Monday, July 19, 2021

Revolution of Song of Solomon 4:1-4

 

Rev. George Miller

July 18, 2021

Solomon 4:1-4

 

There is a tradition that’s been part of my life for over 15 years.  Every week as the sermon is being co-created with the Holy Spirit, the same CD is played.

 

It’s a compilation of songs by Keith Sweat. 

 

After 15 years the sound of the same CD has created an ethereal space in which ego can disconnect and the sermon seems to write itself.

 

It wasn’t until the time of today’s composing that I realized something- every song on that CD is a love song.

 

Titles like “When I Give My Love,” “I’ll Give All My Love,” and “Can We Make Love.”

 

Love, love, love.

 

Is there a stronger power in the world?  Is there anything more longed for, desired, and treasured?

 

Love.

 

This morning we continue being in the garden with these two lovers as they profess their deep desire and appreciation for one another.

 

It’s a sensual, pleasurable experience, but one that also radiates a revolution.

 

Why?

 

Because this is the only book in the entire Bible in which we hear the narrative voice of a woman.

 

Both man and woman, woman and man share words of affection for one another, but guess what- the woman has way more lines than the man.

 

She is actually the star and he is the supporting player.

 

More than that- the woman is black.  She has been kissed by the sun. 

 

In Chapter 1, verse 5 she says “I am black and beautiful.”

 

The woman is black and lovely and her lover loves everything about her- her eyes - like doves, her hair -like goats, her teeth, her lips, her cheeks, her neck, her breasts.

 

The narrator mentions 7 specific parts of her body.  7, which in ancient days was used to symbolize perfection.

 

7, which just so happens to be the days of creation.

 

7 ways in which she is beautiful.  7 ways in which she is praised.

 

Friends, think of how powerful this book is. 

 

At a time in which there has been so much disrespect shared and so much hate stated, here we have a sacred text,

 

in which a woman, a black woman, is lifted up, is praised, is portrayed as perfect, complete, whole.

 

After all, isn’t that what we all want?

 

Don’t we all want to be seen?  Don’t we all want to be complimented?

 

Don’t we all want to be acknowledged as the beautiful, handsome, amazing people we are?

 

Don’t we all want to hear “You are perfect just the way you are?”

 

Here, in today’s scripture we experience that.

 

There’s no Left Shark.  There’s no tope.  There’s no tragic mistakes.

 

Today is all about your eyes, your hair, your cheeks, until time ends and the shadows flee.

 

How wonderful that we have such a scripture because it is a reminder that our bodies are valuable, and that our bodies matter.

 

Our bodies matter to ourselves, our bodies matter to those who love us, our bodies matter to God.

 

No wonder God came to us as Emmanuel.  To walk with us, to talk with us.  To attend weddings.  To sip wine.  To eat bread.  

 

To reach out and touch the ostracized.  To be reached out and touched by the ill. 

 

To meet as at wells during the hottest time of the day.  To be with us on the shore.  To feed us on the mountaintops.

 

To walk with us in the garden and when we are on the lonely Road to Emmaus.

 

Today we are reminded that the body is beautiful.  Our bodies are beautiful.

 

And we are loved, and in the eyes of our Creator, we are perfect.

 

For that, let us say, “Amen.”

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