“I am the rose of Sharon,
And the lily of the valleys.” Song of Solomon 2:1 (NKJV)
Christ has been referred to as the rose of Sharon and lily of the valley taken from this verse; however, the headings (imposed centuries after written by King Solomon) indicate that this is the country maiden talking, not the beloved. It seems that the songs written about Christ being the rose of Sharon may have been taking the verse out of context, even though the songs are beautiful. Instead, let’s look at the verses surrounding and see what the Bible says.
The next verse – verse 2 is attributed to the Beloved: “Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.” (NKJV) If verse 1 is indeed spoken by the country maiden and then verse 2 is the Beloved’s response, the maiden is discounting her own attributes. However, the Beloved acknowledges that even if those were true, he would still find his love, even among the thorns.
I want to look at two different applications of these short verses. The first is a practical, everyday application. Do you know someone who doesn’t think highly of themselves to the point of self-depreciation even to others? As a Christian, what can my response and actions be? I can choose to find ways of encouraging them, pointing out the ways they are a blessing and that God loves them no matter what others may think.
The second application is spiritual in nature. I (as all humans) have sinned and come short of God’s expectations for me. Yet, God loved me (and you) so much, that while we were still sinners, lost, and unrepentant, he loved us so much that Christ came to this world, lived among us, and died for us to show us how much the Father loves us.
Listen to Rockwell First Congregational Church as they sing “Oh How He Loves You and Me.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 3/16/25, 6:00 am