His Love is the Greatest
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards… (SOS 1:6) (NIV)
Solomon, no doubt, was staring at her for her beauty, but she didn’t feel it that way. When she felt his eyes on her, she assumed that he saw her exactly like her brothers described her.
Her brothers, she explained, were angry at her, and it sounds like not just once, but as a way of life. This shepherd girl had lived as a victim, maybe for years, of abuse from her brothers, and it altered the way she felt about herself, the way she saw herself. Although others admired her for her beauty, she didn't see herself that way. Instead, she saw herself the way her brother’s hateful words had painted her. Abuse had made this beautiful woman feel “dark:” unworthy, undeserving, less-than, terribly flawed.
And she isn’t alone. When people are abused, this is often the outcome. When victims leave their abuser, they carry the hateful words with them. After years of verbal, emotional, and spiritual abuse, it’s almost impossible not to.
You’ll never amount to anything...
You’re bad, unlovable, unloving, uncaring, ungodly ...
You’re difficult, lazy, ugly, argumentative, unappreciative, stupid, slow ...
You’re selfish, worthless, undeserving ...
You deserve this treatment, God's punishing you...
What did the brothers of the shepherd girl gain from speaking angry, hateful words to her? They gained a servant. Someone who worked in their fields day after day without bucking the system. Their evil, lying words eventually created a confused, depressed, compliant, willing, submissive slave.
It’s no different than the psychological warfare used in POW camps and in any abusive relationship. Hateful words carry such destructive power. They destroy lives; they destroy (or prevent) relationships, self-worth, self- esteem, courage.
But praise God – there is a way to heal. There is a way to crush the torment of the hateful words. The shepherd girl stumbled upon it the day she met Solomon.
She was hesitant, yet for some reason she decided to take a chance. Maybe she saw compassion in his eyes, or maybe on that day she was simply at the end of her rope. In a very real way, Solomon represents Jesus, and the shepherd girl represents victims of past abuse, victims who've been lied to, betrayed, ridiculed, shamed. How did Solomon respond to her?
He treated her like a treasure, beautiful and precious. He said so many wonderful, kind things to her. Words that healed her, and made her feel safe, loved, and treasured:
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." (SOS 2:13) (NIV)
Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. (SOS 2:14) (NIV)
You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. (SOS 4:7) (NIV)
The love of God is our greatest healer. His love heals us, builds us up, encourages us, holds us, comforts us, cherishes us, makes us feel treasured. His love silences the lies we were told. When you take a chance on Jesus, He will never turn you away. He will understand you. He’ll reach out with both arms, hold you in a big bear hug and whisper, “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; I see no spot in you.” (SOS 4:7) (NIV)
In the continuing love story of King Solomon and the shepherd girl, we see a sweet pattern. Solomon would say beautiful things of love to her, and then she would say beautiful things of love to him.
That’s a picture of you, talking to your King, Jesus …
tell Him how much you love Him, receive His love
tell Him how much you love Him, receive His love
tell Him how much you love Him, receive His love
… and His love will flow like a continuous River over your heart and wash away all of the lies and the darkness. It will heal all your brokenness and pain.
The love of God is our greatest need. His love is the ointment that heals our emotional wounds and scars and painful memories. His love melts away that heavy burden of unworthiness.
His love makes us feel treasured no matter what anyone else might have ever told us. His love helps us to love ourselves.
His love is the greatest.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
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