Song of Solomon 2:1-7

2 I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.

² As a lily among brambles,
so is my love among maidens.

³ As an apple tree among the trees of the wood,
so is my beloved among young men.
With great delight I sat in his shadow,
and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
⁴ He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his intention toward^[a] me was love.
⁵ Sustain me with raisins,
refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.
⁶ O that his left hand were under my head
and that his right hand embraced me!
⁷ I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or the wild does:
do not stir up or awaken love
until it is ready!

Christians seemingly avoid the Old Testament book called Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs. (Over several decades of ministry and hundreds of sermons, I have preached from this book less than a handful of times.) The somewhat prudish church has tried to read it as an allegory of God’s relationship with God’s people. But on the most basic level, this book celebrates the passionate nature of human love. And it brings food into the saga.

The apple of her eye brought his beloved into the banqueting house. Their encounter was sustained with raisins and apples. And love is described as sweetness.

When we taste some of the goodness of creation, we sense joy. And we transfer that sensation to how we view and describe so many other pleasant things in life.

Prayer

God our Creator, we thank you for how you have formed us. Help us to encounter joy as we live our daily lives in relationship with you and others. Amen.