How does this verse connect with the parable of the lost sheep? Song of Solomon 3:2—The Urgency of Love “I will rise now and roam the city, through all its streets and squares; I will seek the one I love. I sought him but did not find him.” Connecting Threads With the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) • Both passages pivot on an intense, single-minded search. • In Songs 3:2 the bride cannot rest until she locates her beloved; in Luke 15 the shepherd refuses to rest until the lost sheep is on his shoulders. • Each searcher acts immediately—she “rises now,” he “goes after” the sheep “until he finds it.” • Love, not mere duty, fuels the pursuit: – “the one I love” (Songs 3:2) – “rejoices greatly” over the found sheep (Luke 15:6) Two Angles of the Gospel Love Story • Songs 3:2 pictures the believer’s longing for Christ—love that propels us out of comfort, into the “streets and squares” of prayer, Scripture, and obedience. • Luke 15 showcases Christ’s longing for the believer—He leaves heaven’s glory to shoulder us back home. • Together they form a complete circle: He first seeks us (Luke 19:10); once found, we spend our lives seeking deeper fellowship with Him (Psalm 27:8). Shared Motifs to Notice 1. Initiative • Bride: “I will rise now.” • Shepherd: “go after the lost one.” 2. Persistence • “I sought him but did not find him”—yet she keeps searching (Songs 3:3-4). • “until he finds it”—no time limit on the shepherd’s quest. 3. Joy in Reunion • Bride’s eventual cry: “I found the one I love; I held him and would not let him go” (Songs 3:4). • Shepherd’s celebration: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!” (Luke 15:6). Why This Matters for Us Today • Our Savior’s heart is revealed: if a shepherd values one sheep that much, how secure are we in His grip! (John 10:28). • Our response is modeled: the bride’s restless love challenges complacency—“Seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). • The cycle of seeking and being sought deepens relationship: His pursuit saves us; our pursuit sanctifies us. Supporting Passages • Jeremiah 29:13—“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” • Ezekiel 34:11—“Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.” • John 10:14-15—“I am the good shepherd… I lay down My life for the sheep.” • Revelation 2:4—warning against leaving first love, urging continual pursuit like the bride’s. Living the Lesson • Rise immediately when love stirs—schedule devoted time with Christ before the day crowds in. • Refuse to quit when He seems distant—press through Scripture, worship, fellowship; He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). • Celebrate every experience of His nearness—share testimonies, sing praise, just as heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. |
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