Did you know the main Bible reading in the Synagogues during the celebration of Passover comes from the book the Song of Solomon?

Now, if you’re wondering what Passover and a collection of love songs has in common, that’s a great question.

And I’ll answer that in a minute.

First, I want to remind you that Passover was started in the book of Exodus when God, through Moses, redeemed His people by setting them free from Pharaoh through signs and wonders. He led them to Mt. Sinai where He entered into a Covenant with the whole nation.

For just a moment, I want to focus on the fact that God came down to redeem His people.
What did Israel do to earn God’s help?
Was Israel sacrificing?
Was Israel obeying any of God’s commands?
Was Israel living according to God’s teachings or instructions?
(in case you’re wondering the answer to all those questions is no)

The Bible seems to imply that Israel didn’t even remember who God was because all it says is that they cried out in their slavery (Exodus 2:23). Israel wasn’t even crying out to God. The people were in despair, were hopeless, and had no reason to believe anything would change. At this point in time Israel had been in slavery longer than we have been a nation… That’s a long time. It was at this point God stepped in, rending the heavens, coming down to rescue His people by doing what no one else could do, something no other religion has ever claimed their god did.

What an amazing God!!!

So, what does all this have to do with a book of love poems?

Let me share a few verses from chapter 2 and then I’ll explain the connection: “The voice of my beloved!  Behold he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. … Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold the winter is past; the rain is over and gone… Arise, my love, my beautiful one and come away.” (2:8-13 parts)

At its heart Passover is a love story. It’s the story of a passionate and intensely personal God who came to the rescue of His people. In the Exodus the Jewish people saw God as bounding over the hills, leaping over the mountains to set His people free so they might hear His voice as He called to them saying, “Come, my love, come away and be with Me, enter into Covenant with Me, walk with Me.”

Believer, do you realize you were called by this same God? That you were saved by this same God? That you were set free by this same God so that you too would fall in love with this incredible God? Through the faithfulness of Jesus this amazing God is calling us to join with Israel and come away with Him as part of His beloved people; to arise and go forth. Believer, your winter has passed, spring time has come. You can now hear the voice of your Beloved calling to you – Arise, and walk with Me.