Having restored the relationship in 6.4-10, we now continue to read of the enjoyment this brings:
I went down to the orchard of walnut trees,
to look for the blossoms of the valley,
to see if the vines had budded
or if the pomegranates were in bloom.
I was beside myself with joy!
There please give me your myrrh,
O daughter of my princely people.Turn,turn, OPerfect One!
Turn, turn, that I may stare at you!
Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One
like the dance of the Mahanaim?
(The Song Of Solomon 6.11-13, NET)
It seems as if the bride found her husband in the orchard of walnut trees (cf. 6.2) and is simply overjoyed to see him (v.12). Speaking of their reunion as being as exciting as riding a chariot (ESV) shows us the sheer exhilaration the bride felt (I was beside myself with joy!). The chorus of voices we have heard at various points in this narrative then enters with the desire to view the beauty of the bride (v.13a) and in response the husband replies in protection:
Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One
like the dance of the Mahanaim?
Perhaps your Bible translates the Perfect One as the Shulamite, but however your read this the idea is that the bride is the perfect companion for Solomon (the feminine version of his name is Shulamith). We see here the truths of Genesis 2.18 coming to life: the ideal earthly companion for each of us is so complementary that it is as if we are two sides of the same coin.
Whilst marriage is never prescribed as essential for the Christian (1 Corinthians 7.8, 17, for example) when it is spoken of we read of it in a very similar way to here in The Song Of Solomon. The relationship is one where we are excited to spend time with our partner, one where we are protective (but never possessive) of our partner, and one where we complement one another so perfectly.
If you are in that kind of relationship, rejoice over it today!
If you are not, remember that marriage is never prescribed for the believer and that God in His perfect will and ways will enrich your life in equally wonderful ways.
James Travis 