1
The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.1:1 The expression “song of songs” means the greatest of all songs, just as King of kings means the greatest of all kings and Lord of lords means the greatest of all lords. How could this be the greatest of all songs in the Bible (or out of it) if Christ is not in it? That song will be the greatest which has the greatest theme for its subject and which expresses that theme in high and holy language. There is no greater theme in the Bible or out of it than Christ’s love for His people. This is a far more excellent theme than the love of a man and his wife – which is all that some think they see in this song.⚜
Love affirmed
Bride
2 📚Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth:
for your love is better than wine.
1:2 In the Hebrew there are no headings (Bridegroom, Friends, Bride). They have been inserted to make clear to the reader who is speaking in each case. The use of “Bride”, and “Bridegroom” in these headings is determined primarily on the basis of the gender of the pronouns in the Hebrew text. The words of others are marked “Friends”. In some cases the divisions and headings are open to debate.
In this verse the speaker represents all of Christ’s own people. She speaks out their deepest longings – to enjoy the nearness of Christ, the manifestation of Christ’s love. His love is more stimulating, more delightful to the mind and spirit than wine (or any other physical stimulant) could ever be to the body.⚜
3 📚The fragrance of your oil is pleasing;
your name is like oil poured out,
therefore the virgins love you.
1:3 In the Bible “name” often indicates the character and attributes of a person. The name of the LORD (Jehovah) in the Old Testament and of Jesus in the New Testament is a perfume poured forth from heaven to earth and filling the whole world with fragrance. Compare Ex 30:22-38; Ps 45:8; Matt 26:6-13. The spiritually pure (here signified by “virgins”) will love God above all and everything.⚜
4 📚Draw me 📖 after you 📖. We will run!
The king has brought me into
his chambers.
1:4 If the heavenly King Himself does not come to us and draw us into secret communion with Himself we will never arrive there (John 6:44). The work is all His. But on our part there must be a willingness that is ready and eager to enter into His loving fellowship.⚜
Friends
We will be glad and rejoice in you;
we will remember your love
more than wine.
The upright love you 📖.
Love’s anxiety
Bride
5 📚I am black 📖 but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem, like the
tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
1:5 The daughters of Jerusalem are probably the “virgins” of v 3 and the “friends” who speak in v 4, but we cannot be dogmatic about this.⚜
6 📚Do not stare at me because I am black 📖,
because the sun has looked on me.
My mother’s children were angry 📖 with me.
They made me watch over the vineyards 📖,
but my own vineyard I have not watched.
7 📚Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,
where you graze your sheep,
where you make your flock rest at noon;
1:7 Believers wish to experience always Christ’s nearness and love. He never leaves them or forsakes them (Heb 13:5; John 14:16-18; Matt 28:20). But their experience of His nearness and love ebbs and flows and sometimes He seems to be gone altogether. This is especially the case if we neglect to keep our own “vineyard”. When such is the case we should seek Him with our whole heart (Hos 10:12; Jer 29:13).⚜
for why should I be like someone who
turns aside by the flocks of your
companions?
Bridegroom
8 📚If you do not know,
O you most beautiful of women,
follow the tracks of the flock,
1:8 If we search we can see where Christ has led His flock and can follow in the footsteps of the saints. In the fellowship of the church’s pastors and under shepherds, appointed by Christ, and in feeding Christ’s sheep we will find Him anew (John 21:15-17; 14:21). The bride is called the “fairest among women” (see also Song 1:15; 2:14; 4:1, 7; 6:4; 7:1, 6; Ps 45:11). Christ’s church is the most beautiful thing in the world to Him. He sees her with the eyes of love; He sees what she will yet be by His grace (Eph 5:26-27). He sees the beauty God has given her. Believers are in Christ, united to Him, and all He has they have.⚜
and pasture your young goats beside
the shepherds’ tents.
Love in fellowship
9 📚I compare you, O my love, to a
company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 📚Your cheeks are lovely with rows of jewels,
your neck with chains of gold.
11 📚We will make ornaments of gold for
1:9-11 Egypt’s horses were the best, the most beautiful, the most expertly trained of all. They were imported to other countries (1 Kings 10:28-29). The king of Egypt would have the best of the best and the most beautifully decorated. Compare Prov 1:9; Isa 61:1-3; Ezek 16:9-14; 1 Tim 2:9-10; 1 Pet 3:3-4.⚜
you with studs of silver.
Bride
12 📚While the king sits at his table,
my spikenard sends out its aroma.
1:12 Believers sit at the table of the heavenly King (Rev 3:20; 1 Cor 10:16-17). Believers in communion with Christ are a sweet fragrance to Him.⚜
13 📚My beloved is to me like a bundle
of myrrh which lies all night
between my breasts.
14 📚My beloved is to me like a cluster
1:13-14 But much more, Christ is a sweet fragrance to believers. What the best perfumes on earth are to the body, that His presence is to the spirit.⚜
of henna blossoms in the vineyards
of Engedi.
Bridegroom
15 📚How beautiful 📖 you are, my love 📖!
How beautiful you are!
You have doves’ eyes 📖.
Bride
16 📚How handsome you are, my beloved!
Yes, delightful. And our bed is green 📖.
1:16 Believers surely have more reason to see beauty in Christ than He in them (Ps 45:2).⚜
Bridegroom
17 📚The beams of our house are cedar,
and our rafters of fir.
1:17 There is shelter for believers from all that could harm them (Ps 121:5-6). And in that shelter the eternal God’s delight is to dwell with them (note at Ex 25:8).⚜