Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 2: Love covers and love waits

Begin in prayer

Before we read of love in the springtime, let us ask the Lord to teach our family that He sets the right time for everything, and to show us the covering love of Christ.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us that You made love, and that You set the right time for it. Show us the love of Jesus that covers His people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The young woman calls herself a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys, and her beloved calls her a lily among thorns. She says he is like an apple tree among the trees of the wood, and she sat down in his shade with great delight. He brought her to the banquet hall, and she says, “His banner over me is love.” She asks the women of Jerusalem not to stir up or awaken love until it so desires. Then she hears his voice, and he calls her to come away, for winter is past, the flowers appear and spring has come. They ask for the little foxes to be caught, because foxes plunder vineyards in blossom. The chapter ends with her words, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.”

As you read Song of Solomon 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God made love to wait for its time, and in marriage a husband’s love covers his wife like a banner.

This chapter is spring in a love poem, with flowers, vines and a beloved who calls across the hills. In verse 4 he brings her to the banquet hall, and his banner over her is love. A banner is a flag, and armies carried banners to show whose they were, so his love is plain for all to see. She sits in his shade with delight (verse 3), and a husband’s love also gives shelter. Three times the song asks the women of Jerusalem not to stir up or awaken love until it so desires (verse 7). Love is a strong gift, and God placed it in marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2 verse 24). Little foxes plunder a vineyard in blossom, so the two guard their young love together (verse 15). Christ’s love covers His people too, and nothing can separate them from it (Romans 8 verses 38 and 39).

How does Song of Solomon 2 show us that God made love to wait for its time, and that a husband’s love covers his wife like a banner?

In marriage a husband’s love covers his wife.

She says she sat down in his shade with great delight, like someone resting under an apple tree (verse 3). Then she says, “His banner over me is love.” The banner shows whose she is, and the love that covers her is plain for everyone to see. A husband’s arms around his wife are a picture of the comfort and safety a marriage gives (verse 6).

Love is strong, so God made it to wait for its time.

She asks the women of Jerusalem not to stir up or awaken love “until it so desires” (verse 7). The same words come again in chapters 3 and 8, so the song teaches this three times. Love is a strong gift, so it must not be rushed. Hebrews 13 verse 4 says marriage is to be held in honor by all. The little foxes show that small things can harm what is blossoming, so the two guard it together (verse 15).

The beloved calls her to come away to the springtime.

Winter is past and the rain is over (verse 11). Flowers appear, the turtledove sings and the fig tree ripens (verses 12 and 13). All this is the good world God made, with the seasons He promised would not cease (Genesis 8 verse 22). Jesus also calls, and He asks the weary to come to Him and promises them rest (Matthew 11 verses 28 to 30).

Memorise

He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.

Song of Solomon 2:4

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I come to Jesus, whose love covers everyone who trusts Him?

In the banquet hall the young woman says, “His banner over me is love.” A husband’s love is meant to cover his wife like that, and God gave it to marriage, where it can be kept safe. The Bible says Christ loves His church with a far greater love (Ephesians 5 verse 25).

We have all sinned, and sin sets us against God and leaves us with no covering of our own. So Jesus came and gave Himself up for His church. On the cross He carried the sin of His people and took the death they owed. His offering is enough to cleanse every one who trusts Him, and the Father raised Him to life.

Come to Him today. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven and covered by His love, and nothing in all creation can take them out of it.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God made love to wait for its time, and that Christ’s love covers all who trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please explain verses 5 to 7 and 16 to 17 in your own words. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the love that covers a husband and wife, and for the greater love of Christ, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Yahweh who has mercy on you.

Isaiah 54:10

Lord God, thank You for making love and for setting its time. Thank You for the love of Jesus, which covers all who trust Him. We have sinned, so please teach us to trust Him. Keep our family close to You through every season. Amen.