Song of Solomon 1: Lessons from the Book about Jesus’ Love
Introduction: God blessed Solomon (970 - 931 BC) with wisdom that surpassed all others (1 Kgs. 3:12; 10:23-24; 2 Chr. 9:22-23). Solomon shared this wisdom through 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (1 Kgs. 4:32). His greatest song was the Song of Solomon (SoS 1:1). This eight chapter, 117-verse long song is also called the Song of Songs or, by its Latin name, the Canticle of Canticles.1 But many disagree about how to interpret this book. Some believe that book speaks to Jesus’ love for His bride, Church. Others believe that it is a poem that should only be interpreted to guide one husband and one wife in love. But it is a mistake to pick a single interpretation when both are true. The book is “inspired by God” (2 Tim. 3:16). Through the Holy Spirit, the book contains several lessons. These include Jesus’ deep love for His Church, your loving response to Jesus, and loving your God-given spouse with kindness and joy.
1) Jesus loves His bride. Jesus made clear that all Scripture testifies about Him (Jo. 5:39). Jesus is the King of Kings who will marry His Church. “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself… Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.”’ (Rev. 19:7-9; 21:2; Jo. 3:16; 3:29; Matt. 9:15; Mk. 2:19-20; Lk. 5:34-35; Eph. 5:25). Thus, most Church fathers interpreted the Song of Solomon as a love song between Jesus and His bride, the Church. Among others, they included Origen of Alexandria (185 – 253 AD),2 Gregory of Nyssa (335-394 AD),3 Ambrose of Milan (339-397 AD),4 and Augustine of Hippo, aka St. Augustine (354-430 AD).5
2) Jesus deserves your full and complete love. God used the institution of marriage to convey His relationship with His people. “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of armies; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” (Is. 54:5). “I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in favor and in compassion,” (Hos. 2:19). ‘“not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD.” (Jer. 31:32). As the bride of Christ, the Church belongs to Him (Jo. 3:29). The Song of Solomon encourages you to love Jesus with all your heart and soul (Dt. 6:5; Matt. 22:37).
3) Be pure for Jesus. The Song of Solomon further encourages believers to prepare themselves for Jesus like a loving fiancé. “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:2).
4) Be ready at all times for Jesus’ return. One of the recurring themes in the Song of Solomon is the bride waiting for the return of her groom. Like the parable of the 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13), the Church must always be prepared for Jesus’ unannounced return.
5) Love your God-given spouse. God also created marriage to provide love, comfort, and support to one appointed spouse (Gen. 1:27; 2:18-24; Matt. 19:4-6; Heb. 13:4). Marriage is also important because God created it to raise up children to follow Him. To strengthen any marriage, the Song of Solomon encourages believers to continually love, support, and adore your God-given spouse (SoS 4:9-10; 8:6-7). “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun.” (Ecc. 9:9). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,” (Eph. 5:25). “Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them.” (Col. 3:19). “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7; 1 Cor. 7:3-5; Prov. 5:18-19; 18:22; 31:10-31).
Love and submit to your spouse the same way Jesus loves and submits to His Church.6
6) Love sacrifices for others. The bride learned to sacrifice her needs for the marriage. Jesus also sacrificed for His bride. “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” (Jo. 15:13). Married couples should also sacrifice for each other.
7) Love covers a multitude of sins. By Jewish tradition, Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon as a young man, Proverbs in his midlife, and Ecclesiastes as an old, regretful man.7 Regardless of when he wrote it, he hardly seems to be the right messenger for godly love. God’s law prohibited any king from having more than one wife (Dt. 17:17). Solomon violated God’s law 999 times with 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs. 11:3). But Jesus is a God of mercy and grace. He can transform any sinner and use the sinner for His glory. His love also covers a multitude of sins. “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8). Jesus’ love can also transform any broken marriage.
Song of Solomon 1: Lessons Regarding Jesus’ Love for You, Loving Him as Your Lord and Savior, and Loving Your Spouse
Introduction: The Song of Solomon begins with the bride and the groom expressing their mutual love. This first chapter offers seven lessons regarding Jesus’ love. His love offers both believers in their relationship with Him and married couples in their relationship with each other: (1) joy, (2) encouragement, (3) fellowship, (4) purity, (5) honor, (6) admiration, and (7) support.
First, the bride was filled with excitement at the chance to be with the bridge broom. Jesus’ love should also bring both joy and excitement. This includes both your relationship with Him and your spouse. Second, after her brothers were angry with her and the bride felt vulnerable, the groom encouraged her. Jesus’ love should also bring encouragement. He offers you encouragement, and you should also encourage your spouse. Third, the bride sought out and received a path to find fellowship with her groom. Jesus’ love also brings fellowship. This includes your relationship with Him and should include your relationship with your spouse. Fourth, the groom celebrated the beauty of his bride. Jesus’ love should also bring beautiful purity. You should remain spiritually pure for Jesus and pure in your relationship with your spouse. Fifth, the bride gave honor to her king. Jesus’ love should bring honor. He desires your honor, and you should honor your spouse. Sixth, the couple expressed mutual admiration for each other. Jesus’ love should also bring admiration. This includes both your relationship with Him and your spouse. Finally, the bride celebrated the strong foundation of their love. Jesus’ love also brings support. Out of love, He supports you, and you should support your spouse.
1. Joy: Jesus’ Love Should Bring Both Joy and Excitement. SoS 1:1-4.
Be filled with joy for both Jesus and your spouse. The bride was filled with excitement at the chance to be with the bridegroom. That joy and excitement should exist both for your relationship with Jesus Christ and for your God-given spouse. “1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. [The Bride] 2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is sweeter than wine. 3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, your name is like purified oil; therefore the young women love you. 4a Draw me after you and let’s run together! The king has brought me into his chambers. [The Chorus] “4b We will rejoice in you and be joyful; we will praise your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.” (SoS 1:1-4). The king in verse 4 referenced Solomon. But it also simultaneously references the King of Kings. The bride is often called the “Shulamite”. She is believed to be from a rural part of Shunem, in Lower Galilee. But the bride also represents the redeemed Church who will marry Jesus. “The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the character of the spouse of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of his mouth mean those assurances of pardon with which believers are favored, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost. Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being loved of him. Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than the best this world can give. The name of Christ is not now like ointment sealed up, but like ointment poured forth; which denotes the freeness and fulness of the setting forth of his grace by the gospel. Those whom he has redeemed and sanctified, are here the virgins that love Jesus Christ, and follow him wherever he goes, Re 14:4.” (Matthew Henry on SoS 1:1-4).8
Jesus loves you and desires your ongoing fellowship. Jesus the Bridegroom also sang of His love for His people. “Let me sing now for my beloved a song of my beloved about His vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill.” (Is. 5:1). “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezek. 16:8). “The LORD appeared to him long ago, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you out with kindness.”’ (Jer. 31:3). “but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Dt. 7:8). Jesus loved His bride enough to die for her. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jo. 3:16). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro. 5:8). “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” (Eph. 2:4-5). “By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 Jo. 4:9-10).
Show agape love for Jesus. The bride expressed excitement for the king’s “kisses” and declared, “For your love is sweeter than wine.” (SoS 1:2). Here, a kiss can have a non-sexual meaning. For example, Paul told believers to greet each other with a “holy kiss.” (Ro. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26). The Father also greeted the prodigal son with a kiss. “So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Lk. 15:20). Thus, Mathew Henry interpreted the kisses as Jesus’ “assurances of pardon.”9 The kiss can also symbolize the Church’s desire to be in a spiritual union with agape love for the King of Kings. For example, forgiven sinners showed agape love for Jesus with expensive perfumes. “[A] woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table...” (Matt. 26:7, 10-11). “Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (Jo. 12:3). “Just as we rightly long for and have passions for our spouse, we should desire with even greater fervency this Bridegroom-King whose attractiveness is indescribable, whose Name is above every name (Phil. 2:9-11), and who is truly the desire of all nations (Hag 2:7 KJV). Marriage was always intended to point to Christ and His church. The Song of Songs places this truth front and center for our gaze and meditation.” (Daniel Akin on SoS 1:2).10
Jesus’ love is better than any worldly pleasure. The bride declared, “For your love is sweeter than wine.” (SoS 1:2). David Guzik summarizes an entire sermon that the famous English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) gave on this one verse. “Christ’s love is better than wine because of what it is not: · It is totally safe and may be taken without question – you can’t take too much. · It doesn’t cost anything. · Taking more of it does not diminish the taste of it. · It is totally without impurities and will never turn sour. · It produces no ill effects. Christ’s love is better than wine because of what it is: · Like wine, the love of Christ has healing properties. · Like wine, the love of Christ is associated with giving strength. · Like wine, the love of Christ is a symbol of joy. · Like wine, the love of Christ exhilarates the soul.” (David Guzik on SoS 1:2).11
Jesus’ sacrifice was a pleasing fragrance for His bride. In Solomon’s poem, the bride declared with excitement, “3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, …;” (SoS 1:3a). This also foreshadowed Jesus. His sacrifice was a fragrant aroma for His bride. “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Eph. 5:20). Through His righteousness, He also made the Church like a pleasant fragrance to Him. “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:” (2 Cor. 2:15).
Jesus’ name is above every name. In Solomon’s poem, the bride further declared, “3 … your name is like purified oil;” (SoS 1:3b). In Hebrew, a person’s name is frequently more than a means of identification. It symbolized a person’s character or reputation. “A good name is better than good oil, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecc. 7:1). “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:1). Jesus’ name is pure, undefiled, and above every other name on Earth. “For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” (Phil. 2:9-10).
Let the Church rejoice and worship her King with loving devotion. In Solomon’s poem, the choir rejoiced together about the impending marriage. “3 … therefore the young women love you.” (SoS 1:3c). This foreshadowed the rejoicing in heaven between Jesus and His Church. “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” (Rev. 19:7).
Show loving desire for your spouse. The bride was excited for her marriage to her king (SoS 1:2). Jacob was likewise so filled with loving desire for his promised spouse Rachel that he labored seven years for her hand in marriage without noticing the passage of time. “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him like only a few days because of his love for her.” (Gen. 29:20). To have a thriving marriage as Jesus intends for you, you should also show loving desire for your spouse. “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Like a loving doe and a graceful mountain goat, ;et her breasts satisfy you at all times; be exhilarated always with her love.” (Prov. 5:18-19). Your love should make your spouse feel valued, desired, and uplifted.
Just as Jesus shows love and joy for you, show love and joy for your spouse.12
2. Encouragement: Jesus’ Love Should Bring Encouragement. SoS 1:5-7.
Out of love, Jesus encourages His believers, and you should encourage your spouse. The bride had become weathered working in the field. Her brothers also expressed unfounded anger at her. In the face of her trials, she found encouragement from her groom. [The Bride] “5 I am black and beautiful, you daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own vineyard.” (SoS 1:5-6). [v. 5] “The word ‘black’ (שְׁחורָה) does not necessarily mean that the skin is black, but rather sunburnt, dark brown, as in Lamentations 4:8, where the same word signifies the livid or swarthy [dark] appearance of one who has suffered long from famine and wretchedness.” (Pulpit Commentary on SoS 1:5).13 “My blackness is … sore persecutions and tribulations… My mother’s children were angry with me — False brethren, who pretend that the church is their mother, when their actions demonstrate, that God, the husband of the church, is not their father; … [They] by their corrupt doctrines, and divisions, and contentions, bring great mischief to the church. Made me keeper of the vineyards — Having prevailed against me, they used me like a slave, putting me upon the most troublesome services, such as the keeping of the vineyards was esteemed, 2 Kings 25:12; Isaiah 61:5; Matthew 20:17.” (Joseph Benson Commentary on SoS 1:6).14 “The verse seems to state that her work in the vineyard has meant that she could not attend to her own attractiveness. The effect of this poem is that we feel sorry for the woman, but also respect her assertiveness in the face of her domineering brothers.” (Tremper Longman III on SoS 1:6).15
Jesus desires you for your inner beauty, not your exterior appearance. The bride declared that her field labor had weathered her skin under the intense sun. But she was still beautiful to her king. “5 I am dark, for the sun has tanned me.” (SoS 1:5-6). People may judge your appearance. But regardless of your outward appearance, you are beautiful to Jesus. “Then the King will crave your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him.” (Ps. 45:11). Jesus sees you for what is on the inside, not your outward appearance. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”’ (1 Sam. 16:7).
There is no condemnation in Jesus. The mother’s sons were “angry” with the bride (SoS 1:6). Many have persecuted God’s people. “For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me.” (Ps. 69:9). “Many shepherds have ruined my vineyard, they have trampled down my field; they have made my pleasant field a desolate wilderness.” (Jer. 12:10). Like the bride’s brothers, others may judge and reject you. But Jesus will not condemn any believer in Him who has repented of their sins. “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Ro. 8:1). “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17).
When others turn against you, Jesus offers comfort. Like the bride’s brothers, the world may hate you when you serve Jesus. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (Jo. 15:18-19). When the world hates you, you can turn to Jesus. “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Jo. 16:33).
Encourage your spouse. Solomon repeatedly warned against quarreling with your spouse (Prov. 21:9, 19; 25:24). Paul repeated this advice. “Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them.” (Col. 3:19). When you are tempted to quarrel with your spouse like the bride’s brothers did, seek to resolve your conflict that same day. “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” (Eph. 4:26). Then seek to encourage one another. “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 3:13). “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29).
Just as Jesus loves and encourages you, love and encourage your spouse during a trial.16
3. Fellowship: Jesus’ Love Should Also Bring Intimate Fellowship. SoS 1:7-8.
Jesus offers you fellowship, and you should be in fellowship with your spouse. In face of her trials, the bride sought out the fellowship of her shepherd groom. The groom responded by encouraging her and offering his bride a path to find loving fellowship. [The Bride] “7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where do you pasture your flock, where do you have it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? [Solomon, the Lover, speaks] 8 If you yourself do not know, most beautiful among women, go out on the trail of the flock, and pasture your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.” (SoS 1:7-8). [v.7] “When she leads to the idea of feeding her flock, it’s a beautiful and poetic way to express the interdependence in love. The ‘flock’ serves a dual purpose as both a literal image and a metaphor for relationship needs. We recognize that love is not merely about romantic notions but also about tending to one another’s needs. Love involves feeding each other’s hearts with understanding, kindness, and support…This passage teaches us about yearning for connection. Just like the Shulammite’s quest for her beloved, it illustrates that true love often includes a desire to understand and connect deeply. In every relationship, we should prioritize emotional closeness and openness. This goes beyond just physical presence; it speaks to knowing one another’s hearts.” (Christianitypath.com on SoS 1:7).17 [v. 8] “First, the Lord tells us how beautiful his people are in his eyes… He tells us where to find him, where to find food and rest and refreshment for our souls … ‘The footsteps of the flock’ are the path of faith and trust, submission and obedience, righteousness and godliness, love and kindness, and doctrinal truth (Jer. 6:16)…Who are these shepherds, by whose tents we must feed? … Find a man who is preaching the gospel of Christ, and feed by his tent. The church where the gospel is preached is the shepherds’ tent. The man who is preaching the gospel is one of Christ’s shepherds (Jer. 3:15)…Let others turn aside if they must to the empty cisterns of religious philosophy. We have found a refreshing fountain of life in Christ himself, and we found rich pastures for our souls in these blessed doctrines of the gospel.” (Don Fortner on SoS 1:8).18
Approach Jesus in prayer with confidence to state your needs. The bride’s brothers and the toils of the world caused the bride to seek out emotional support from her groom. Jesus warns that we will find tribulation in this world (Jo. 16:33). Because of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross, believers can approach Him to state their needs at “the tents of the shepherds” (SoS 1:8). “Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” (Heb. 4:16).
The Good Shepherd loved His flock enough to die for it. The bride referred to the groom as a shepherd with a flock (SoS 1:7). The shepherd showed his love for his bride and told her where to find Him (SoS 1:8). God is the “Shepherd” of Israel (Gen. 49:24). Jesus revealed that He is the “Good Shepherd”: “11a I am the good shepherd; . . .” (Jo. 10:11a). The author of Hebrews also calls Him the “great Shepherd” (Heb. 13:20). Peter also called Jesus the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4). A good shepherd is willing to risk his life to save his sheep. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus loved His flock enough to die to save them: “11b the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (Jo. 10:11b). He died for everyone at the cross so that all who believe can be members of His flock (Jo. 3:16).
Jesus the Good Shepherd loves His flock and offers it love, safety, and fellowship.19
The Good Shepherd seeks fellowship with His sheep. Her brother’s anger at her and the toils of working under the intense sun made the bride feel unimportant (SoS 1:7). But the shepherd responded with love at his bride’s beauty and told her where they could be in loving fellowship (SoS 1:8). Our Good Shepherd loves all His sheep: “As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.” (Ezek. 34:12). Like the bride, we must also respond to our Shepherd’s call: “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25). “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, (Ps. 95:5). Like the groom, Jesus has compassion for you. He will guide you on a path where you will find peace. “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:17). He also tells you how to seek out and find lasting fellowship with Him: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20).
To maintain fellowship, stay on Jesus’ narrow path and care for the needs of His flock. The groom told the bride to “go out on the trail of the flock, (SoS 1:7a). Jesus’ bride must also stay on the narrow path that He set for His flock to find Him. “13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14). The groom also told the bride to “pasture your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.” (SoS 1:7b). Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Each time he affirmed his love, Jesus told Peter to ‘Tend My lambs,’ ‘Shepherd My sheep,’ and ‘Tend My sheep’. (Jo. 21:15-17). You can also show your love for Jesus by caring for the needs of His flock (Matt. 25:35-40).
Be in a loving relationship with your spouse. Jesus meant for one woman and one man to become “one flesh” in marriage (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5-6; Mk. 10:8; Eph. 5:31). This is more than a physical union. It means that you should also be in a loving relationship. This requires work. It means talking with your spouse, spending quality time with your spouse, knowing your spouse’s needs, and offering support during any trial.
Loving fellowship includes kindness. When the bride questioned herself, the groom responded with kindness (SoS 1:8). Loving fellowship with your spouse should also include speaking and acting with kindness. “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.” (1 Cor. 13:4). “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” (Eph. 4:2).
Place the needs of your spouse before your desires. The Good Shepherd put the needs of His flock before His own (Jo. 3:16). Under the Good Shepherd’s leadership, each spouse should put needs of the other spouse before their own desires. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Eph. 5:25).
4. Purity: You Should be Pure for Jesus and for Your Spouse. SoS 1:9-11.
As a new creation in Jesus, you should respond by being pure for Him and your spouse. At a great price, Solomon gave his bride pure and beautiful jewelry. [Solomon] “9 To me, my darling, you are like my mare among the chariots of Pharaoh. 10 Your cheeks are delightful with jewelry, your neck with strings of beads. We will make for you jewelry of gold with beads of silver.” (SoS 1:9-11). [v. 9] “The allusion [to Egyptian horses] may be to the horses brought at a high price by Solomon out of Egypt (2 Ch 1:16, 17). So the bride is redeemed out of spiritual Egypt by the true Solomon, at an infinite price (Isa 51:1; 1 Pe 1:18, 19). But the deliverance from Pharaoh at the Red Sea accords with the allusion to the tabernacle (So 1:5; 3:6, 7); it rightly is put at the beginning of the Church’s call. The ardor and beauty of the bride are the point of comparison; (So 1:4) ‘run’; (So 1:5) ‘comely.’ Also, like Pharaoh’s horses, she forms a great company (Re 19:7, 14). As Jesus Christ is both Shepherd and Conqueror, so believers are not only His sheep, but also, as a Church militant now, His chariots and horses (So 6:4).” (Jamieson -Fausset -Brown on SoS 1:9).20 [v. 10] “He mentions the cheeks as the chief seat of beauty; and he intimates that the church’s beauty is not natural, nor from herself, but from the jewels wherewith Christ adorns her. Rows of jewels; which being fastened to the heads of brides, used to hang down upon and to adorn their cheeks, according to the manner in those times. He mentions the cheeks as the chief seat of beauty; and he intimates that the church’s beauty is not natural, nor from herself, but from the jewels wherewith Christ adorns her. [v. 11] We; I thy Bridegroom, with the cooperation of my Father, and of the Holy Spirit. Such plural expressions are sometimes used in Scripture concerning one God, to note the plurality of persons in one Divine essence, as hath been noted upon Genesis 1:26, and elsewhere.” (Matthew Poole on SoS 1:10-11).21
Jesus adorns His bride in the beauty of His righteousness. Throughout the Bible, Jesus promised to transfer His bride into heavenly beauty through His righteousness. “The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be brought to the King in colorful garments; the virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to You.” (Ps. 45:13-14). “I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a groom puts on a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Is. 61:10). “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal. 3:27). “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev. 19:7-8).
Remain pure for Jesus. Although Jesus adorns His bride out of love with His righteousness, you must remain pure for Him. “Can a virgin forget her jewelry, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.” (Jer. 2:32). “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:2). Jesus cares more about your inner purity than your outward appearance. “Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Pet. 3:3-4).
Remain pure for your spouse. Just as you should remain pure for Jesus, you should also remain pure for your spouse. “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Heb. 13:4). “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;” (1 Thess. 4:3). “Flee sexual immorality.” (1 Cor. 6:18a).
5. Honor: Honor Jesus and Your Spouse with Loving Devotion. SoS 1:12-14.
Jesus wants you to honor Him and your spouse out of loving devotion. Out of love, the bride honored her groom with her finest perfume and praise. [The Bride] 12 “While the king was at his table, my perfume gave forth its fragrance. 13 My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh which lies all night between my breasts. 14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.” (SoS 1:12-14.). [v.12-13] “She calls him a king yet also her beloved … She likens herself to the wildflower (the spikenard) that, when opening, gives forth the intense sweet aroma of nard, the same perfume that Mary of Bethany used to anoint Jesus. She compares him to a sachet of myrrh, a powerful allusion to Christ. Myrrh is extracted by repeatedly piercing the tree’s heartwood and allowing the gum to trickle out and harden into bitter, aromatic red droplets called tears. Later in the Song, the bridegroom tells her, ‘I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.’ – Song 4:6. Our Savior went to the ‘mountain of myrrh’ to be pierced repeatedly, and His blood flowed so that we might be washed of our sin. In fact, throughout the Song, the bridegroom is associated with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Dee Brestin on SoS 1:12-13).22 [v. 14] “The lush oasis En-gedi ‘the place of wild goats’ about half-way down the western shore of the Dead Sea, has for millennia been a traveler’s delight. The vineyards include grapes, but are not limited to them…Just as in Song 1:9, where Pharaoh’s horses were the best. The girl returns her lover’s compliments in terms of the best she knows.” (G. Lloyd Carr on SoS 1:14).23
Out of loving devotion, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with perfume.24
Let Jesus dwell in your heart. The bride put the “pouch of myrrh which lies all night between my breasts.” (SoS 1:13). If “myrrh” foreshowed Jesus, then by placing it in this location, the bride placed Jesus as close as possible to her heart. “[B]y her ‘breasts’ are meant her heart, where Christ dwells by faith, which is the best room the church has, and where she desires Christ might lodge … so it is a desire of Christ's presence with her, and of her having communion with him, as long as she lived in the world; and between her breasts, and in her bosom she desires he might be for an ornament to her, like sweet flowers, and for her delight and pleasure, refreshment and comfort; and that he might be always in her sight, and never be forgotten by her.” (John Gill on SoS 1:13).25
Your prayers are a fragrant aroma to Jesus. When you are made righteous through faith in Jesus, you can offer a sweet aroma of praise to Jesus through your prayers. “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; the raising of my hands as the evening offering.” (Ps. 141:2). “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God.” (Rev. 8:3-4).
The bride and the groom will honor each other in heaven. At the marriage celebration in heaven, the Church will honor Jesus with worship. “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.” (Rev. 19:7). Jesus will in turn honor those who humble themselves before Him. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (Jam. 4:10).
Honor your spouse to avoid having your prayers hindered. If you want your prayers to be a sweet aroma to Jesus, this includes (among other things) honoring your God-given spouse. “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7).
6. Admiration: Respond to Jesus’ Love for You with Loving Admiration for Him and for Your Spouse. SoS 1:15-16.
In response to your transformation in Jesus, show Him and your spouse admiration. Solomon adored his bride and her beauty. In response, the bride declared her loving adoration for him. [The Groom] 15 “How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves. [The Bride] 16 How handsome you are, my beloved, and so delightful! Indeed, our bed is luxuriant!” (SoS 1:15-16). “The opening line, ‘Behold, you are beautiful, my love,’ serves as a powerful affirmation. It highlights the importance of recognizing and vocalizing the beauty we see in our partners. How often do we take the time to express our admiration? Words have the power to uplift and nurture relationships, fostering a sense of self-worth and connection. This simple yet profound acknowledgment can transform the dynamics of love, reminding us that appreciation is a vital component of any relationship.” (Michael Johnson SoS 1:15-16).26
Jesus loves and adores you and sees your beauty as you are transformed by your faith. Jesus craves the beauty of His bride the Church. “Then the King will crave your beauty. Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him... The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be brought to the King in colorful garments; the virgins, her companions who follow her, will be brought to You.” (Ps. 45:11, 13-14). He praises those who reverently fear Him. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” (Prov. 31:30). In heaven, He will celebrate His Church and give her great, pure beauty. “Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev. 19:7-8).
Out of love and holiness, Jesus is faithful to His bride. Jesus is faithful to His bride, the Church. “And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.” (Hos. 2:20). Even when His bride is unfaithful, He remains faithful to love His bride. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13).
Show your loving adoration for Jesus through your obedience. To show your love for Jesus, keep His commandments. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” (Jo. 15:9-10).
Just as Jesus loves and adores you, show love and adoration for your spouse.27
Show your spouse loving adoration. The love you have for your spouse comes from Jesus. “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 Jo. 4:19). Just as Jesus loves and adores you, you should show His love and adoration for your spouse. Loving adoration should continue after you get married. “The psychological effects of praise and affirmation are beneficial to our well-being. They make us ‘feel good’. We are made to feel important and valuable to others. Surely this is an important part of every relationship…Many men would rather die than praise their wives. Perhaps we all need to break down barriers of reserve and inhibition in this respect.” (Tom Gledhill on SoS 1:15-16).28
7. Support: In Response to the Strong Foundations that Jesus Offers You, Thank Him, and Show Loving Support for Your Spouse. SoS 1:16-17.
Jesus offers you support and an eternal home in heaven. Finally, the bride celebrated how her groom and king would provide her with a secure home that was built with the strongest materials. “17 The beams of our house are cedars, our rafters, junipers.” (SoS 1:17). “As we see in Song of Solomon 1:17, the metaphorical language creates an image of stability and strength. The ‘beams’ and ‘rafters’ symbolize a kind of sheltering environment, an essence of home and safety amidst passionate love. This ties in with the overarching theme of love being undergirded by commitment and security, illustrating the sanctity found in marital intimacy. The joy of love, as presented here, is intricately woven with a sense of place, suggesting that true love flourishes in an environment of mutual respect and emotional safety.” (TheBibleSays.com on SoS 1:17).29
Jesus has prepared an eternal home for His bride that cannot be disturbed. The bride celebrated that her groom and king prepared a home built with strong cedar (SoS 1:17). Solomon also built the Temple and his palace with cedar because it was the strongest wood (1 Kgs. 6:15-18; 7:2-12). Jesus has prepared for you an eternal home with beautiful stones that cannot be destroyed. “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.” (Rev. 21:18-20). Thus, you have many reasons to praise Him.
Jesus also supports His bride while she waits for Him. Because He loves you, Jesus will also strengthen you when you turn to Him. “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10). “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,” (1 Tim. 1:12). “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13).
The bride of Christ should rejoice at His mercy and grace. Those who listen to Jesus and accept what He offers out of love have many reasons to rejoice. “He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” (Jo. 3:29).
Jesus offers every marriage a firm foundation when built on His Word, the Rock.30
Out of love, build a home with your house built on the foundation of Jesus. “Like any normal ancient Near Eastern woman, she is thinking about bearing his children. Likewise, when she speaks of their ‘house’ (v. 17), the woman is imagining the family that they will construct together, built out of solid and lasting materials, like pine and cedar. Don’t miss the crucial pronoun our as well. Previously, she spoke of wanting to be in his chambers and his couch. Now that he has spoken of his love for her, though, she is starting to think about the home that they will build together.” (Iain Duguid on SoS 1:17).31 If you build your marriage with Jesus as its foundation, it will endure the trials and tribulations that most marriages encounter. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24-25).
R. O. Lawson (1957). The Song of Songs: Commentary and Homilies. Ancient Christian Writers. Paulist Press. ISBN 978-0-809-10261-7.↩︎
Asiedu, F. B. A. (2001). "The Song of Songs and the Ascent of the Soul: Ambrose, Augustine, and the Language of Mysticism". Vigiliae Christianae. 55 (3): 299–317. doi:10.2307/1584812. JSTOR 1584812.↩︎
De Civitate Dei, XVII, 20. As quoted in Nathalie Henry, The Lily and the Thorns : Augustine’s Refutation of the Donatist Exegesis of the Song of Songs, in Revue des Études Augustiniennes, 42 (1996), 255-266 (ivi p. 255)↩︎
Image credit: PPT - Reflecting Christ: A Biblical Perspective on Marriage PowerPoint Presentation - ID:8763220↩︎
Tremper Longman III, Song of Songs, (Grand Rapids, MI, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 2001) (ISBN 978-0-8028-2543-8), p. 3, citing the Midrash Rabbah.↩︎
Daniel L. Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Song of Songs, (Brentwood, TN, B&H Publishing Group, 2015) (ISBN 978-0-8054-9676-5), p. 13.↩︎
Song of Solomon Chapter 1 - Enduring Word; Charles H. Spurgeon, The Song of Solomon, (84 Sermons on the Song of Solomon, assembled by Eric Steward and Gary Morris 2020) (ISBN: 979-8-55-894256-9), pgs. 10-18; “Better Than Wine” Sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, June 2, 1872.↩︎
Image credit: The Ultimate Song, Song of Solomon 1.1↩︎
Tremper Longman III, Song of Songs, (Grand Rapids, MI, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 2001) (ISBN 978-0-8028-2543-8) p. 98.↩︎
Image credit: What does Song of Solomon 8:1 mean? | Bible Art↩︎
Song of Solomon 1:7 Meaning & Explanation (with Related Verses) - Christianity Path↩︎
Don Fortner, Discovering Christ in the Song of Solomon (Auburn, MA, Evangelical Press USA, 2005) (ISBN 085234-581-X), pgs. 25-27.↩︎
Image credit: Holy Mass images...: JESUS - Good Shepherd↩︎
Dee Brestin, He Calls You Beautiful, Hearing the Voice of Jesus in the Song of Songs (New York, NY, Crown Publishing Group 2017) (ISBN 978-1-60142-990-2) pgs. 70-71.↩︎
G. Lloyd Carr, The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, The Song of Solomon (Downers Grove, IL, Inter-Varsity Press, 1984) (ISBN 0-87784-268), p. 85.↩︎
Image credit: Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany - Easter Week in Pictures ( Series ) | Bible pictures, Jesus, Pictures of mary↩︎
What does Song of Solomon 1:15-17 really mean? - God's Blessing↩︎
Image credit: Song of Solomon 1: The Poetry Of Love And Desire - Bible Verses↩︎
Tom Gledhill, The Message of the Song of Songs (Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity Press 1994) (ISBN 978-1-5140-0633-7), p. 108.↩︎
Image credit: Song-of-Solomon-scaled.jpg (2560×1587)↩︎
Iain M. Duguid, Song of Songs, Reformed Expository Commentary, (Phillipsburg, NY P&R Publishing 2016) (ISBN 978-1-59638-948-9), p. 28 (italics in original).↩︎
