Song of Songs 6:13b–8:4 (April 29th, 2025)

Longing for Love, Resting in the Bridegroom

He

Why should you look upon the Shulammite,

as upon a dance before two armies?

7:1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals,

O noble daughter!

Your rounded thighs are like jewels,

the work of a master hand.

2 Your navel is a rounded bowl

that never lacks mixed wine.

Your belly is a heap of wheat,

encircled with lilies.

3 Your two breasts are like two fawns,

twins of a gazelle.

4 Your neck is like an ivory tower.

Your eyes are pools in Heshbon,

by the gate of Bath-rabbim.

Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon,

which looks toward Damascus.

5 Your head crowns you like Carmel,

and your flowing locks are like purple;

a king is held captive in the tresses.

6 How beautiful and pleasant you are,

O loved one, with all your delights!

7 Your stature is like a palm tree,

and your breasts are like its clusters.

8 I say I will climb the palm tree

and lay hold of its fruit.

Oh may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,

and the scent of your breath like apples,

9 and your mouth like the best wine.

She

It goes down smoothly for my beloved,

gliding over lips and teeth.

10 I am my beloved’s,

and his desire is for me.

The Bride Gives Her Love

11 Come, my beloved,

let us go out into the fields

and lodge in the villages;

12 let us go out early to the vineyards

and see whether the vines have budded,

whether the grape blossoms have opened

and the pomegranates are in bloom.

There I will give you my love.

13 The mandrakes give forth fragrance,

and beside our doors are all choice fruits,

new as well as old,

which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.

Longing for Her Beloved

8 Oh that you were like a brother to me

who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

If I found you outside, I would kiss you,

and none would despise me.

2 I would lead you and bring you

into the house of my mother—

she who used to teach me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand is under my head,

and his right hand embraces me!

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

1. God: Who is God shown in this passage? (How is God's character shown?)

God is revealed as the Bridegroom-King, full of delight in His Bride, pursuing her, celebrating her beauty, and cherishing communion with her.

Verse 7:1, “How beautiful are your feet in sandals,

O noble daughter!

Your rounded thighs are like jewels,

the work of a master hand."

He is not distant or cold, but deeply affectionate and attentive. So, she sings in response.

Verse 7:10, “I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me.”

Here we see a picture of Christ’s desire for His redeemed Bride, the Church — not in abstract love, but in specific intimacy and joy. How about us? How is our love for God specific rather than being general? How would our lives be different if we knew more of God's character in greater specificity?

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

As often is the case, this passage offers no direct rebuke, but we see ourselves in contrast to the longing and restlessness in the bride. Unlike her, we often desire intimacy with Christ but settle for lesser "loves" or often delay or substitute in seeking Him with our whole hearts.

But, not so with the bride here! She is expressive, even explicit in her transparent love for her King! Also, this yearning reflects our estrangement from God due to sin, and the lingering ache of not yet being fully united in glory with Christ. Do we have this longing, this thirst, this hunger? If not, delay not any longer! Tear your heart and beg Christ to soften your heart, not tomorrow but today!

3. Gospel: How is the Gospel foreshadowed in this passage?

The Gospel is reflected in the Bridegroom’s loving pursuit and delight in the Bride. The language of physical union symbolizes the covenantal oneness Christ brings to His people through His death and resurrection.

Verse 7:11, “Come, my beloved, let us go out into the fields and lodge in the villages... There I will give you my love.”

Hear the words of love and affection from the King! These words are not meant for someone else. They are meant for you! If you are a Christian, you are indeed the "bride" of the Christ! And, HE sees you as this lovable and desirable! Not because of what you have done, but because of what the Christ has done!

Christ, the greater Solomon, has come into the world to dwell with His Bride, win her heart, and secure her in eternal love (John 1:14; Ephesians 5:25–27).

4. Grace: How is God’s grace displayed more clearly here?

Grace appears in the fact that the Bride is received and desired, not because of her perfection, but because of the Bridegroom’s love. Her longing to give him her “choice fruits” (7:13) is a response to His prior pursuit and affection.

Verses 7:9b-8:4.

“The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and beside our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.” (7:13)

She does not earn His love — she receives it and reciprocates it. This mirrors how we are accepted not on the basis of works, but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).

5. Gratitude: How then shall we respond?

Loved by Christ, the Bride responds with longing, surrender, and joyful rest in His embrace.

The Bride longs to be near the Bridegroom, to embrace her love, to express love, to offer what she has stored up, and to rest in Him.

Verse 8:3, “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!”

Do we not agree that our response is to rest in the love of Christ?

How can we live today in order that we offer our lives in joyful devotion, and to cultivate deep communion with our Redeemer?

What are some of the ways I could better express my gratitude for all that God has already done for me and will continue to do?