“My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. the flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:10-12 NKJV)

Also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. When read through the lens of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes marriage as a “mystery” that points to Christ and His Church, it takes on a new meaning. Read the above passage viewing Christ as the “beloved” and the Church as the one being addressed. There is a Day coming when the Bride will hear Him say, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past…”