The Song Of Solomon 1.9-11

“O my beloved, you are like a mare
among Pharaoh’s stallions.
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments;
your neck is lovely with strings of jewels.

Others
We will make for you gold ornaments
studded with silver.”

(The Song Of Solomon 1.9-11, NET)

Continuing from his encouragement to the most beautiful of women to simply follow the evidence that leads to him in v.8, here today the male voice delights in his beloved. As confusing as it can be to refer to one of the protagonists as the beloved only to have them call the other my beloved, stick with it!

The female lead is spoken of as a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions. To stand out as beautiful among the most beautiful in the land shows us the depth of feeling that the beloved has towards his lover. Despite the lover’s lack of self-esteem (vv.5-6) the beloved simply delights in her (v.10).

In seeing how strongly the love between our two is growing others are moved to bless the relationship and, whether literally or not, shower them with goodness (v.11). The same is true for you and for me. Seeing relationships like this in action encourages us to bless what we see (Romans 15.2) and want to be part of the same: a loving relationship where someone is wholeheartedly dedicated to us.

The Good News is that no matter your current earthly relationship status (of which there is no more or less holy, 1 Corinthians 7.25-40) you can be, you are, part of a relationship like this.

Take these truths into today:

“By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him.”

(1 John 4.9)

“We love because he loved us first.”

(1 John 4.19)

“…God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5.8)

…God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in offences, made us alive together with Christ…”

(Ephesians 2.4-5)

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

(John 3.16)