Category: Song of Songs

I wish I could say at the end of this chapter that now this book totally makes sense in the larger cannon and in my life of faith. I can find connections to my faith if I look hard enough, but I’m still baffled about this book.

The commentary that uses this section as a reminder to “take care of your ministers” is a case in point. It seems an odd reading, given the rest of the book. Or the focus on love and purity and saving yourself for your spouse, the mate God has for you. These are things I believe in fully, yet Solomon is being held up as that perfect, loving mate? Remind me again of the number of wives and concubines he had.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that even in my confusion I am able to draw closer to You. Help me to keep questioning, keep searching, keep seeking. Help me to draw closer to You. Always. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

I’m struggling with Song of Songs more than I thought I would. It definitely seems to be advocating and blessing marriage and the physical intimacy that comes with it, and I can see some parallels between marriage and our relationship with Christ, but I’m not sad that tomorrow is the last chapter. I’m ready to move on.

Overall, to me, this book just doesn’t seem to fit, it feels so different. Though commentary today mentioned that the groom describes the bride’s beauty three different times and she only describes his once, concluding, “…God finds us much more delightful than we find Him.” That seems an accurate statement.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your fierce love of Your creation. Forgive me for being so caught up in myself and my life. Help me to seek You and to see You everywhere in my life. Help me to praise Your presence and Your name. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Reading through this description of his beloved, a modern reader might think it more in line with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, where the speaker begins, “My mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun;” however, commentary indicates that in its original context, this section of Song of Songs would indeed have been praise.

The thing that both this description and Sonnet 130 share, the idea that Jesus also embodies, is loving acceptance, regardless. The beloved shows it even after their tiff in the last chapter. The speaker shows it even though his beloved isn’t the fairest in the land, Jesus shows it even though we aren’t anywhere close to perfect.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your fierce, unconditional love of Your children. Help us to love ourselves and each other as You love us. Draw us closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

This chapter puts me in mind of the need for relationship, for intimacy—not the sexual connotation of the word, but in the literal denotation, a close familiarity or friendship with another.

Intimacy with another, even Jesus, doesn’t just happen by accident. It has to be intentional—time carved out to be together, listening and noticing, asking and paying attention, going beyond just surface level sharing, being vulnerable. It takes determination and work. It sometimes requires personal sacrifice, but putting that time and effort into a relationship, especially my relationship with Christ, is so worth it.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this reminder. Thank You for the certainty that You made us for relationship, that You want a close, personal, intimate relationship with us. Help me to put in the time and effort to accomplish that. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Today’s chapter brings to mind the ideas of longing, fellowship, and intimacy (not necessarily sexual, but the text could be read that way). I talked yesterday about the ideas of belonging and isolation and how we are hardwired for community, ideas that are definitely woven through this text.

This morning, as is rather common, I find myself exhausted. So while I know with all sincerity that community is important, that we are made for community, I also know that rest for our weary souls is important, too.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that we need fellowship and intimacy (going beyond surface connections) in our lives. Additionally, we need rest and renewal to be able to function well in this life. Help me draw closer to You always. Give me rest for my soul. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

One of the topics we are discussing in my classes right now is the idea of belonging and the sting of isolation. I’ve always interpreted verse 1 as the speaker exalting herself as beautiful, but commentary points out that these are not showy, ornamental flowers. She’s describing herself as fairly ordinary. Don’t we all feel the isolation of ordinary at times?

But the male speaker loves her, claims her as his beloved, despite her view of herself. He sees her as a rose among thorns. His banner of belonging over her is unconditional love. I can’t help but see a model of Jesus’s love for me (and you and all) here.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for seeing my internal worth and beauty despite my flaws and despite my own opinion of myself at times. Thank You for waiving Your banner of love and acceptance over me and declaring me as Your beloved. Help me to love others as fiercely and unconditionally as You love me. Draw me closer. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

So many things fascinate me about this book. One is that it is so unlike anything else in the Bible, which begs the question: How does it fit with everything else? Another is that it seems to tell a story, but it isn’t chronological. Commentary calls it “a collection of ‘snapshots’ … not necessarily in order.” Why?

The descriptions remind me a bit of life—weird, messy, confusing. And the book comes on the heels of Ecclesiastes telling us to enjoy even the little things but to remember that God is what gives this life meaning.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the ability to puzzle through things that confuse us. Thank You for giving my life meaning. Help me to use the study of Song of Songs to bring me closer to You. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.

Have a blessed day.