Thursday 22nd May
Read Song of Solomon 4:10-11
“How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume
more than any spice!
11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
milk and honey are under your tongue.
The fragrance of your garments
is like the fragrance of Lebanon.” (NIVUK)
I confess when I read the Song of Solomon I don’t read it like many of the older commentators. I read love poetry rather than complex allegory. I am in the minority though as many esteemed and wise believers read Song of Solomon as an allegory of the love between Christ and His church.
In that context then, it is fascinating to read how much the bride’s love for the bridegroom is esteemed. Spurgeon was overwhelmed by the language the bridegroom uses here. Those who consider themselves completely unworthy of love, whose love is faltering and feeble, are lifted up by these verses. The love of the bride is physically attractive to the senses of the groom. Taste and smell are both used to describe the delight with which the groom receives the love of the bride. The perfume is an outward expression of love and devotion.
When we read of Mary’s act in the days before Jesus’ death this love and devotion is physically manifested.
“Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3) (NIVUK)
Fragrance is part of the passion narrative itself…
