The Lover & the Beloved

Pic from flickr.com

I often quote from the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon). It is a relatively short book in the Bible, found in the Old Testament, and tells the story of a husband and wife experiencing attraction and physical intimacy with one another.* Today is something of a blog vacation for me, as I am occupied this week with another ministry opportunity. Since I bet you don't often think to open up to that book and read its inspiring passages, I decided to provide a passage for you to read today.

I suggest that you even read this aloud to your mate. Remember that the relationship in Song of Songs is blessed by God. Ask how your own marital intimacy can become filled with this kind of passion for one another.

Note: The Lover is the husband; the Beloved is the wife. These labels do not appear in the original text; however, passages have been thus ascribed by scholars looking at the message and the feminine and masculine pronouns used.

Song of Songs 4:8-5:1

Lover

⁸Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
come with me from Lebanon.
Descend from the crest of Amana,
from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon,
from the lions’ dens
and the mountain haunts of the leopards.
⁹ You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
¹⁰ How delightful is your love , my sister, my bride!
How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!
¹¹ Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;
milk and honey are under your tongue.
The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.
¹² You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
¹³ Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
with choice fruits,
with henna and nard,
¹⁴ nard and saffron,
calamus and cinnamon,
with every kind of incense tree,
with myrrh and aloes
and all the finest spices.
¹⁵ You are a garden fountain,
a well of flowing water
streaming down from Lebanon.

Beloved

¹⁶ Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread abroad.
Let my lover come into his garden
and taste its choice fruits.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk. 

Friends

Eat, O friends, and drink;
drink your fill, O lovers.

I second that sentiment from the Friends. May all of you drink your fill this weekend! Blessings.

*Some have suggested that this book is an allegory for God and His people (or Christ and the church). While I agree that analogies can be drawn between marriage and our relationship with Christ (see Ephesians 5:32), I concur with scholars who say that this book is about marital love itself and is more literal.