Many have wondered why the Song of Solomon is in the Bible.

It looks like a passionate poem, a book of love written by an unrelenting lover. It is a commentary on intimate love. But it is also an allegory of God’s love for His people.

If you haven’t yet grasped it, the Song of Solomon will tell you how God loves you. We don’t have the right word to express that in English. Our word for “love” is too general. We love cake, and we love our grandma. But God, with a thick, endearing, all-encompassing, intimate, passionate, warm and motherly, fatherly and robust love, loves us.

Remember the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert (Luke 4:1-13).

Satan offered Christ the riches of all the kingdoms of the world: the best this earth has to offer. In return, he wanted Jesus’ devotion to his evil schemes. With no hesitation, Jesus huffed the devil out like a light. How could He — how would anyone — trade their lover, their adored jewel, their intimate friend, their sweet companion, for stuff, for applause, for the sparkly eyes of strangers?

Jesus gave up all the wealth of heaven, all the wealth of this world, for You, for us, because He truly, deeply, loves us.