695_Attracted to the beloved (Song of Songs 1-2)
Song of Songs 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;
3 your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is oil poured out;
therefore virgins love you.
Vs. 9-10 I compare you, my love,
to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
your neck with strings of jewels.
Song of Songs 2:2 As a lily among brambles,
so is my love among the young women.
An old dusty violin went up for auction one day. Worn and neglected, hardly anyone in the room thought it was worth much. The bidding began very low. Then an elderly musician walked up quietly, inspected the instrument, and asked for time to clean it and tune it.
After his work was done, he began to play it. The room fell silent as the beautiful melody flowed out. When he finished, the bidding began again, fast and furious. What made the difference in the value of the violin was the touch of one who knew its worth.
Many people live their lives feeling ordinary, overlooked, stained by failure, or darkened by suffering. Yet when Christ sets His love upon a soul, the worth of that person is enormous. The Song of Songs begins here — not with theology in a classroom, but with attraction, delight, longing, and love awakened in the heart.
The book describes fragments of memories and conversations woven into a beautiful love story. Solomon speaks, the Shulammite speaks, and the daughters of Jerusalem observe the relationship unfolding. There are scenes of vineyards, shepherds, gardens, dreams, separation, searching, and reunion. And through it all, believers across generations have seen something deeper than merely human romance. They have seen a reflection of the love between Christ and His people. And yet, the book also describes the purity of love between a man and a woman the way God designed it.
There are clues within the song of a fascinating backstage story. Solomon’s vineyard at Baal-hamon is mentioned in Song 8:11. It was likely somewhere in the fertile northern region of Israel. The Shulammite girl appears to come from a humble rural background. In Song 1:6 she says, “My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.” She worked in the vineyards of her brothers, tanned by the hot sun. She says, “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me.”
She feels out of place, conscious of her low status and commonplace appearance. Yet somewhere in those northern fields, among her vineyards and flocks, she meets the king. Solomon himself seems almost like a shepherd among shepherds. In Song 1:7 she asks, “Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon.”
The attraction between them grows quickly, as the opening words suggest, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine” (Song 1:2). What captivates her is not his riches or his power. “Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you” (1:3). His very name carried fragrance. His character, presence, and reputation drew her heart toward him.
This is where true love for God begins. It’s not merely the fear of judgment or the need to practice the duties of religion. It is the soul’s sight of the beauty of God Himself. Many people know about God but are never captivated by Him. Yet when our eyes are finally opened, we say with the psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).
The Shulammite, being attracted to this young man, longs to be near him. “Draw me after you; let us run” (Song 1:4). This is the language of every saint. The Christian way is not merely agreeing with theological doctrines. It is being drawn to the Person of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God.
Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He draws them by the power and the life of his love.
The remarkable thing is that the king is equally delighted by her. Solomon says in Song 1:9, “I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.” Later he tells her, “Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful” (1:15).
She struggles to see herself that way. Yet the king sees beauty where she sees none. And this is the wonder of the gospel. We are often painfully aware of our failures, weaknesses, and sins. We know the darkness of our own hearts. Yet Christ loves His church, as Ephesians 5 tells us, and gave Himself for her “that he might sanctify her… so that he might present the church to himself in splendor.”
The Lord does not love us because we are lovely or lovable. He makes us lovely because He loves us and longs to make us his own.
As the story unfolds, Solomon eventually leaves for Jerusalem. The warmth of immediate presence is replaced with longing. The Shulammite dreams of him, searches for him, and fears losing him, and this experience dominates the middle section of the Song.
“On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not” (Song 3:1).
Anyone who has walked with Christ knows that there are seasons where we seek him but He seems distant. Not absent, but hidden. The Shulammite dreams of searching the city streets for her beloved. Her heart cannot rest without him, like David in Psalm 42, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
In Song 3 there is a dramatic scene. From afar comes a royal procession. “What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke?” (3:6). Suddenly there are chariots, soldiers, and royal splendor. Solomon has come for his bride. The shepherd-lover is also the king.
That dual picture shows us Jesus Christ, who is both the Good Shepherd tending His sheep and the reigning King who will come in power for His bride.
The Shulammite is brought to Jerusalem. Among the women of the palace, she feels different. She repeatedly addresses the “daughters of Jerusalem,” a hint that she remains conscious of her humble origins. We may often feel the same tension. We belong to Christ, yet we do not feel royal or holy. We have been called into the kingdom, yet we are still being transformed.
And still the Beloved continues to speak tenderly of her beauty. In Song 2:2 Solomon says, “As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.” To him, she stands apart from all others. Indeed, our security rests not in our holiness or the strength of our love for Christ, but in the steadfastness of His love for us.
Then this most beautiful line, Song 2:16: “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” The words evoke rest, belonging, assurance, companionship.
This is the goal of our redemption. We are not merely forgiven, not merely plucked out of judgment. Much more, we are called into deep union with Christ. Throughout Scripture, God describes His relationship with His people in covenant love. Israel is portrayed as His bride. The church is called the Bride of Christ. Revelation ends not with isolated believers in heaven, but with “the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
The Song of Songs reminds us that the Christian life is not only obedience to Christ, but affection for Christ.
It is possible to keep busy with ministry while losing love. It’s possible to become passionate about defending doctrine while losing tenderness for God. We can know all of Scripture while neglecting fellowship with the Savior. But the Shulammite teaches us that true spiritual life is characterized by a heart that says, “ He whom my soul loves.”
Why do we follow Christ as Lord? Is he useful to us? Is he a helper in crisis? A provider of blessings? Or do we delight in Him? When we truly see Christ — His humility, His compassion, His justice, His gentleness, His patience, His unselfishness, His straightforward speech and action — love awakens in the soul.
Whenever we feel insecure about our attraction for the King, like the Shulammite, let us remember this: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Ordinary people. He walks into vineyards, fields, fishing boats, tax offices, and broken lives, saying, “Follow me.”
Let us draw close to him, pondering on his life, his words, his works, and obeying Him. Then we will love Him, and follow Him, saying from our hearts, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” God bless.