After a passionate and prolonged look at relationships we come to the end of The Song Of Solomon:
“We have a little sister,
and as yet she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?
If she is a wall,
we will build on her a battlement of silver;
but if she is a door,
we will barricade her with boards of cedar.
I was a wall,
and my breasts were like fortress towers.
Then I found favour in his eyes.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;
he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it.
Each was to bring 1,000 shekels of silver for its fruit.
My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone.
The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon,
and 200 shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.
O you who stay in the gardens,
my companions are listening attentively for your voice;
let me be the one to hear it!
Make haste, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.”
(The Song Of Solomon 8.8-14, NET)
The book ends with a look back from, possibly, the family of the bride (vv.8-9). Respecting her wishes (v.9) they are committed to caring for her until she is of an age to make her own decisions which she does in v.10. We read of the favour found in her marriage and how she now understands her own value after extolling her husband’s so many times:
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;
he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it.
Each was to bring 1,000 shekels of silver for its fruit.
My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone.
The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon,
and 200 shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.
(vv.11-12)
A key component to relationships is knowing our own value and not allowing others to dictate it to us (read Genesis 1.27 and John 3.16 for the briefest of looks into how God feels about you and your value).
The book closes with the same passion that it opens with (v.14, cf. 1.2) and we are left with a beautiful, insightful, and at times profound look at the developing relationship between a husband and wife. This, however, is not where the instruction ends. Many times we have pointed to the ultimate and foremost relationship we have: with God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1.27, 1 John 4.19).
Whilst often overlooked, I would encourage you to come back to The Song Of Solomon regularly to see that Divine relationship exampled in the main protagonists here and when you do, enjoy the truth that you are known, loved, and valued by the One who matters most.
James Travis 