Make Haste, My Beloved

Reflecting on Song of Songs 8:13–14

It’s my joy to post this final installment in our Song of Songs series. Hallelujah!

If you want to catch up on our Song of Songs series, here is an Introduction, an Outline, an approach for interpreting the book, and then the sections 1:2–4, 1:5–7, 1:8–11, 1:12–2:2, 2:3–7, 2:8–15, 2:16–3:5, 3:6–11, 4:1–7, 4:8–15, 4:16–5:1, 5:2–8, 5:9–6:1, 6:2–10, 6:11–7:9, 7:9–8:4, 8:5–7, and 8:8–12.

We have reached the final two verses of the Song of Songs. This journey has taken months, but we have tried to reflect on every verse in all eight chapters. We have tried to think of Solomon’s Song as a poetic depiction of a man and woman whose pre-married and married lives have something to teach us. And we have tried to think of their relationship as pointing beyond themselves and to the greater reality of Christ and his Church.

We were made to dwell unashamedly with God in peace and glory. This couple helps us to glimpse what should stir our longings for sacred space, for paradise. The imagery of Eden and the promised land appear in various parts of the Song. Such language connects the Song to the Bigger Story that the biblical authors are telling.