But I am meant to come leaning on you, resting my weight on you, supported by you, who love me. To lean is to admit I cannot stand on my own, to rest my weight on another; and this is how I am to come through life, leaning on you. Keep me from trying to come through the wilderness on my own strength, standing alone; help me lean on you, as the bride leaned on her beloved, resting my weight on you, who love me. There is no shame in leaning; it is how I am meant to come, supported by you. Help me lean on you, my Beloved, resting my weight on you, and come up through the wilderness of life not alone, but supported by you, Lord, who love me.