May 4 Daily Devotional

Song of Solomon 1–8

The Song of Songs is ascribed to Solomon. Its subject is love, not merely ideal human affection, but the mutual love between Christ the bridegroom and the church his bride. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,” so the inspired writer says, “for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

“I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards.

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away … Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice … my beloved is mine, and I am his.

“Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse … look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon … from the mountains of the leopards. Thou hast ravished my heart … How fair is thy love, my sister … A garden enclosed is my sister … a well of living waters … Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

“Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem … Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army of banners … O that thou wert as my brother … I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me … His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me … Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death.”