Beloved: A Study in Song of SolomonSampel

What does it say?

Solomon described his wife and his desire for her. She invited him to a countryside village to spend the night.

What does it mean?

Solomon’s praise of his wife was much more intimate this time. The imagery indicates they have been married for some time; he freely spoke to her about his desires. The security and freedom of a mature marriage emboldened her response to her husband. Her metaphorical use of springtime to describe their relationship indicates their love was still in bloom, although they were no longer newlyweds. After hearing Solomon describe how much he desired her, his wife suggested a trip alone to the countryside, desiring to be alone so they could fully express their love for each other.

How should I respond?

Television sitcoms associate marital longevity with increased freedom to criticize. There’s no doubt that the longer a couple is married, the less likely they are to use terms of endearment or affectionate language. If married, think about how you communicated with your spouse over the last 24 hours. Did your words and tone strengthen your relationship or chip away at it? Maybe it’s time to get away from your normal setting to focus on each other. Getting comfortable in marriage should lead to bolder expressions of love rather than negativity or complacency.