Song of Songs 1:1–17 (April 26, 2025)

1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.

The Bride Confesses Her Love

She[a]

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is better than wine;

3 your anointing oils are fragrant;

your name is oil poured out;

therefore virgins love you.

4 Draw me after you; let us run.

The king has brought me into his chambers.

Others

We will exult and rejoice in you;

we will extol your love more than wine;

rightly do they love you.

She

5 I am very dark, but lovely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,

because the sun has looked upon me.

My mother's sons were angry with me;

they made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have not kept!

7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,

where you pasture your flock,

where you make it lie down at noon;

for why should I be like one who veils herself

beside the flocks of your companions?

Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other

He

8 If you do not know,

O most beautiful among women,

follow in the tracks of the flock,

and pasture your young goats

beside the shepherds' tents.

9 I compare you, my love,

to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.

10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

Others

11 We will make for you[b] ornaments of gold,

studded with silver.

She

12 While the king was on his couch,

my nard gave forth its fragrance.

13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

that lies between my breasts.

14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of Engedi.

He

15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love;

behold, you are beautiful;

your eyes are doves.

She

16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful.

Our couch is green;

17 the beams of our house are cedar;

our rafters are pine.

Footnotes

Song of Solomon 1:2 The translators have added speaker identifications based on the gender and number of the Hebrew words

Song of Solomon 1:11 The Hebrew for you is feminine singular

The 5 G's Devotional Study (Chapter 1)

1. God: Who is God revealed to be in this passage?

In Song of Songs 1, God reveals Himself as the King of Covenant Love. He is the One whose "love is better than wine" and whose "name is oil poured out" (v. 2-3). His character is fragrant, pure, and joyful. He is not distant; He is near, inviting, and desirable. The King draws His Bride not through force but by the beauty of His person and the delight of His presence. He is sovereign and tender—a ruler who woos rather than coerces, and who welcomes rather than rejects. The King is approachable, affectionate, and dignifying.

Reflection:

What does it mean to me that God delights in drawing me close?

How does God's character as a fragrant King affect the way I pray and worship?

2. Guilt: What is our guilt revealed in this passage?

The Bride confesses, "I am very dark but lovely" (v. 5). This acknowledges the deep stain of sin and toil. Her darkness is not merely physical but emblematic of shame, weariness, and exposure. She has been scorched by the sun, neglected her "own vineyard," and bears the marks of brokenness. Similarly, we are marred by the fall—laboring under guilt, burdened by shame, and often neglecting the care of our souls. Even when longing for God, we are conscious of our unworthiness.

Reflection:

In what ways do I carry the marks of guilt, shame, or neglect?

Where am I tempted to hide rather than come honestly before God?

3. Grace: How is God's grace explained in this passage?

Despite her confession of darkness, the King calls the Bride "beautiful" (v. 8, 15). His gaze is one of grace, not condemnation. He delights in her presence and draws her into His chambers (v. 4). Grace covers what guilt exposes. It is not the Bride's loveliness that earns the King's affection, but His love that defines her beauty. In Christ, we too are declared righteous, lovely, and desired—not because of what we have done, but because of His gracious choosing and redemption.

Reflection:

How does it change my heart to know that God calls me beautiful in Christ?

Where do I need to rest more deeply in the covering grace of my King?

4. Gospel: How does this passage point toward the Gospel?

The cry, "Draw me after you; let us run!" (v. 4) is the heart's yearning fulfilled only in Christ. Jesus is the true and better Bridegroom who came from heaven to pursue His Bride. He made Himself fragrant through His life, death, and resurrection, spreading the aroma of salvation throughout the world (2 Cor. 2:14-16). The King's chambers are opened through the torn veil of Christ's sacrifice. Our access is no longer guarded; we are invited to communion. The Song anticipates the final wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).

Reflection:

How does Christ's pursuit of me change the way I respond to Him?

How do I experience the "fragrance" of His gospel in my daily life?

5. Gratitude: How does this passage help us be more grateful to God?

Gratitude springs from realizing that we are loved beyond our deserving. The Bride's longing turns to rejoicing: "We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine" (v. 4). Gratitude flows from being drawn into relationship with the King—not left to our shame, but lifted into communion. When we realize that His love is freely given, our hearts are stirred not by duty but by delight. True gratitude leads to joyful surrender, trust, and worship.

Reflection:

In what areas of my life can I cultivate deeper gratitude for God's love?

How can I express my thanksgiving practically this week?

Closing Prayer

"Lord Jesus, my True King and Loving Bridegroom, thank You for pursuing me when I was dark and unworthy. Thank You for calling me beautiful and covering me with Your grace. Teach me to rest in Your affection, to rejoice in Your nearness, and to delight in Your name. Let the fragrance of Your love fill my heart and overflow into every part of my life. Draw me after You, that I may run in the path of Your love. Amen."