The Brides Goal is Affection

Commentary

The bride has only one goal and that is appearance, the daughters of Jerusalem want to help find him. “Which way did he go?” they wanted to know. She simply replies that he is gone to the garden to gather lilies. Also, she says, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine,” (v. 3) as if to inform these ladies that his affections are solely hers.
As soon as she had spoken Solomon appears and begins to shower her with words of praise. He says that she is as beautiful as Tirzah, a lovely city about 35 miles northeast of Jerusalem and the royal residence of Israel’s kings after the revolt of Rehoboam. Her splendor is as striking as an army with banners (v. 10). her eyes, her hair, her teeth, and temples are masterpieces of loveliness (vv. 5-7). Solomon finds her beauty not only alluring, but overwhelming.
Solomon did indeed have many queens (wives) and concubines (I Kings 11:3). Polygamy, though not condoned, was common in Solomon’s day. He says that his love for this woman has not diminished since their wedding, even though many other women are available to him (vv. 8-9).
The Shulamite then explains to Solomon how their first meeting came about. She had gone to the valley to gather fruit and herbs for her family. On her way she was interrupted by an encounter with the king’s royal bodyguards, and she was abducted and swept away in his chariots.

Application

Just as the bride’s thoughts take her back to the days of her meeting with her bridegroom, so should we repeatedly call to mind the happy day we fixed our eyes on Jesus.