Song of Solomon 6

The Explanation

Song of Solomon is a special book in the Bible. It is a love song. A man and a woman sing about how much they love each other. That may sound a bit strange to find in the Bible, but God thinks love between people is so beautiful that He gave a whole book about it.

In chapter 6, the story goes like this. In the previous chapter, the woman was looking for her beloved. Now some other women ask her: "Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?" They want to help her search.

The woman answers calmly. She knows exactly where he is. He has gone to his garden, where the flowers and spices grow. And then she says something you can almost learn by heart: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." That means: we belong together. He is mine, I am his.

Then the man begins to speak. He says how beautiful she is. He compares her to two cities, Tirzah and Jerusalem. Those were the most beautiful cities he knew. He says her eyes are so powerful that he almost cannot look at them. He praises her hair, her teeth, everything about her.

Then something remarkable happens. The man says there are sixty queens and eighty concubines and countless other women, but this one is unique. She is the only one for him. Even the other women praise her when they see her.

At the end of the chapter, others ask: "Who is she who looks out as the morning, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun?" She shines like the sunrise.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter shows how two people speak about each other when they truly love. They see each other's beauty. They know they belong together. They are not ashamed of their love.

The sentence "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" is the heart of the book. It is about belonging. When you truly love someone, you do not have to be afraid of losing yourself. You are together, and yet you remain yourself.

You might wonder: why does the Bible speak this way about love and about a body being beautiful? Because God made people. He made love. He made bodies. When the man says that his beloved is unique among all others, he shows what real love does: it chooses one and stays with that one.

The Common Thread

Long ago, wise Bible readers already noticed that this song does not only speak about a man and a woman. It also says something about God and His people. In the Old Testament, God calls Israel His bride. In the New Testament, Jesus calls the church His bride.

Think of the sentence: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." That is exactly what God says about you. You are His, and He is yours. Not because you are so perfect, but because He has chosen you. He looks at you and says: you are unique.

Just as the man in this song sees no one else, so God looks at His people. There are many nations, many people, but He knows you by name.

For You

Sometimes you think you have to earn love. That you first must behave well or look nice enough or be smart enough. This chapter says something different. The beloved does not need to prove anything. She is loved just as she is.

Try to remember that sentence this week: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." Say it quietly when you feel small or when you doubt whether God really sees you. God is not ashamed of you. He sees you the way this man sees his beloved: as unique.

And when you love someone yourself, a friend, your family, later maybe someone very special, learn from this song. Say aloud what is beautiful. Do not keep silent about it. Love that is not spoken quickly grows quiet.

Talk About It

Why do you think God put a love song like this in the Bible? Does that surprise you?

What does it do to you when you hear that God says about you: "You are unique, there is no one like you"?

Praying Together

Lord God, thank You that You made love. Thank You that You see me and call me unique. Help me to believe that I am Yours, and that You are mine. Teach me to speak beautiful words to the people around me. Amen.