I finished painting this picture during worship in November of 2023. The painting began with a blank canvas and a blank mind. As the worship started, I was inspired to paint in multiple colors, and soon, a female face was formed. Then, flowers began to take shape. I wasn’t sure where I was going yet but I felt inspired as the Holy Spirit worked with me. I was not in a hurry to finish.
“My Beloved Is” acrylic by Amy J Heath
This painting began around the time Sonrise Christian Center had torn a hole in the back wall one morning during worship to begin expanding the sanctuary. I worked on the painting layer upon layer during multiple worship services. God was not in a hurry, and I did not have to be either. Our society is always in a rush to get things done instead of stopping and pondering. I miss the good old days when you could wonder out loud and not have someone next to you google for the answer to your question.
The painting My Beloved Is was inspired by some of the imagery in Song of Solomon. I was curious to know what a Rose of Sharon and Henna flowers looked like. I was not going to attempt to paint the other imagery that Solomon uses to describe the Shulamite because as a Westerner, his descriptions raise an eyebrow.
Recently, I was reading Song of Solomon and thought, OK, I am reading through my filter, so Holy Spirit, how should I read this? The answer came instantly–Shepherd and King. In Song of Solomon 1:7 the Shulamite says: Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? The Lover was a shepherd; our Lord Jesus is seen as the Good Shepherd. He leads and seeks us out to get us back on his path and back with his flock as in Psalms 23 and John 10:11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (ESV). The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For your rod and staff, they comfort me.(Psalms 23: 1-4 (ESV)
The lover is a King coming up out of the wilderness in Song of Solomon 3:6-7 (ESV). What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant? Behold, it is the liter of Solomon! And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen. Revelation 1:5-6 (ESV)
As I painted the hair, it didn’t occur to me until after I was finished that the blue hair symbolized the priesthood and purple, the royalty of Jesus and His people. I was in the zone with Holy Spirit creating and enjoying the worship with him. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light Peter 2:8 (ESV)
As I researched what The Rose of Sharon the Lilly of the Valley should look like, I found many ideas as references. One reference was a flower that looked like a red poppy, so I chose to paint it into the picture. The red also represents the blood of Jesus. I also investigated what Henna blossoms look like and found small, delicate white blossoms on a stem. White represents purity The ,face is multicolored to represent the world as God’s people are made up of all nations and tribes.
As I painted the bridal veil during that November morning, the worship team began to sing the song, My Beloved. This made my heart swell with joy as God’s love swept over me in validation that I was in His stream of communication and painted his heart for all His people–His beautiful bride.
Amy J. Heath (Sonrise Magazine Art Director, Magazine Manager) Author. Grew up here in Everett, Washington and graduated from Mariner High School. Author of Creative Heart a 31-day devotional inviting you to join Amy’s journey with Father God in a Creative way. Each day has a painting with the thoughts she shared with God about the meaning of the picture and then invites you on the next page to write or draw the inspiration you gathered while reading and viewing Amy’s painting. The goal of this book is to help you express creatively your thoughts. Creative Heart can currently be found at the Sonrise Christian Center bookstore.
Art Director and Magazine Manager Sonriseeditor@gmail.com
Leave a Reply