O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice . . .” (Song of Songs 2:14, ESV).
Early in their relationship, Solomon’s beloved may have exhibited some timidity, and so he said, “Let me see your face; let me hear your voice.” In other words, “Come out from your hiding place. I want to get to know you. Don’t be shy!”
LET ME SEE YOUR FACE
Similarly, our Heavenly Bridegroom desires “to see our face” because he wants a close relationship with us. And we too may be shy about presenting ourselves because, after all, he is the Holy One, the Perfect One, the King of all creation.
Jesus is the only one who has the capacity to live in the inner sanctum with us, that place in our hearts where no human can come. It’s where we understand ourselves in a way that is incommunicable even to the most loving, caring, and emotionally safe person we know.
But there, with Jesus, we can just be with no need to prove anything, no need to pretend anything. We can be completely honest about everything because we are supported by the presence of his eternal, unconditional love.
LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE
Isn’t it a lovely thought that Jesus wants to “hear your voice”? As surprising as it sounds, he wants to hear us talk. Some of us are extroverts, and we can’t stop talking. He is not inconvenienced by how long we want to chatter away, nor is he overwhelmed by “too much talking.”
Then again, some of us are introverts, and we do not warm to others quickly. But with him, we do not need to fear that we are boring or awkward. He doesn’t require us to speak eloquently or follow unspoken social rules.
Whatever our personality style, he welcomes us, attunes to us. Our prayers, our concerns, everything about our lives—all of it matters to him.
We may feel hidden in the crannies of busyness and preoccupied concerns, but let us step out joyfully to meet him!