The Passionate Groom

 The book of Song of Songs, also known as Song of Solomon, is one of the most beautiful poetic books of the Bible, written by Solomon. It portrays the love between the groom and the bride, symbolizing the deep relationship between Christ and His Church. Besides being a sublime expression of human love, Song of Songs also carries prophetic and spiritual significance that invites us to reflect more deeply on our relationship with God.

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine."
(Song of Songs 1:2, NIV)

The love described in Song of Songs is compared to wine, a symbol of celebration and joy. However, Solomon takes us beyond this earthly comparison, pointing to a love that is essentially superior and more fulfilling. This love reflects the essence of the first and greatest commandment that Jesus mentions in Matthew 22:37-38:

"Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
(Matthew 22:37-38, NIV)

This love must be the foundation of our entire lives, the basis on which we build our faith and actions. We must continually ask the Lord to pour out this divine love upon us, enabling us to love Him with all our being, preparing us for His coming and strengthening us on our spiritual journey.

In the context of Song of Songs, the “kiss” can be understood as the transforming touch of God’s Word in our lives. In Deuteronomy 8:3, the importance of living not only on physical food but on every word that comes from the mouth of God is emphasized. This concept is often referred to by rabbis as “The Kiss of the Torah” or “The Kiss of the Law,” a metaphor indicating the intimacy and deep connection we should have with the Word of God.

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
(Deuteronomy 8:3, NIV)

The bride in Song of Songs, representing the Church, intercedes to be kissed, that is, to be touched by the Word of God. It is through this “kiss” that we are cleansed and transformed by divine revelation. The Word of God is the foundation of our faith and the starting point for a life that pleases the Lord. We cannot be just a generation of activists, focused on deeds; we must be those who seek God's revelation.

The revelation of who God is leads us to a deeper level of intimacy with Christ. This is the issue with the activist bride: often, she is content with the mere touch of blessings, but revelation is what truly leads us to grow and mature spiritually. We are not rejecting God’s blessings, but we must understand that there is something more powerful: God Himself, who reveals Himself through His Word.

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
(Revelation 2:4-5, NIV)

The church in Ephesus, as described in Revelation 2, is praised for its perseverance and hard work, but Jesus identifies a deep problem: the loss of first love. This is a warning to all of us. First love is the passion and devotion we have for Jesus at the beginning of our walk with Him, and which can often, over time, be replaced by empty activism. Deeds and ministries are important, but they should never replace love for Jesus as the central focus of our faith.

God desires that our ministry be an expression of our love for Him, not an attempt to replace that love. If our love for Christ is not renewed, we risk losing the blessing and anointing that was given to us.

"My beloved thrust his hand through the latch opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt."
(Song of Songs 5:4-5, NIV)

The bride, moved by deep love, is drawn out of her comfort zone and, like the wise virgins, diligently seeks the groom. There is a special anointing upon the Brazilian nation, marked by intense passion and tears that express this deep longing for God’s presence. This generation, like the bride, longs day after day for the presence of the Lord, feeling the yearning for the one who loves her.

When the beloved is absent, the bride finds no rest, and her heart remains restless. This passion, this hunger for God's presence, is something that transcends mere desire; it is a vital necessity. Like the bride in Song of Songs 5:8, who says:

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love."
(Song of Songs 5:8, NIV)

This relentless pursuit is what moves the bride, what sustains her and keeps her firm, awaiting the moment to meet her beloved once again. May we learn from the example of the bride in Song of Songs, keeping our love for God always burning and alive, and may we never allow anything to take the place of that first love in our hearts.