Year 2, Day 349: Song of Songs 7

We Grow Through Hardship

In Song of Songs 7, we have another great mystery of a proper marriage in God.  Not only can there be reconciliation, but there can also be maturation and growth after reconciliation.  We would normally think from a human perspective that difficulty, hardships, and marital barriers would only serve to eventually erode the marriage bond.  Unfortunately, sometimes it does.  But that does not have to be the case.  In God, problems can be overcome and new, higher plateaus can be sought for the couple.

I think this is actually one of the elements of life that surprises me to no end – and I believe surprises others around me as well. Time and time again I’ve heard people say that they are not only surprised at how they and their spouse were able to overcome a certain obstacle but also that their marriage seemed stronger for it!  This really shouldn’t surprise me.  Friendships in general are stronger when they have the opportunity to work through some strife and conflict.  We learn who is willing to stick by us and wrestle through life with us and those kinds of commitments to one another strengthen our bond.  Why shouldn’t it be even more with someone like a spouse?

As we turn to this chapter, we can see this process at work.  This chapter is largely a chapter from Solomon’s perspective.  We have no idea how much time has passed since the reconciliation – perhaps none at all.  However, given the maturation of the analogies given here, it should not surprise us if some time has passed.

We do have a few similar images.  Solomon comments on his bride’s breasts once more.  Certainly this is natural, carrying with it the same message as was discussed in chapter 4.  Everybody needs to feel the meeting or their need for nurture, compassion, protection, and acceptance regardless of how old they are.  This would not be an analogy that I would expect to change and I would never expect it to go away.

The only other repeated image from chapter 4 is the analogy of the bride’s neck to a strong tower.  The fact that this analogy remains speaks well to the marriage.  In chapter 4 I spoke that this imagery indicates Solomon’s understanding and appreciation for his wife’s intellect.  He values her ability to think, reason, and make decisions.  It is nice to see that this has not changed for Solomon.  In fact, for a healthy marriage to exist, I believe this has to be present.

Notice the new imagery that is present.  Solomon focuses on the bride’s feet.  It’s not uncommon for people to be put off by feet.  Especially in ancient days, feet were often dirty, scratched, or scarred.  It was a common place for infection – especially around the nails of the foot.  Feet often had thick and hard calluses on the soles.  However, these are also the working person’s appendages.  You didn’t accomplish anything without your feet to get you around.  These are the appendages of productiveness.  Messengers are praised for their feet.  Solomon’s focus on the feet – and even legs – of his bride shows a maturing from appreciation of physical beauty to an appreciation of the work that his bride does within his palace – and perhaps even within the administration of his kingdom.

Solomon also turns to using different types of analogies as his love matures.  In chapter 4 we had primarily images of beauty and splendor.  In Song of Songs 7:2 we get two images that might sound gross at first place.  His bride’s navel is a bowl that never lacks wine and her belly is a mound of wheat!  What seemingly absurd images to use in comparison to a woman, right?  Yet if we pause and remember that mixed wine and wheat were the two most common sources of sustenance for an ancient person, we can see what Solomon is really trying to say.  Solomon looks upon the shared love between them as that which sustains him.  When stated in that way, the analogy is an incredible testament to the shared love and the maturity that their love has been able to gather.

In verse 5 we hear a new comparison to his bride’s head as her crown in addition to her hair being like purple.  Both of these images are images not of beauty but of royalty.  Solomon’s bride has become his queen.  Yes, she is queen in quite a literal sense.  But she is queen over his life as well.  She is his leading desire on this world.

I could say more, but I think the message of this chapter is clear.  After reconciliation, the marriage bond was allowed to grow and mature.  Physical attraction has turned into genuine appreciation.  Solomon’s desire is not simply physical but it is also mental and relational.  Solomon treasures his wife.  Perhaps most importantly, his bride knows it.  She knows that her presence goes down smoothly within him.  There is no struggle, strife, or conflict.  He doesn’t need to long after other relationships.  I can hear the satisfaction in her voice knowing that her husband is in a state of contented peace with her.  In fact, in the closing verses we have the first instance where Solomon’s bride gives the veiled invitation for sexual intimacy between them.  What an incredible change since chapter 4!  How great is God that He can overcome our human failings and create life where we have convinced ourselves that only death exists?

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