Rise Up My Darling! Come Away with Me, My Fair One!"

 

“Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!” 

(Song of Songs 2:10, NLT).

 

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

It is still all white outside, I mean snow covered! Is that strange? No! Because it is still winter season! However, wherever I go now, it is all about pink and red covered inside, I mean stores and TV, internet commercials all over the places! Why? Because it is a Valentine season, a season of candies and chocolates. No wonder why the Valentine season is in winter because it is so sweet that melt easily in warm weather? It only works for Wisconsin though, not in Florida. Anyway, do you have your valentine this season? I feel like I become a 21st century romanticist in February.

 

Some years ago, I happened to hear a Neapolitan song, “O Sole Mio” from the radio. I think it was in my middle school years. And I fell in love with it. So I sang it all the time, “Che bella cosa na jurnata ‘e sole…” without knowing what it meant because it was all Italian. Then, later on, I learned that the song was talking about love: It is a beautiful thing when the sun is there; however, it is even more beautiful when the true love is also present!” something like that. True love! It make sense. So I decided to sing this song if I found my true love in the future. Then what happened? I forgot. Why? Because I found more love songs, I mean more beautiful and amazing love songs! This is one of them.

 

“Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. 

My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, 

looking through the window, peering into the room” (Song of Songs 2:8-9, NLT).

 

Peering into the room? Believe it or not, this is a part of the bible, in the Old Testament. We call it Song of Songs or Song of Solomon. This is truly a love song and very romantic which means that God values romantic love and the union between a committed husband and wife for a fruitful life, I mean having children out of that love. This book actually expresses the beauty of this love as God intended it. 

 

So, love does not end there coming from a far and watching behind the window, but inviting to join!

 

“Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!” (Song of Songs 2:13b, NLT).

 

He sang! Because it was the reason why he came! Then, how did she respond? 

 

“My dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. 

Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is 

pleasant, and your face is lovely” (Song of Songs 2:14, NLT).

 

He smiled of course! So, did she join him? I think you know the answer if you know what that love is.

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, have you ever had that kind of love in your life? Or dreamed of that kind of love? Of course we have! But how come?

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 

believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV).

 

Sounds very familiar. Isn’t it? God always sings his love songs for us like that. God is watching us every moment of our life coming from a far because He cares and because He loves us. However, he also invites us to join Him in this romantic month of February. 

 

“Come, Follow me!” (Matthew 4:19b, NLT).

 

No wonder why those fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James and John two thousand years ago followed him dropping everything that they had because they found the true love, I mean for the eternal one. In this month of February, Jesus also invites us to join him. So what is your answer?

 

“Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song!” (Psalm 108:2, NLT).

 

See you all on Sunday in the romantic month of February!

 

Grace and Peace, 

Pastor Kyochul