The Most Beautiful Bride

January 10, 2016 Background Scripture: John 10:1 – 11; Song of Solomon Lesson Passage: Song of Solomon 6:4 – 12 “Song of Songs” or “Greatest of Songs”, as the lead-in verse implies, is a poetic masterpiece that describes pure love and romantic interplay between a lover and his beloved. This book is without doubt one of the most interesting, if not strangest, in the collection of books known as the Holy Bible. From the opening of the book, when the beloved expresses the desire to be kissed by her lover, to the closing when the request for love to be hastened between husband and wife, the scenery moves swiftly and smoothly between the viewpoint and voices of the beloved, the maidens that attend her, and her lover. Reading the Song of Solomon is very much like reading a romance novel written on the highest possible plane of morality with all of the complexity and nuances of human romance included. One’s interest is held as we turn the pages and witness scene after scene of dialog. One probing question could be asked as to why was this written in the first place. There is no one answer that has been given over the centuries and indeed millennia that seems to satisfy all questions. Some have suggested that this book describes the relationship between God and Israel. Some have interpreted it more literally by using some of the content of the writing to suggest that it is a historical sketch of the courtship and marriage of a youthful King Solomon and a beautiful Shulamite princess. Whatever the purpose might be, it is poetry at its finest. So what are we to learn from studying this book? First, I believe we can learn that God intends for marriage to be a fulfillment of human emotional bonding between a husband and wife. With such a romantic start for the groom and bride as depicted by this writing, the marriage bond is bound to grow stronger. Secondly, I find it interesting that others such as the attendants of the bride are brought into this conversation about the relationship between the couple. This seems to suggest that there is an obvious expectation for well wishes to come forth from those closest to the couple. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Jesus’ first miracle took place at a wedding in Cana. God ordained marriage in the Garden of Eden. Jesus endorsed marriage by his presence at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It speaks volumes that Jesus would be at a wedding as a guest given that he would spend the subsequent three to three and a half years building a small team of disciples that he would train to go and win the entire world for God. Yet, Jesus found it worth his while to attend a wedding ceremony. If Song of Solomon gives us God’s view of holy matrimony, then there is little wonder that Jesus’ miracles would have their start at a wedding ceremony. Thirdly, I believe that this poem shows us that God’s expectation of human relationships is absolutely different from man’s view of it. Take a look at the components of the human couple’s romance that are displayed in this poem. The list includes emotional longing between the two, mutual physical attraction, mutual promise of commitment, the inclusion of witnesses, and mutual emotional fulfillment. Who would ask for more? Robert C. Hudson December 5, 2015