WAIT… THAT’S IN THE BIBLE? — DAY 18

A lighthearted look at some of the wonderfully unexpected things you discover when you actually read your Bible, context still matters!

“Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon looking toward Damascus.” Song of Solomon 7:4

WE’RE BACK WITH ANCIENT DATING ADVICE.

And apparently the flock of goats was only the beginning.

Forget:

“You have beautiful eyes.”

Solomon is going with:

“YOUR EYES REMIND ME OF THE POOLS OF HESHBON.”

Okay… romantic.

Then:

“YOUR NECK IS LIKE AN IVORY TOWER.”

Getting a little more adventurous…

And finally:

“YOUR NOSE IS LIKE THE TOWER OF LEBANON LOOKING TOWARD DAMASCUS.”

Fellas…

If your partner asks:

“Do I look nice today?”

perhaps DO NOT stare lovingly into her eyes and respond:

“Darling… your nose reminds me of a massive tower overlooking Syria.”

And then blame Solomon when it doesn’t go well.

Context still matters!

Song of Solomon is beautiful love poetry filled with imagery that would have communicated beauty, dignity, grandeur and admiration in its ancient setting.

These weren’t insults.

THIS MAN WAS ROMANCING HER.

The imagery sounds unusual to modern ears because we don’t generally compare someone’s physical features to architecture, pools, livestock and military landmarks when we’re trying to be romantic.

But there’s something lovely underneath all those unusual comparisons.

He isn’t giving her a generic:

“You look nice.”

He’s paying attention.

He’s describing her extravagantly.

He’s basically saying:

“There is nobody else quite like you.”

So perhaps we shouldn’t copy Solomon’s exact compliments…

but we could learn something from the enthusiasm.

Still…

ANCIENT ROMANCE LEVEL:

“Your eyes are beautiful.”

“Your nose resembles a strategically positioned Lebanese tower surveying Damascus.”

ABSOLUTELY SMOOTH, SOLOMON.