Song of Songs 6:1-13 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Song of Songs 6:1-13. 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 6:1-3 (NIV)
1 Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn, that we may look for him with you?
2 My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.
3 I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies.
On verses 1-3: Earlier in chapter 5 (see verses 6-8), the girl could not find her lover, whether that means not knowing his physical whereabouts or, perhaps more likely, feeling emotionally distant from him. But here in verse 1 when the girl’s friends ask her again where her lover has gone, the girl responds by saying, “My lover has gone down to his garden, to the bed of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my lover’s and my lover is mine” (v2-3). The girl’s response shows that whatever conflict she and her husband had experienced in chapter 5 has now been resolved. The reference to going down into the garden and browsing among the lilies is likely a reference to she and her husband resuming sexual relations with one another once again.
What can we learn from this? Conflict, when dealt with in the right way, can actually lead two people to a closer and stronger relationship than before.
Also, the fact that the chorus of girls now call the girl “most beautiful of women” shows that the girl now has elevated status in their eyes because she is the object of this man’s affection. Likewise, the fact that you are greatly loved by God speaks to your elevated worth and status. If ever you wonder how much your worth, just look at the cross where Jesus gave His life for you. You are of tremendous worth in God’s sight.
Song of Songs 6:4-9 (NIV)
4 You are beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, majestic as troops with banners.
5 Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead.
6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is alone.
7 Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
8 Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number;
9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.
On verses 4-9: Here the husband praises his wife’s beauty once again. The fact that he repeats many of the same words that he said on their wedding night in chapter 4 shows that his love for her has not changed. To him, she is just as beautiful today as she was on their wedding night. From this I learn two things:
1. Husbands, go out of your way, long after the wedding and the honeymoon are over, to tell your wife how beautiful she is and how much she means to you. Wives, do the same for your husbands.
2. Just as the guy’s love for the girl did not change, Jesus’ love for you His church and His bride does not change. Despite going through conflicts and difficult seasons, Jesus’ love for you remains passionate and strong.
Song of Songs 6:10-12 (NIV)
10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?
11 I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom.
12 Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people.
On verses 10-12: It is not totally clear whether verses 10-12 are being said by the guy or the girl. (In the mind of at least one commentator, verse 10 might even be said by the chorus of girls.) In any event, verses 11-12 depict how the guy and the girl have reconciled and are excited about one another again. The phrase “my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people” (v12) paints the exciting, fun picture of the girl being placed in the guy’s vehicle (a “royal chariot”) and the two of them are riding off together. If that’s not what is literally happening, at least that’s how excited and joyful they feel.
Song of Songs 6:13 (NIV)
13 Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you!
Why would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim?
On verse 13: The chorus of girls urge the girl to “come back” instead of running away with her husband again. In response, the reply from the girl (or maybe the guy), “Why would you gaze” (v13) is probably a fun way of acknowledgment how much they are in love. It’s as if the girl (or the guy) is saying, “Yeah we’re really happy, and we’re really into each other”.
By the way, when the chorus of girls calls her “O Shulammite”, this may be most appropriately translated “Solomoness”. Remember that the guy in this song is called Solomon and so it could be that the chorus of girls is starting to call the girl “Solomoness” as a nickname.
What can we learn from this? Is it possible for a couple that has been married for a while to maintain this kind of excitement for one another? When a couple is intentional and thoughtful about resolving conflict, when they take the time to encourage one another and to meet each other’s needs, their relationship can actually grow sweeter over time.
Jesus, thank You that Your love for me is the same yesterday, today and forever. Your love does not wane over time and it doesn’t change with the seasons. I pray that through the seasons we would always be passionately in love with one another. I also pray for every married person reading this GAME sharing, that they would take the time to invest in their marriage, to resolve conflict and to encourage their spouse. May their marriage grow sweeter and stronger with time. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
