“Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country, Let us spend the night in the villages.”
—Song of Solomon 7:11

Reflection

The Song of Songs is a poetic love story between a bridegroom and his bride, a woman known as the Shulamite. Their relationship also gives us a spiritual picture of our relationship with Messiah Jesus.

In chapter 7, the bride has become fully convinced that the Bridegroom loves and desires her, and that she is altogether lovely to Him. Being secure in His love, she says, “Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country,” and invites Him to join her in the vineyards (Song of Songs 7:11–12).

She is so free in His love, she is released to focus on serving others. Notice that she says four times in these two verses, “Let us.” This tells us she is in partnership with the King. She is co-laboring with Him to reach everybody, those in the country and in the villages.

Jesus revealed the connection between loving Him and working for Him in His conversation with Peter in John 21. Three times Yeshua asks Peter if he loves Him, and three times He instructs Peter to show it by tending His lambs and feeding His sheep. He was telling Peter, in essence, that if he really loved Him, he could express that love by doing the work of building His church.

This is what the Shulamite bride said she was going to do. She was going into the vineyard to give the King her love there.

This applies directly to you and me. If we want to love Jesus in the most profound way, we must serve Him.Whether it’s volunteering in the nursery, helping in the maintenance of the facility, preparing meals, calling people on the phone to pray with them, or preaching the gospel, we can each find somewhere to love Jesus by doing the work of building His kingdom.

As the Shulamite grew in divine love, she went from one who was focused only on receiving the Bridegroom’s love to one who was focused on giving Him love by ministering to others. She had made up her mind to spend the rest of her life building God’s kingdom.

In Song of Songs 7:13, she speaks of fragrant mandrakes and choice fruits, both new and old. Mandrakes were known as love plants in the Bible. Here we see a picture of the Bridegroom’s love coming forth from her as she serves Him. Her life is bearing fruit. Everything about her life speaks of His love.

Beloved, Yeshua offers us the unspeakable privilege of co-laboring with Him in building His kingdom. May our lives bear the abundant fruit of our love for Him.

Application

• Look for opportunities to express your love for Jesus by serving others, whether through practical help, prayer, or sharing the gospel.
• Remember that you are not working alone. You have the privilege of partnering with Yeshua in building His kingdom.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for loving me and giving me the privilege of serving You. Lord Jesus, I belong to You, and I am eager to join You in the fields of harvest, in the gardens, orchards, and vineyards of Your kingdom work. Thank You that You enjoy working with me and that You invite me to co-labor with You. Fill my life with the abundant fruit and evidence of our mature, mutual love. In Yeshua’s name, amen.