Sabbath, September 14 – Song of Solomon 5, 6

1. Why is it important to cultivate friendship with the one you love? (Song of Solomon 5:16)

2. Why is it important to always find beauty in the one you love? (Song of Solomon 5:10-15)

3. How does Song of Solomon 6:10 apply to the church?

In our chronological reading of the Bible, we have reached Solomon’s literary masterpiece, the Song of Solomon. Adding to the introduction provided by previous writers, here is a note from the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary regarding the timing of its writing and its theme:

“Assuming that Solomon’s song is a unity and that the marriage that it celebrates is his own marriage, it would thus seem that he wrote the song in his youthful days. The bride is described as a Shulamite country girl. An attachment to one of this class would be a real “love marriage,” with no political or other reason of expediency, as was the case with many of Solomon’s marriages. This type of relationship would make this story of Solomon’s marriage a more appropriate illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church, since parts of the song, at least, have been considered illustrative of such an association (see Ed 261; MB 100; 7T 69).” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Introduction, Historical Background).

It is crucial to emphasize that the song carries both a primary and a secondary meaning. The primary meaning is the relationship between Solomon and his wife. While this may not have been its original intent, it also metaphorically applies to the relationship between Jesus and the church. On the primary level, it inspires couples to nurture a beautiful relationship. On the secondary level, it reveals God’s love and commitment to His people.

Chapters 5 and 6 present striking descriptions of the husband and wife. Each sees the other through the lens of love. Physical beauty is both relative and fleeting. While it’s good to maintain physical and relational health, love makes the one we love always appear beautiful to us. Others may have more striking physical attributes, but the one we love will always be the most attractive. We must preserve this loving lens and not let life’s challenges cloud or damage it.

In Song of Solomon 5:16, she calls her beloved a friend. It is beautiful to refer to the one we love as a true friend.

The Andrews Bible Commentary provides additional insight:

“Salomon also describes his wife as perfect and unique (v. 9) compared to the sixty queens, eighty concubines, and virgins without number. The mention of sixty queens and eighty concubines need not necessarily refer to Solomon’s harem (1 Kin. 11:3), as many have supposed. Solomon does not say “I have… but “There are… [queens, concubines, and virgins without number],… and my beloved is the only one [for me]” (Song 6:8-9). Furthermore, the Hebrew word for “queen(s)” in this passage is never used elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible for the wife of a Hebrew king, but only for the wife of a non-Hebrew king. In light of the evidence shown elsewhere in the Song that the relationship between Solomon and the Shulamite was a monogamous one (see Song of Songs: Introduction), it can be concluded that Solomon seems to have been proclaiming that however many other women of whatever status there may be around (at their wedding or in general), his beloved wife is his one and only. This interpretation is consistent with the typological meaning of the Song in which God enters into an exclusive covenant relationship with His people.” (Andrews Bible Commentary, 6:4-12).

Song of Solomon 6:10 is often cited as a prophetic reference to the church in the last days. Consider these two quotes:

“So long as they remained united, the church would go forth “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Song of Solomon 6:10. Nothing could withstand her onward progress. The church would advance from victory to victory, gloriously fulfilling her divine mission of proclaiming the gospel to the world.” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 91).

“Clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. “Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer” (Prophets and Kings, p. 725).

Let us keep in our hearts the beauty of marital love, the lessons learned, and the grace of God toward His church.