Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 3: God joins two in marriage

Begin in prayer

Before we read about a wedding day, let us ask the Lord to show our family how He joins a man and a woman, and how Christ holds fast to His people.

Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Thank You for joining a husband and wife in marriage, and for the gladness of a wedding. Show us Jesus, who holds His people fast. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

At night the young woman cannot find the one her soul loves, so she goes out to search the city. The watchmen find her, and she asks them whether they have seen him. Soon after, she finds him, and she holds him and will not let him go until she has brought him to her mother’s house. Again she asks the women of Jerusalem not to stir up or awaken love until it so desires. Then a carriage comes up from the wilderness, with sixty mighty men around it, all expert with the sword. King Solomon made it of the wood of Lebanon, with pillars of silver, a bottom of gold and a seat of purple. The women of Zion are called to see the king, crowned by his mother on the day of the gladness of his heart.

As you read Song of Solomon 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God joins one man and one woman, and their faithful love holds on and brings gladness.

Jesus said that God made the man and the woman at the beginning and joins them in marriage (Matthew 19 verses 4 to 6). This chapter has two parts, a night search and then a wedding procession. She searches the streets and squares for the one her soul loves, and the city watchmen find her (verses 2 and 3). When she finds him, she holds him and will not let him go, until she has brought him to her mother’s house (verse 4). That is faithful love, which holds on and does not give up. Then a carriage comes up from the wilderness, with sixty mighty men guarding it because of fear in the night (verses 7 and 8). The king is crowned “in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart” (verse 11). Jesus called Himself the bridegroom (Matthew 9 verse 15), and Ephesians 5 verse 25 says He gave Himself up for His church. He says no one can snatch His sheep from His hand (John 10 verse 28).

How does Song of Solomon 3 show us that God joins one man and one woman, and their faithful love holds on and brings gladness?

God joins a husband and wife together.

Jesus said that what God has joined together, no one should tear apart (Matthew 19 verse 6). From the beginning God’s Word has said that a man will join with his wife (Genesis 2 verse 24). A wedding is the day this joining begins, and it is a holy day, because God Himself joins the two. The crown and the guard in this chapter show how much honor a wedding day deserves.

Faithful love holds on and does not let go.

She seeks him at night, goes out into the city, and does not stop until she finds him (verses 1 to 4). Then she says she “held him, and would not let him go” (verse 4). Marriage is a promise to hold on like this through every night and every search. In a greater way Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19 verse 10).

A wedding day is a day of honor and gladness.

King Solomon’s carriage has pillars of silver, a bottom of gold and a seat of purple (verse 10). Sixty mighty men surround it, each with his sword at his thigh, because of fear in the night (verses 7 and 8). The women of Zion are called to see the king, crowned by his mother in the day of gladness (verse 11). God’s Word says marriage is to be held in honor by all (Hebrews 13 verse 4).

Memorise

see king Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Song of Solomon 3:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I trust Jesus, who seeks the lost and will not let His people go?

She found him and held him, and she says, “I held him, and would not let him go.” A faithful love holds on like that, and God joins a husband and wife so that they may hold on to each other for life. Jesus called Himself the bridegroom, and He holds His people more firmly still.

We were lost in our sin, and no search of ours could bring us to God. So the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. On the cross Jesus paid the ransom for His people with His own life, and nothing is missing from that payment. Three days later He rose from the grave, and no one can snatch those who are His out of His hand.

So turn to Him now. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him is found, forgiven and held fast, and the day He brings them home will be a day of gladness.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God joins one man and one woman in marriage, and that Jesus seeks and saves sinners. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please explain verses 1 to 4 in your own words, and be tender with a child whose parents are apart. 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 joining husbands and wives, for the gladness of a wedding, and for Jesus, who holds His people fast, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

Psalm 118:24

Lord God, thank You for joining a man and a woman in marriage, and for the gladness of a wedding day. Thank You for Jesus, who came to seek and to save the lost. We were lost in sin, so please give us faith to hold on to Him. Amen.