King Solomon – the wise lover
In his artwork ‘King Solomon the lover’, Greek artist Nikos Savroulakis portrays the young king as he courted his Shulammite bride – disguised as a shepherd.
After arousing her love, he absconds and the enamoured girl goes searching for him among the shepherds of Judah. The watchmen of Jerusalem mock and taunt her, but she persists. Unwittingly she ends up ‘among the chariots of royalty’ and there she finds him – her lover, the shepherd – Solomon, the King! (Song of Songs, 3:11, 5:7, 6:12.)
This is the story told in Solomon’s greatest love song, the Song of Songs. The Rabbis read it as an allegory of God’s love for Israel – in which also a deep mystery is concealed. Why does Solomon conduct his courtship in such a strange way? Should God also appear to Israel as Solomon did, i.e. in disguise?
Kings have little hope of true love when women are attracted to their money and status instead. (Solomon wisely avoided this pitfall). How much less could Israel resist the God of Heaven, if He came to her with splendour and wealth and glory?
A Chassidic legend conveys a similar truth: A king was due to visit an important city. The day before he was expected, he entered secretly in plain clothing. His purpose? To discover what the people spoke of him as they prepared for his visit.
Christians love a king who was born in a stable. One who had “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). As he first appeared He was “despised and rejected by men”, but for those who love and seek for him, he will eventually reveal himself in heavenly glory (Isaiah 53:3; 2 Thes. 1 ).
Is this the fulfilment of Solomon’s prophetic allegory? If so, who is the king’s bride, and who are the watchmen of Jerusalem who mock and abuse her? How do you respond toIsrael’s shepherd King?
“And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:13-14)