From the beginning, God made a man and a woman as one together in Genesis 2:23 And the man said, “She is now bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh; she shall be called ‘Woman,’ for she was taken from man.” and this book, Song of Solomon is a book of that love. It is an example of the way we should speak about each other in Song of Solomon 6:3 “I belong to my beloved and my beloved belongs to me;” and to each other in Song of Solomon 4:1 “Look! You are beautiful, my beloved! Look! You are beautiful!”. Though others may come along to challenge your relationship as in Song of Solomon 6:1 “Where has your beloved gone … Where has your beloved turned”, we are to continue to demonstrate our love as in Ephesians 5:28–30 “Thus also husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. The one who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as also Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body”. And, this love is an outward expression for the world to see as Jesus said in John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.” This love is first demonstrated in our closest personal relationship as husband and wife.
You Are Flawless
Song of Solomon 4:1–7
This is the way a man should speak to his bride in
Song of Solomon 4:1 Look! You are beautiful, my beloved! Look! You are beautiful!
and again he says in
Song of Solomon 4:7 You are completely beautiful, my beloved You are flawless!
but lest she thinks these are simply platitudes, empty words, he names her features and “Seven features of beauty are specified (So 4:1–5) (“lips” and “speech” are but one feature, So 4:3), the number for perfection. To each of these is attached a comparison from nature: the resemblances consist not so much in outward likeness, as in the combined sensations of delight”.1 He says in Song of Solomon 4:1 “Your eyes are doves from behind your veil” and we might imagine “the large melting eye of the Syrian dove”1.
Some of these compliments are lost on us and we would not think to say “Your hair is like a flock of goats that move down from the mountains of Gilead” but “The imagery indicates … that her long black locks ripple and tumble freely. Most Palestinian goats have long wavy black hair. The movement of a large flock on a distant hill makes it appear as if the whole hillside is alive (cf. 1:5; 5:11)”.2 The intent though, is clear, to express the beauty he sees in her. And as a husband, it is good to remember these words and make them your own in adoration of your wife.
You Have Stolen My Heart
Song of Solomon 4:8–16
My Beloved Had Turned And Gone
Song of Solomon 5:1–8
This Is My Beloved
I Belong To My Beloved And My Beloved Belongs To Me
Song of Solomon 6:1–7
Being married, being in love, does not mean spending every moment together and there are always those around that are wondering, and even planting thoughts of separation as they are here in
Song of Solomon 6:1 Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned that we may seek him with you?
but this is secure love, a secure relationship and she doesn’t hesitate a moment to speak about where he is in
Song of Solomon 6:2 My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the garden bed of the spice, to pasture his flock and to gather lilies in the garden.
then she answers their speculations and makes it clear in
Song of Solomon 6:3 I belong to my beloved and my beloved belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.
she is secure in their relationship, they are one.
My Dove She Is The One
Song of Solomon 6:8–13
There are many women that are in the court of the king, and for each of us, their many people in our sphere of influence, yet for the king, as for us, there is one in
Song of Solomon 6:9 My dove, she is the one; my perfect, she is the only one; she is the favorite of her mother who bore her. Maidens see her and consider her fortunate; queens and concubines praise her:
and this is the way it is to be between a man and a woman, there is one, “the one”, that for you is described by
Song of Solomon 6:10 “Who is this that looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, overwhelming as an army with banners?”
This is the one that you wait for, the one you want to look back at you in
Song of Solomon 6:13 Turn, turn, O Shulammite! Turn, turn so that we may look upon you! Why do you look upon the Shulammite as at a dance of the two armies?
How Beautiful You Are
Song of Solomon 7:1–9
Study Verses
- Song of Solomon 4:1–7 You Are Flawless
- Song of Solomon 6:1–7 I Belong To My Beloved And My Beloved Belongs To Me
- Song of Solomon 6:8–13 My Dove She Is The One
Today’s Reading
- Song of Solomon 4:1–16
- Song of Solomon 5:1–16
- Song of Solomon 6:1–13
- Song of Solomon 7:1–9
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 421). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 2. Carr, G. L. (1984). Song of Solomon: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 19, p. 125). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.