Let's take a look at the Word of God in Song of Solomon, chapter 8, verse 7. 

Song of Solomon 8:7 states, Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be despised. 

The content of the Song of Solomon, on the surface, discusses themes of love between men and women, affection, romance, and marriage. This book is positioned at the end of the poetic genre, following Job, Psalms, and Proverbs. This indicates that the Song of Solomon also seeks to reveal to us the nature of God. 

Through the relationship of love between a man and a woman, we can perceive the love that God gives us. It illustrates the qualities of love in the relationship between a bridegroom and a bride, allowing us to confirm the essence of that love.

The theological meaning of the content can be summed up in one phrase: the theological significance of the Song of Songs is essentially ecclesiological. Many people interpret it superficially as a discussion about the romantic relationship between men and women, which can lead to a skewed understanding. Historically, Solomon expresses the most beautiful song to convey that this is about God's absolute love through love itself. It reveals the nature of love and confirms the fact that God is indeed an absolute being. When related to Christ, it indicates the absolute nature of the church that is given through Christ. This context is what I would like to explore further as we discuss the text. Next, the title Song of Songs means the most...

It contains the meaning of a beautiful song. The most beautiful song in the world, according to the Bible, is the song of songs. This refers to the Song of Solomon. The important question is, why is it called a beautiful song? The Song of Solomon is said to be the most beautiful song, and we need to focus on why it is considered the most beautiful song. Furthermore, it explains the effects of love. The first effect of love, as sung by Solomon, is the love between a man and a woman, which ultimately develops into a marital relationship. The first effect of this love is that it transcends social status. What does that mean? When we look at Esther, we see the remarkable transformation of a Jewish woman becoming the queen of King Ahasuerus. Here, the name Shulammite also carries various meanings, which I will explain later.

The reason this is related to status is that the woman Solomon loved was not from another kingdom or a daughter of a merchant, but rather a country girl working in the vineyard that Solomon owned. This area is referred to as Shulamite, which can either mean the name of the region or simply the woman from that region. There are various opinions on this, but in any case, the woman Solomon loved is a rural maiden who works in his field. What does this country girl become? She becomes a queen. This is a story with a dramatic twist. 

Secondly, the expressions they share with each other convey the idea of being the most absolute existence. According to the words just read, they possess an absolute value that cannot be exchanged for any danger, suffering, or even any worldly value.

It possesses such superior value. Therefore, this leads to discussions about transcending value. The husband evaluating the wife and the wife evaluating the husband are expressed as the most valuable beings, as absolute entities. Now, what kind of relationship do they have? The third point is that their relationship, as mentioned in the text, is one of mutual dependency. The husband is dependent on the wife, and the wife is dependent on the husband. Thus, we are in an inseparable, unified relationship. These profound discussions arise. While preparing for this, I was deeply moved. The Song of Songs, which is what we are talking about, also warrants reflection. Why should it be included in the Bible, the word of God? Is it just a love song sung by Solomon that deserves a place in the Scriptures? And singing about love between a man and a woman...

The adoption of the Bible, which confirms the living existence of God, carries significant weight and plays a decisive role in affirming God's existence. The question arises: what is the content of this text that it speaks to us today with the true value of God's word? This relationship, akin to a typical marital relationship, expresses that we are in a state of mutual dependence. We also assert that we possess a value that cannot be compared to anything else. For instance, the transformation of a country girl working in the fields into a queen illustrates the concept of the church. So, what were we in the past, and what have we become now? We are not merely country boys; we have transitioned from being sinners to possessing the status of the righteous before God.

The amazing transformation of God's love is about understanding its essence. It signifies that today, through Christ, we have undergone a change in status to become righteous. Next, we must consider how we are evaluated as beings. How does God evaluate us? When Adam assessed Eve, he said, You are bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. There is no greater expression than that. To say, You are my bone and flesh means there is no distance between us; we are one life. When we say that a couple are companions, it means that you and I are walking the same path. However, the value of marriage as described in the Bible is absolute; it emphasizes that we are one life and in an integral relationship. This is precisely what you are studying in Romans. What kind of relationship do we have with Christ? We are united, one life together. There is nothing more precious than this absolute life.

So, the most absolute value, and this unity that transcends the relationship between man and woman, is like an eternal life relationship. Approaching it this way, I realized that in the Song of Songs, there is not a single mention of the word God. The same goes for Esther; the word God is not used at all. However, since Esther appears within the history of Israel, it is somewhat easier to approach. In contrast, the Song of Songs, although Solomon is a king, expresses that the love song he dreamed of in his sleep is the most beautiful song in the world, and there must be sufficient grounds for it to be accepted as part of the Bible. Therefore, starting next week, I plan to give a detailed lecture on the contents of the Song of Songs. I need to explain it quite thoroughly, and although this lecture summarizes an hour's worth of content, I need to focus more intensively.

I started to think that it might be necessary. So, if you look at the structure presented here, it all revolves around the theme of lovers. The lovers love and miss each other, eventually meeting and getting married. Then, they briefly separate because the wife neglects her husband after marriage, leading him to leave. In the midst of all this chaos, they go through a lot, trying to find each other again, and ultimately manage to overcome their difficulties together. When we look at the commentaries, they discuss how to overcome the challenges and crises in our marital relationships. However, the perspective of God in choosing the Song of Solomon as scripture is different. Although it is superficially written about the maturity of love and happiness, we need to delve into the content of the text a bit more.

We need to verify this. Through the historical background, if we look at it, there is a case where a king changes his status to that of a shepherd to work on his own farm with a woman. The woman thinks of him as just a shepherd working in her field, so she begins to entertain thoughts of romance. This marks the beginning of a love opera, where the man seeks the woman with a cry of longing or praises her beauty, and then the woman reciprocates by singing about the man's handsome appearance and the depth of their love. They continuously express their feelings for each other in an operatic format. For example, when the king disguises himself as a shepherd and approaches the woman in the field, she sees him and falls in love, and they end up in a mutual affection, proclaiming their love. Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ...

How did He disguise Himself? He came to this earth in the form of a human body, possessing such accessibility that He is directly shown to us. In this way, He comes to love us unilaterally and takes us as His bride, which is the church. These concepts are explained and developed in detail. Therefore, from the first chapter, verses 1 to 3 and verse 5, it speaks of the love and longing during the time of lovers. This book was written by Solomon, and although there are various themes throughout, it was composed when there were 60 queens and 80 concubines, corresponding to the early period of Solomon's reign. Later, it is said that there were as many as a thousand, but research shows that this was in the early days, where it unfolds the story of loving a woman from the rural Shulammite region. So, when the king transforms into a shepherd, that is the initial confession.

This is a confession of lovers, and the beautiful expression of love from the shepherd is found in the verse, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. They talk about each other as if they are wine. The woman is asking for Solomon's kiss because her beloved is greater than wine. This signifies that when a husband confirms his beautiful love for his wife, he wants to kiss her. Similarly, this reflects the confirmation of love for Christ, which is a very important topic in Christian ecclesiology. As I delve into the main text and lecture on it, I will discuss the origins of love and the historical transformations of love. However, if we compress the entire Old Testament into one concept, it is to love God above and to love your neighbor as yourself. That's all there is to it.

In the Old Testament, the meaning of loving God and loving one's neighbor is expressed through Christ in the New Testament, revealing how God's love is manifested and what Christ's love for others entails. So, the content of this prologue, which appears from the very beginning, also involves discovering that magnificent, beautiful, and glorious man—the woman's confession of love. There’s nothing different about it. It's the same for us; when we confirm the existence of Christ and realize that His love is directed towards us, we recognize that it is more precious than any sweet love in this world. As the woman expresses this confession of love, what does the bridegroom give in return? The surface-level content is portrayed through typical interactions between a man and a woman. When the man appears and confesses his love,

It seems that women today are similar to modern women who express their desires directly. When a woman confesses her feelings and suggests a kiss, the man promises a gift in return. This promise is mentioned in verse 11 of chapter 1, and it's quite interesting. It says, We will make you chains of gold with ornaments of silver. The term we implies that all the people around the husband share this sentiment. It suggests that they will offer the best treasures and the finest accessories as a gift. The woman is making a confession of love for Christ, and then, when the husband responds to her confession, he promises to give her the most precious gift, like the offerings mentioned in verse 11. What gifts have you received from Christ? Perhaps nothing tangible, but here it seems that what we receive is even better. The idea of gold adorned with silver is that if someone were to give you something, they would not just do it once and then forget about it for a lifetime.

The Bible mentions a gift called the crown of life. When we go to Gyeongju, there is the tomb of the kings from the Silla dynasty, and that is the crown. To put it simply, it is a crown. However, this crown is a crown of life infused with vitality. In this humble land, we humans, regardless of our social status, are simply sinners. We are sinners that no one wants to be close to, sinners who wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood filled with other sinners. Yet, God refers to such sinners as receiving a crown. Imagine a crown adorned with gold and various jewels, a crown of life, a crown of righteousness. What about the garments? The garments are of a higher quality than a mink coat; they are garments of righteousness, fine linen. These are all themes found in the New Testament. Thus, as we unpack these ideas, everything is related to the relationship between Christ and the Church, Christ and the saints, and this is the ecclesiology that is being presented.

This is a beautifully expressed rhetorical content that we can explore. It doesn't just end here; ultimately, it leads to a secret meeting where love is shared and dreams are envisioned. If we look here, in Song of Solomon 1:16, it says, My beloved, you are beautiful and pleasant, and it goes on to describe how our bed is green, presenting many such wonderful themes. What this implies is that the bride is already thinking about the dowry as she meets the groom. She desires the best dowry that you can bring to me. The groom notices this and decides to prepare a dowry made of cedar and fir, an incredibly splendid house and bed, saying that he will wait for her. Indeed, Solomon praised his royal palace, built with cedar and beams.

So now, it's about responding with expressions. How wonderful it is when a woman openly declares her love for her husband, and the husband immediately reciprocates, not with false promises but with genuine sentiments about the beautiful future of their relationship. This introduction leads to a discussion about the commitments and expectations surrounding marriage. At this point, the woman begins to forget about the man—she forgets him twice: once after marriage and again during their passionate love. It's quite amusing to see how these events unfold. As she forgets him, she eventually finds herself searching for him. The narrative then shifts to the man's perspective when he finally encounters the woman again.

The content expresses the voice of my beloved. Look, he is running on the mountains and quickly crossing the small hills. It describes the longing to find him and the desire for him to come to me. Additionally, Solomon's confession after meeting the woman is repeated: My love, my beautiful one, arise and let us go. He refers to her as his dove, hidden in the clefts of the rock, emphasizing her purity. He asks to see her face and hear her voice, illustrating their deep longing for each other, ultimately leading to their union. In verse 16 of chapter 2, it speaks of the confession made upon reuniting after being apart. It states, My beloved is mine, and I am his, highlighting a relationship of mutual belonging, where each is captivated by the other. This reflects the relationship between Christ and us.

This is an inseparable relationship; in the New Testament, it is referred to as the relationship of the body. Christ is our head, and we are His body. Just as we talk about the relationship between the head and the body, this explains that the relationship between men and women is one of mutual dependence. Therefore, the bride expresses a desire to truly reunite, to be united, saying that we should not live separately. In chapter 3, verse 2, it introduces a wandering state, and in verse 4, the man speaks, while in verse 4, the woman speaks. The man expresses his feelings when he has lost the woman. He says, I will rise and go around the city, seeking the one my heart loves, whether on the streets or in the squares, but he could not find her. The city is where the most people gather, so when he feels lost, it emphasizes the depth of his longing.

The song is about a man who is passionately searching for his wife. It tells the story of a woman who meets Solomon and searches for the man who was behind the watchman. She finds the one she loves and vows not to let him go until they reach the room of the one who conceived her, her mother. After meeting the man, she immediately heads to her in-laws, holding onto him tightly, determined to greet her mother-in-law. This signifies a strong commitment, as she declares that she will never let him go. This has a fascinating meaning, reflecting how God created Adam with such love, making him in His own image. When God created Eve, it was to show that the relationship between the two was meant to be one.

Through the bone, the woman was created, and you are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. Bone and flesh cannot be separated. Therefore, the relationship between these two people is an integral life relationship, which clearly indicates this fact. This is an expression of God's love. However, Adam and Eve fell into sin, and thus the second Adam, Christ, appeared. The descendants of Adam, having completely fallen, found themselves in an environment where their love for God was severed. Then, when Adam and Eve sinned, God, in a sense of forgiveness, clothed them and continued to erase that separation, maintaining a continuous relationship with them. Similarly, we, as God's people, were chosen and designated as His people from before the foundation of the world or within that one Adam, but due to Adam's fall, we all...

By being born a sinner, I lived forgetting God and forgetting Christ. Now, I have come to seek that Christ, and that Christ has also come to find me. Therefore, we can confirm that we have a relationship where we meet again. This leads to a true marriage; accepting Christ means becoming one body with Him. Thus, we have explained this passionate preliminary process of mutual longing. Next, we can consider this as the climax, as it ultimately leads to marriage. The bridegroom's beauty presents a tremendous risk. When we observe the procession, we see the burning of myrrh and frankincense. Myrrh is used in the holy place as an ingredient for anointing oil, which is used to create the incense.

That is a very important item in the sanctuary, ensuring that it does not dry out. Myrrh is also a fragrant substance cultivated in the sanctuary. When we talk about anointing with oil, substances like myrrh and frankincense are used. These are applied and burned as part of the entrance, symbolizing the welcoming of the bride. As they pass through the rough terrain, upon arrival, the sight is that of a royal palanquin surrounded by 60 bodyguards. The materials used to create the palanquin must be extraordinary as well. Under Solomon's direction, it is crafted, and the myrrh and frankincense used in the temple are applied and burned. This embodies the grandeur of a royal palace or a temple, as it approaches the bride. Therefore, the dignity of the groom represents the highest honor.

It is showing a glorious appearance, and now it is inviting the citizens of Zion. Zion is Jerusalem. Here, we are demonstrating the process where people participate as guests and become witnesses. When Bathsheba was brought in, she also placed a crown on him, thus certifying the marriage. This shows the dignity of the groom and the response to it. Then, in this text, very important content is revealed. While we might think that guests at a wedding are just guests, the reason the groom and bride are calling all the citizens of Jerusalem as guests is precisely the same. When we become the bride of Christ and hold a wedding ceremony again in the new Jerusalem temple, the angels will guard us, and all those in heaven will be witnesses.

The contents are the same. So, they get married. During the marriage, the bride's appearance is important, and through this process, they respond to each other, and then they prepare a feast. This is how the main story unfolds. In the end, there is also a discussion about enjoying the future together before parting ways. This is similar here; they held a wedding ceremony, but the bride, who fell into complacency, did not welcome the groom on time. Today, we live in a comfortable environment, so we might not understand, but back then, there were many queens and concubines. They always had to be on standby. Only then could they meet the groom when he came looking for them. However, this queen lost her focus and was often absent. The groom came to see her several times but could not meet her, and eventually, they ended up separated.

The bridegroom must leave in an instant. Then, as we see in chapter 5, verse 8, she finally comes to her senses and starts searching for the bridegroom. As she searches for him, she faces hardships and goes to the women of the city, confessing the charm of the bridegroom and asking them to help her find him. If they happen to see him, she wants them to tell him that she is lovesick. This expresses the pain of someone who has lost their bridegroom. Theologically, the first separation signifies the disconnection from God due to the fall. The second aspect is marriage; having become a part of Christ and the church, the second point explains the parable of the prodigal son. Even though she is a wife, she neglects her husband and ends up losing him. Although she identifies as a Christian, Christ is not at the center of her life.

The prodigal son who leaves behind everything, that lifestyle, the life of the prodigal son, ultimately leads only to pain, lamentation, and separation. Those who live serving Christ may not fully understand what that is; they simply receive love and live in love, but they cannot measure the depth of that love. Just as God reveals the thrill of His love through trials and tribulations every time He leads us to victory, it seems that newlyweds forget their spouse's love shortly after their marriage, chasing after worldly desires. This is the final outcome of the prodigal son, which is depicted in the same way as in the Gospel of Luke. It shows a life disconnected from the bridegroom, pursuing the pleasures and desires of the world because of a fondness for the secular.

What is a psychological state? It can be truly frustrating and gloomy. When we go through various difficulties, we often feel anxious, restless, and a sense of crisis, leading us to sigh. This feeling arises because the true Christ, who is supposed to govern my heart, is not in control at that moment. Therefore, the prodigal son is not merely someone who doesn't attend church regularly; rather, even while I am living out my faith, if my heart is filled with such negative thoughts and begins to show signs of pretense, and if I experience more anxiety and fear than satisfaction with my current reality, then I am falling into a mistaken belief that what I do not have will somehow fulfill me. Ultimately, this mindset is akin to that of the prodigal son, who suffers not only from spiritual distress but also from physical pain.

It is a direct connection. It generates all kinds of psychological, mental, and physical pain. This is exactly the kind of current that someone who has lost a spouse experiences. They begin to cry out in despair, and the bride gradually comes to realize the beauty of her husband. It's the same with the father’s house; when you're spending money and having fun, you don’t realize how good it is. Only when you fall to the ground, eating the fruits that the pigs consume—pigs being animals that Jews despise, just as we loathe rats—do you come to understand, Ah, my father is a good father. My father's house is a good house. I don't quite understand how these themes emerge here. That's why the theological topic of ecclesiology is something that needs to be verified in each of its contents. So, in verse 3 of chapter 6...

When the groom discovers the bride, he expresses, I belong to my beloved, and my beloved belongs to me, which was mentioned earlier in Chapter 2 during a time of good relationship. Then, upon seeing the bride again after they had separated, he says, How could we possibly part? This is an impossible thought. I belong to you, and you belong to me, as stated in Chapter 6, verse 3. He emphasizes that all of my love is directed toward one person only, and that is the Shulammite. This reveals the fact that his love is completely focused and devoted. The groom's love is truly unwavering, as he is interested in only one woman. This idea presented in the Song of Solomon signifies that, despite the multitude of people and values in the created world, the most valuable existence is the church, which is His body.

It is about your body; it is nothing but a saint. Therefore, the self-esteem regarding being a saint cannot be compared to anything else, and this fact is confirmed here as well. Then, after parting and meeting again, the words we share tell us that we are in a relationship of life. Observing this process allows us to enjoy a more mature love and happiness. The bride says in chapter 7, verse 10, I belong to my beloved, and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies. The bride hears the confession of the groom and then makes her own confession. It is real; I am bound to you. When you forgot me, you only thought of me. I have come here after overcoming all difficulties to find you. These are the same sentiments. Thus, our relationship is one of dependence. In the Bible, we often talk about the church as being members of one body.

It's not just about the relationship between saints. The essence is that we are all members of the body of Christ in the church. The concern for this body holds an absolute value greater than anything in the created world. The relationship between Christ and the church cannot be separated. They are completely united, one body, as the saying goes, bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This is the content being unfolded step by step.

Then, in verse 5 of chapter 8, the bridegroom declares, Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? The beloved refers to her bridegroom. Who is this woman who relies solely on her bridegroom and loves him while coming up from the wilderness? Many waters cannot quench this love, nor can floods drown it. If a man were to give all the substance of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Even if it may be despised, while reading this, I think of that scene. Living in this created world, we sometimes forget the bridegroom, and how much pain, adversity, and trials we endure. Or because the sufferings of the body of Christ, the Church, were left behind, those who maintain a dependent relationship with Christ experience those remaining sufferings. After we have labored on this earth, when we go to God's kingdom, the beloved one will say, Here I come, and we can think of it as a word from Christ, the spiritual one, who calls out to us. So, the woman feels, I seem to be someone who has obtained peace in his eyes. Peace, in this sense, means to be fulfilled. It refers to the woman who meets the bridegroom, as the bridegroom comes to find her.

As she ascended from the wilderness, that woman proclaimed that she is the most precious and invaluable being in this world, a declaration that Christ made towards the saints. The church, in turn, echoes the confession of the saints, saying, I am now satisfied in your sight. Let's read the last verse together, Song of Solomon 8:13: O you who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it. The woman's friends are urging the man's friends to listen to her confession of love. So, dear friends, what is the first gateway to our heavenly life? It is the love confession of the woman who, having overcome all toil and adversity, has come to the Bridegroom, supported by the friends of the Bridegroom, the saints who have gone before us, and the angels. Let’s reflect on her words once again.

It is said that you should come quickly, my beloved. The groom expresses this, and the bride responds, My beloved, you should run quickly. The phrase run quickly can mean to come swiftly, but it also signifies a desire for our love to deepen. The groom confesses his love and acknowledges the pain and trials the woman who loved him endured to find him. He then expresses that he is truly fulfilled and satisfied by her confession. The bride responds once more, My beloved, you should run quickly, like a deer on the fragrant mountain, and like a young stag. She praises his bravery and strength as he runs towards her. Living on earth, however, cannot be avoided. The remaining sufferings of Christ are present in the church because the relationship with Christ has temporarily become distant.

Whether you are a sinner or a person who diligently serves Christ, the time given on this earth is a time of suffering for everyone. So, how can we endure this suffering? We endure it with love. The bride endures with the assurance of the bridegroom's love, and the bridegroom is waiting for the bride to come quickly. The final scene is a reunion. We are already called the bride of Christ, but for now, we are separated during this given time. However, we will surely meet again. In the Book of Revelation, this meeting is described as the New Jerusalem descending. The preparations for this meeting are already being made by God, Christ, and the angels. Just yesterday, one of the elders I was very close to passed away. I went there early in the morning and then came back.

First, those who have gone ahead are all waiting here now. What does this mean? This world must come to an end. We talked about this last Sunday. The reason this world is empty and vain is that there is an end. The entire created world has an end. However, the bridegroom has made a promise. What promise did he make? Revelation 22:20 says, Surely, I am coming quickly. He promised that he would come quickly. The bride, which is the church, knows that this promise was made at the end, at the point of the final judgment. Therefore, when the bridegroom expresses his love at the end, the bride, having received that love, is urged to run quickly, just as she had said. The bridegroom promises to come quickly, and the bride responds.

Amen. Lord Jesus, come. This is the value of the saints, those who are in relationship with Christ, in truly meeting the Bridegroom. Therefore, Peter, in 1 Peter 1:3, praises our Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the suffering of the churches and saints living in this period. Though it is painful, we praise our Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because of His abundant mercy, He has caused Jesus Christ to be resurrected from the dead, so that we may receive an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, waiting for us as the most magnificent and glorious dowry of the bride. This is what is promised. Thus, the saints of the early church, in the face of tremendous trials, understood the value of the suffering given to Christians, and they placed their hope in the heavenly mountain and recognized the value of meeting Christ at that moment.

As I remember the voice of Christ, who promised that He would come quickly, and as that sound pierces my heart even now, I pray, Come quickly, Lord Jesus. This is the value of our lives and reaffirms what the Song of Solomon teaches us about the absolute relationship of Christ's love. Let us pray. The most noble thing in this world is love. It can be the love between parents and children, the love between friends, or the love between spouses. However, all love given to creatures in this world has its limits, and there are times for separation, and sometimes even hatred. But the love of Christ, once established, is an everlasting love that does not change, a love that exists through eternal life, and a love that is united in an inseparable, dependent relationship. This is something we come to realize once again. God, God, God.

As we once again confirm that the love of Christ bestowed upon us is a love that we cannot refuse or turn away from, we recognize that this love is unilateral. This love is absolute. This love is an unchanging love. As we reaffirm these truths, may we endure and overcome the trials and tribulations given to us on this earth. We pray, Come, Lord Jesus, and ask for guidance to live by this confession. In Jesus' name, we pray.

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