Song of Songs 3
Today’s chapter has two parts. In Song 3:1-5 the woman, the Lover, is alone and longs for her Beloved. She searches all night through the streets of the town, finally finding him and bringing him back to home. Then she watches over him, making sure he is safely sleeping and not disturbed.
This is a picture of devotion, perhaps our devotion to our spouses, or perhaps to our Lord. It is a sustained search, a longing for the presence of the One who is our heart’s longing.
The second half of the chapter (Song 3:6-11) changes entirely. It is a picture of the King, specifically King Solomon, coming in splendor, surrounded by sixty warriors. The use of comparisons to the wedding of a king is a typical trope of marriage songs in the Middle East.
There is again a feast for the senses: perfumes of rare spices, the beautiful carriage made of gold, silver, and purple cloth, “… its interior inlaid with love. …King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced” (Song 3:10-11 NIV).
Again we read of the joy of love in marriage, God’s special gift to us, and it is good, very good.
Carol, first I have to say how much I admire you for taking on Songs of Songs! Sorry I haven’t commented but just got busy. I’ve caught up and given the reading some of my time this morning, but these readings are really hard for me to put together. (Hence my admiration of your willingness!) I see things of meaning in what I’ve read but certainly not the putting together of the whole. I did get an impression that she was destined to marry a king but truly loved the shepherd, although I’m not sure why or what that might mean.
Thank you for doing this!
Yes, Kathy! Actually, one commentary suggested that the book is the story of the woman’s love for a shepherd over the king and the triumph of their love.
That’s really interesting, Carol – a really different twist on the Shepherd vs. King idea. What’s funny is that all along Israel’s Messianic expectation was for a King, but Jesus came more along the lines of a Shepherd. I don’t remember how this Song plays out, whether the King or the Shepherd gets the girl, but it’ll be fun to watch!