Human relationships, love, and passion have remained throughout history topics weighted with emotion and opinion—topics which birth great insight into the cries of the human heart. Even one as intellectually intimidating as Bertrand Russell, once remarked that love was an unfulfilled area in his life. Indeed, psychologists have long noted that love is quite simply a human need.

Perhaps more significantly than we realize, the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation is a love story. It is the story of a sovereign, almighty God wooing his people to the ends of the earth. The Song of Solomon is in some regards a strange book to find in the midst of that Story, as it never actually mentions God. The book is a poetic dialogue between a man and a woman; an ardent declaration of devotion remains unbroken throughout its chapters. But its passionate descriptions of romantic love have for centuries been the source of controversy and concern. And our relationship with the Song of Solomon seems to be characterized by either blunt rejection or profound devotion. Charles Templeton once quoted the Song of Solomon while referring to the Bible as one of the most vulgar pieces of literature he has ever read. Whereas, Bernard of Clairvaux opined quite differently. Writing 83 sermons on the first three chapters alone, to Saint Bernard, the Song of Solomon was quite seriously, "the epitome of biblical truth."

You see, for Bernard, every word of passion in that descriptive book described the passion of a soul that has met its Creator. And although today theologians vastly agree that the Song of Solomon depicts the love between a man and a woman, we would do well to discover for ourselves the passionate excitement with which the early Christians pursued intimate relationships with the living Christ—the beloved Bridegroom.

Today we live in a world for which the pursuit of pleasure is the most celebrated passion. And yet, our own restlessness in the midst of this boundless pursuit testifies to the timeless truth Saint Augustine once declared: God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee. Similarly, in his ever-candid manner, G.K. Chesterton once mused that the man knocking on the door of the brothel knocks for God.

That the Song of Solomon is included in the Canon of Scripture is an affirmation of the goodness of human love and pleasure. But, like all expressions, it too has limitations. Any pleasure for pleasure's sake alone becomes devoid of meaning. You see, human love and pleasure are meant to point us to the triune God who in his very being is the source of all love.

Truly, the love uttered in the Song of Solomon bears witness to the God who created us to love—the God who is Love. It is not by coincidence that His chosen imagery to characterize His relationship with His people is the covenant of marriage. Indeed, it is this profound Romance that so captivated the early saints. May the truth of Christ and the love of the Father passionately consume our lives as well. And may you increasingly know today—God's vow to you is real, His love is unconditional.