Thought from today’s Bible reading from Song of Solomon 1-8.
“I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.”
“Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens” (Song of Solomon 2:1-2).
We occasionally hear Jesus referred to as the rose of Sharon or the lily of the valley. The description of the bridegroom and his beloved in Song of Solomon is seen by some as an allegory describing Christ and His bride, the church. Ironically, these verses that have been used to describe Jesus are not referring to the bridegroom, but the bride. While there may be some statements that could be stretched so as to make a parallel with Christ and the church, Song of Solomon is simply a description of the love a couple has for one another – before and after marriage.
When the bride describes herself as “the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys,” she is not speaking conceitedly of her own beauty. Rather, she is claiming to be nothing out of the ordinary. Clarke writes:
“The bridegroom had just before called her fair; she with a becoming modesty, represents her beauty as nothing extraordinary, and compares herself to a common flower of the field.”
The bridegroom quickly denies that she is ordinary or common. He says she is “a lily among the thorns.” Though a woman may see herself as nothing special, and though the world may regard her as nothing special, her husband ought to see her as special, unique, and beautiful.
Tomorrow’s reading: Proverbs 1-3
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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