Song of Songs 1:1-17 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today we begin the book called Song of Songs. Here is some background info that you may find helpful:
– This book was most likely written by King Solomon or a musician in Solomon’s court in approximately 970 B.C.
– According to 1 Kings 4:32, Solomon wrote over 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. However, this is the only song of Solomon’s that made it into the Bible.
– Over the centuries, Song of Songs has been known as one of the most difficult books in the Bible to interpret. For this reason it is no surprise that this book has been interpreted to mean so many different things: an allegory of God’s love for Israel, a picture of Christ’s love for the church, a script for a Jewish stage production, and a historical account of a real life romance in Solomon’s life, among other theories. However, it may be best to treat this book mainly as an intimate love song between two lovers that celebrates (and also teaches some important lessons about) romantic love and marriage.
Today’s passage is Song of Songs 1:1-17. I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Song of Songs 1:1-4 (NIV)
1 Solomon’s Song of Songs.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth– for your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you!
4 Take me away with you–let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers…
On verses 1-4a: There are two main characters in this song: a girl and a guy who are very much in love with one another. Clearly the girl feels a strong sexual attraction to the guy, and as we will see in later verses, the guy feels the same way about the girl. The fact that not just these verses but the entire Song of Songs is so explicit in talking about sexual desire suggests that physical attraction and sexual desire are important, healthy parts of a romantic courtship and marriage. Christians, be careful not to overspiritualize romance or to underestimate the importance that physical attraction and sexual desire play, both in a courtship as well as in a marriage. Of course, physical attraction and sexual desire are not the only components of a healthy courtship or marriage, but they are still a component and like other aspects of a relationship, need to be kept within healthy, God-honouring boundaries.
Song of Songs 1:4 (NIV)
4 …We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine.
How right they are to adore you!
On verse 4b: In addition to the guy and the girl (or as some translations call it the “lover” and the “beloved”), there is a third character who appears in Song of Songs: it’s a chorus of the girl’s female peers. Some translations call them the girl’s “friends”. Yet when you read what these “friends” say, sometimes they seem more like the girl’s critics or the girl’s competition. For example, here in verse 4, notice that these other girls are enamored with the same guy that the girl is interested in. This may have caused the girl to feel a bit insecure, as we will see in verse 5. When she says, “How right they are to adore you”, she may be wondering: “How will this guy notice me when there are so many other girls who are interested in him?”
What can we learn from this? In this chapter we will learn 3 reasons why a woman can sometimes feel insecure. These 3 reasons are not limited to women; men can feel insecure in these same ways as well. But given the context of Song of Songs, we’ll talk about it here mainly in terms of a woman’s insecurities. Here in verse 4b we learn the first reason: a woman or man can be made to feel insecure because of comparisons to others. If you are someone who plays the comparison game a lot, often comparing yourself to others and feeling insecure as a result, know that your worth is not dependent on how you compare to others. Your worth was decided at the cross where Jesus died for you. If Jesus was willing to sacrifice His own life for you, what does that say about your worth? In God’s eyes, you’re priceless, and He’d rather die than be without you.
Song of Songs 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected.
On verses 5-6: Here in verses 5-6 we learn another layer to the girl’s insecurity: her physical appearance. Having a dark complexion from working in the fields, this girl felt self-conscious because her darker skin meant she did not conform to the perception prevalent in Solomon’s time that a fair complexion was more attractive. Thus she says, “Do not stare at me because I am dark” (v6). When she says, “my own vineyard I have neglected”, it’s as if she is apologizing for the way she looks.
What can we learn from this? Here we learn a second reason a woman or a man can feel insecure: because of her or his physical appearance, especially when feeling like her or his physical appearance does not measure up to society’s definition of what is beautiful. If you have insecurity in this area, know what the Bible says about you: you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). You are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).
Song of Songs 1:7 (NIV)
7 Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?
On verse 7: Here the girl is trying to look for the guy but does not know how to get to him (v7). When she says, “Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?” (v7) this could be her way of saying, “There are lots of other guys out there, but if I settle for any of them instead of you, I would be like a veiled woman in mourning.”
What can we learn from this? Don’t settle for less than the best when it comes to the person you court or marry. Know the kind of guy or girl you are looking for. That’s because if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anyone. After a couple failed relationships, I received some great advice from a number of mentors in my life. They said, “write down a list of the qualities you want to see in your future life partner. That list will help you to separate the wheat from the chaff and help you think objectively when your feelings might otherwise cloud your judgment.” It was one of the best pieces of relationship advice I ever received. Following this advice ultimately, by God’s grace, led me to my wife, the best partner I could ask for.
Song of Songs 1:8 (NIV)
8 If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.
On verse 8: Some translations attribute this verse to the guy, but it is more appropriate to attribute verse 8 to the chorus of other girls that were talking earlier. If they are sincere in their praise of her as the “most beautiful of women”, then this verse may be taken as them advising her to go where the shepherds are, since that’s where she’ll likely find the one she loves.
Alternatively, some scholars interpret verse 8 as a form of sarcasm, in which case the chorus of girls are sarcastically calling her “most beautiful of women” and telling her to go find someone else. If that is the case, then here we see a third source of insecurity for a woman (or a man): the put downs and discouraging comments of other people. If you struggle with insecurity because of unkind, insensitive or hurtful words that others have spoken over you, know that God does not want you to live in bondage to that hurt. In Jesus there is healing for such hurts. Instead of focusing on those hurtful words, focus on what God’s Word says about you. The more you get to know the God of the Bible and what He says about you, the more you let His affirming, encouraging, truth-filled words define you instead of the hurtful words that others may have spoken over you.
Song of Songs 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 I liken you, my darling, to a mare harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
On verses 9-10: In response to the girl’s insecurities noted above, the guy arrives and speaks affirming words to her that show his interest in her. When he calls her “a mare harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh”, it’s the picture of a beautiful female horse who is among many male stallions and how all of them desire to be with her. Whereas the girl did not know how she would stick out to the guy because of her “competition”, the guy was actually fixated on her and was actually more concerned about other guys sweeping her up.
What can we learn from this?
1. Husbands and men courting women, know that your words play such an important role in helping your partner with any insecurities. You letting her know that you desire her and find her attractive is so important.
2. This reminds me of how Jesus speaks affirming words to us His church, words that quell our insecurities and drive out our fears.
Song of Songs 1:11 (NIV)
11 We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver.
On verse 11: This verse is more appropriately attributed to the chorus of other girls, who, in response to the guy’s words in verses 9-10, begin serving and honouring her.
Song of Songs 1:12-17 (NIV)
12 While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14 My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.
16 How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.
17 The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs.
On verses 12-17: See my comments on verses 2-4a about physical attraction and sexual desire in a healthy courtship or marriage.
Father, thank You for all the lessons we can learn about romantic love through this book. I pray for every person reading this today. May they know in their heart that they are beautifully made in Your image, precious in Your sight, hand-picked, chosen and unconditionally loved by You. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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