Yet again, I was seriously doubting my beauty. Wondering if a guy would ever notice me. Curious if he would like the things I dislike about myself. Unsure if he would enter my life anytime soon.
Just as a spoiler alert, I didn’t fall in love with Prince Charming or even meet a potential Prince Charming. Instead, I “happened” to flip to Song of Solomon. And rather than becoming captivated by a great guy, I became captivated by the romance in this book. The love between Solomon and the Shulammite woman astounded me. How could such a wealthy king—who could have anything and anyone he wanted—fall in love with her?
Yes, it’s possible that Song is Solomon is simply an allegory (with fictional characters) that demonstrates God’s love for believers. However, it’s normally interpreted as an historically accurate event between Solomon and an actual Shulammite woman.1 Here are just a few reasons you should read it for yourself:
1. It Reveals That Romance, Marriage, and Sex Can Be Breathtakingly Beautiful
[Solomon speaking] “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.” [God speaking to the couple] Eat, friends; drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.” (Song of Solomon 5:1 NASB)
Different versions of the Bible have different voices for verse 5:1b. However, my study Bible says this voice is from God.2 If so, this is the only time we hear directly from God in the entire book of Song of Solomon—which means God seemed to find the couple’s post-marriage sex as pleasing.
Also, out of all the topics God could’ve had men write about, He chose to devote an entire book to romance, marriage, and sex. Sex was created by God, which means it’s not dirty or ugly. Rather, sex within marriage is sacred and beautiful.
2. It Demonstrates That Your Future Husband Will Value Your Virginity
[Solomon speaking] “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a rock garden locked, a spring sealed up. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard plants, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices. You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, and streams flowing from Lebanon.” [The Shulammite woman speaking] “Awake, O north wind, and come, wind of the south; make my garden breathe out fragrance, let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its choice fruits!” (Song of Solomon 4:12-16 NASB)
It’s amusing when Christians grab the “easy” verse (i.e., Song of Solomon 8:4, which says, “‘Do not arouse of awaken my love until she pleases”) when they talk about saving sex for marriage. Honestly, the whole book produces a much bigger, deeper picture of purity than that. As Solomon described, he wanted to have sex with his new bride; and she welcomed him to do so.3 However, perhaps unlike his other brides, the Shulammite woman was likely a virgin.4
Solomon could’ve viewed her like his hundreds of other wives, but I believe she had a special place in his heart. After all, he wrote an entire book about her. Also, he specifically said, “‘But my dove, my perfect one, is unique: she is her mother’s only daughter; she is the pure child of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed, the queens and the concubines also, and they praised her…’” (6:8).
3. It Shows That No Matter How Much You Dislike Your Body Now, It’ll Delight Your Future Husband
[Solomon speaking] “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The curves of your hips are like jewels, the work of the hands of an artist. Your navel is like a round goblet which never lacks mixed wine; your belly is like a heap of wheat fenced about with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck is like a tower of ivory, your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which faces toward Damascus. Your head crowns you like Carmel, and the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads; the king is captivated by your tresses. How beautiful and how delightful you are, My love, with all your charms!” (Song of Solomon 7:1-6 NASB)
Okay, don’t be grossed out by Solomon’s interesting word choices here. These are compliments to his Shulammite wife. He doesn’t see her feet, hips, stomach, breasts, neck, hair, eyes, nose, or hair as even slightly ugly. Rather, he’s enthralled by them.
One day, if it’s God’s will, you’ll marry a man who’s enthralled with your body, too. He’ll be attracted to the things you may not like about yourself now. This kind of relationship does require you to wait patiently for the right guy and let him pursue you when he enters your life. Even the Shulammite woman had to control her strong desire for Solomon before they were married—and I think her patience paid off. 5
- Introduction to Song of Solomon, in Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Bible (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 2012), 795. ↩︎
- Study note on Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1, in Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Bible (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 2012), 800. ↩︎
- Study note on Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1, in Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Bible (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 2012), 800. ↩︎
- Study note on Song of Solomon 4:12, in Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Bible (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 2012), 800. ↩︎
- Study note on Song of Solomon 1:2-4, in Ryrie Study Bible New American Standard Bible (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 2012), 797. ↩︎
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 