This is My Beloved and Friend

Song of Songs 5:9-16

   The Daughters of Jerusalem

9 What is your beloved
More than another beloved,
O fairest among women?

What is your beloved
More than another beloved,
That you so charge us?

   The Shulamite

10 My beloved is white and ruddy,
Chief among ten thousand.

11 His head is like the finest gold;
His locks are wavy,
And black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves
By the rivers of waters,
Washed with milk,
And fitly set.

13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices,
Banks of scented herbs.
His lips are lilies,
Dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His hands are rods of gold
Set with beryl.
His body is carved ivory
Inlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are pillars of marble
Set on bases of fine gold.
His countenance is like Lebanon,
Excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet,
Yes, he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem!

The people of God, the daughters of Jerusalem, asked the woman in love with her beloved why he was so much more to her than any other, especially that they should help her find him and tell him how lovesick she was in missing him.  Why would not another do in his place since she lost track of him?  That was their question.  She answered back with a list of his qualities, beginning with the fact that he was the chief among ten thousand, a rare find, and the equivalent phrase today might be that he was one in a million due to the population increase since then.  She described his golden appearance, his dark hair, soft eyes that wooed her, scented cheeks, and desirable lips.  His hands were as good and jewels on his ivory body with sapphires accentuating his form as a desired treasure of great value.  He had strong legs like pillars of a building and towered above her as a magnificent tree.  She desired his lips to kiss and found him lovely all around in appearance and manner, pleasantly desirable.  He was her beloved and friend.  We can say the same of our Beloved Savior who is our friend as well (John 15:15) as our Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).  Yes, we can say Jesus the Christ is my Beloved and friend, the lover of my soul.  Do we then yearn for His presence and to be there before Him forevermore, even more than the Shulamite woman with her earthly beloved, king Solomon?