The Song Of Solomon 2.16-17

he grazes among the lilies.

Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee,

turn, my beloved—

be like a gazelle or a young stag

on the mountain gorges.”(The Song Of Solomon 2.16-17,  NET)

The lover continues her dream-like wishes of 2.8-15 and again stresses the mutuality of their relationship (1.8, 12-15, for example). She affirms that

“My lover is mine and I am his…”

The strongest relationships are those wherein both parties are fully committed to one another (My lover is mine and I am his) and where adversity doesn’t adversely affect the connection (v.17b).

If you are at a point in your life where you are entering into romantic relationships, I would encourage you to see the benefits here of a mutual commitment and the praise it receives (v.16). One partner being so much more invested than the other rarely works out well. I would encourage you to also see that problems and issues and adversity, in the right relationship, are there to be overcome and not fled from (v.17).

It takes a strong person to remove themselves from a relationship where this is not the experienced truth, and a strong person not to settle for anything less.

Many have likened this short passage, allegorically, to the relationship between the believer the the Lord Jesus. Yes, there is a truth there that Jesus is just as committed to you (perhaps even more so) than you are to Him, but the plain and simple message here is one of a relationship where there are mutual commitments that overcome barriers.