The Choir Joins In

There is a Bible version that has some popularity. It is called the Amplified Bible.

I have one but don't use it much.

I only bring it up because SOS seems to have some 'amplified' portions. They are the places where the choir joins in to add emphasis to certain things. My Holman Master Study Bible (NAS) has little numbers and notes in the margin calling these portions - CHORUS.

There are two places where the chorus joins their voices with the main speaker/singer in chapter one. The first time is with the Beloved (SOS 1:4b) and the second time is with the Lover (SOS 1:11).

Both places display the importance of what is being said by joining in and adding amplification to the words. Both places also display their positions in the beginning of this love story that unfolds.

We'll start with SOS 1:4 where the first half is just the Beloved and the second half the chorus joins in:

SOS 1:4 "Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers."

"We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol (mention with praise) your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you."

Verses 2 & 3 of chapter one of SOS is the Beloved praising the Lover from a distance and longing to be closer to him. Verse 4a is expressing a desire to be "wild and free" so to speak, and wanting to run with him with the wind in her hair. Then it speaks of him bringing her into his apartments which about takes her breath away. Then the choir rejoices with her.

For the believer it is like the angels joining in with praise. They also, along with the Beloved, will rejoice and be glad in the Lover.

Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at Thy Word (Promise), as one who finds great spoil.

Then the chorus sings with her that they will extol (mention with praise) his love more than wine.

Psalm 86:15 But Thou, O LORD, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth (faithfulness).
Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; to all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth. (vs 2) For I have said, "Lovingkindness will be built up forever. In the heavens Thou wilt establish Thy faithfulness.
Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. (vs 17a) But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.
Psalm 117:2a For His lovingkindness is great toward us.



Back in the eighties the little church I attended used to sing as part of a praise and worship chorus, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life..." Which also comes from somewhere in the Psalms. And just yesterday in church we sang, "I could sing of Your love forever..."


In the New Testament Paul also praised the great love that the Lover of our souls had for us.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (vs 5) even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (vs 6) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ, (vs 7) in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.



No one has more love within themselves than God. No one has more love to lavish freely on us than Him. It is His love that we can extol (mention with praise) more than wine. The love of mortal men often fails... unless it is supernaturally supercharged by the Holy Spirit. But the God kind of love never fails (I Corinthians 13:8). It is worthy of our praise.