Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 6: Belonging to one another alone

Begin in prayer

Before we read of a husband’s one beloved, let us ask the Lord to teach our family what He meant marriage to be from the beginning, and to show us the faithful love of Christ.

So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”

Matthew 19:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Thank You that You made marriage for one husband and one wife. Show us Jesus, whose people belong to Him. 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 women of Jerusalem ask where her beloved has gone, and they offer to seek him with her. She answers that he has gone down to his garden, and she says, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” He praises her again and says she is as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely as Jerusalem, two cities of the land. He says there are sixty queens, eighty concubines and young women without number, but his dove, his perfect one, is unique. She is her mother’s only daughter, and the daughters called her blessed, and the queens praised her. He asks who she is who looks out like the morning, beautiful as the moon and clear as the sun. The song visits a nut tree grove, and the chapter ends with a call to the Shulammite to return.

As you read Song of Solomon 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God made marriage for one husband and one wife, who belong to each other alone.

Solomon was a king with many wives, and the song places one beloved above a crowd of women (verses 8 and 9). The queens and the concubines were the women of the king’s household. God’s law said a king must not multiply wives for himself (Deuteronomy 17 verse 17). Solomon’s many wives turned his heart away from the LORD (1 Kings 11 verses 1 to 4). So the poem praises one beloved, and in this it holds up God’s design for marriage. Her words, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine,” say that each belongs fully to the other (verse 3). To the husband she is “unique” and the favorite of her mother, and the daughters call her blessed (verse 9). Ephesians 5 verse 32 says that the great mystery of marriage speaks about Christ and the church.

How does Song of Solomon 6 show us that God made marriage for one husband and one wife, who belong to each other alone?

God made marriage for one husband and one wife.

At the beginning God made one man and one woman, and He joined them in marriage (Genesis 2 verses 22 to 24). Jesus pointed back to that beginning, and He said God made them male and female (Matthew 19 verses 4 to 6). One man and one woman, joined for life, is the pattern from the beginning. That is why the song praises one beloved and no other.

A husband and wife belong to each other alone.

She says, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (verse 3). Each one gives the whole heart to the other, and neither shares it with someone else. He says his dove is unique, the favorite of her mother, and the only daughter (verse 9). Even the queens and the concubines praise her (verse 9).

Jesus loves His people, and they belong to Him.

God’s Word says His people are promised to one husband, Christ, to be presented to Him pure (2 Corinthians 11 verse 2). Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5 verse 25). Those who trust Him belong to Him, and He alone is their Lord.

Memorise

I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.

Song of Solomon 6:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I belong to Jesus, who gave Himself for His people?

Hear what she says to her beloved, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” God made marriage for one husband and one wife who belong to each other like this. Jesus pointed back to that beginning when He taught about marriage (Matthew 19 verses 4 to 6).

Christ also has a people who belong to Him. We cannot make ourselves belong to a holy God, because our sins stand between us and Him. So Jesus died for them on the cross, and He paid the whole debt of their sin. Three days later He rose from the grave, and His people are safe in Him.

So come to Him now. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him belongs to Him, and every one of their sins is forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God made marriage for one husband and one wife, and that Jesus is the Savior of sinners. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please explain verses 5 to 9 in your own words, and be gentle with a child who lives with one parent. 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 making marriage for one husband and one wife, and for Jesus, who gave Himself for His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion. I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know Yahweh.

Hosea 2:19-20

Holy Father, thank You for making marriage for one husband and one wife. Thank You for Jesus, who loves His people and gave Himself for them. Forgive our sins, and give us faith to belong to Him. Keep our family faithful and close to You. Amen.