There shall once more be heard the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Jeremiah 33:10-11)
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
(Zephaniah 3:17)
Remember that first love – the longing of the lover and beloved just to be in each other’s presence? Our Lord Jesus Christ longs for our presence, our intimacy. He longs to know us as a bridegroom would long to know his bride. The bride is the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8). When we, the bride, hold Jesus as the apple of our eye as well – this is His great delight. We are most like His bride when we desire Him above all else. When we desire Him above else, we are also most submitted to Him. This is also when we are most intimate with Him. What better way to express this desire, this intimacy, than thru song, a love song? The Bridegroom longs to sing love songs to His bride. He longs to rejoice over His bride with singing. How might the Bridegroom and bride sing these love songs to one another today? How might their voices be heard?
It is written, …I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. (Hebrews 2:12) This is a reference to Psalm 22, the Psalm that mentions that the Lord inhabits, is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3, 22). The voice of the singing Bridegroom should be heard in the midst of His congregation, among the praises of His people.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
(Ephesians 5:18-21)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16)
The Lord’s people, the voice of the bride, assembled and singing the Lord’s praises, is a way to ‘be filled’ with the Holy Spirit, a way for Christ to dwell richly among His people, His bride. It’s obvious in this process how the voice of the bride can be heard in the midst of His congregation. But how can we hear the voice of the Bridegroom? How can we hear the exchange of love songs between the bride and the Bridegroom?
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
(Psalm 40:1-3)
The Lord puts the love song – the new song in His bride’s mouth. This new song comes out of a fresh, alive, intimate relationship with the Lord. The Lord is always revealing more of Himself to those who walk close to Him. He reveals this song to the redeemed. Only the redeemed, who follow the Lamb wherever the Lamb goes, can learn it (Revelation 14:3-4). It is their personal song to Him, sung through them by the Holy Spirit. This new song is a spontaneous song of love glorifying God, high praise, ‘Tehillah’ in Hebrew. When the bride responds from her heart and sings what the Lord has placed in her mouth – this is how the exchange of love songs can be heard.
Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
(Psalm 149:1)
Look how singing this new song fits with the voices of the Bridegroom and bride singing and being heard in the midst of His people.
The gift in 1 Corinthians 14:3 is key to this process. Prophecy for edification, exhortation and comfort. As seen in (Ephesians 5:18, Colossians 3:16) a portion of this type of encouragement is done in song. What a wonderful testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10).
This is a very intimate process. The bride with her single focus on the Bridegroom, expressing her desire, her love. The bride waiting, totally submitted to Jesus; waiting for her Bridegroom to place her feet on the rock, a firm place to stand and waiting for His touch upon her mouth; the new song. Wouldn’t it make sense that the Bridegroom would do this with a kiss?
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth – for your love is more delightful than wine.
(Song of Solomon 1:2)
His mouth is sweetness itself; He is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend.
(Song of Solomon 5:16)
The Song of Solomon creates this beautiful image of the lovers singing love songs to one another, exchanging kisses. Reading the above verses it’s easy to picture the Bridegroom putting the new song in His bride’s mouth with a kiss. When the bride responds and sings what has been placed in her mouth, she is kissing him back. How beautiful! What a beautiful expression of the love between the Bridegroom & bride. The flame of this love can not be snuffed out. It is as strong as death.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it.
(Song of Solomon 8:6-7)
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NKJV)
This flame of love that burns bright and can not be snuffed out is eternal!
Will you desire Jesus as the apple of your eye? Will you express your love in high praise to the Lord? Will you wait patiently for His touch upon your heart and mouth? Will you kiss the Son (Psalm 2:12)? Will you listen for the voice of your Bridegroom singing love songs to you? Will you answer with the love song that is yours alone? The Bridegroom longs to hear your voice.
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
(Song of Solomon 2:14)
You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
(Song of Solomon 8:13)