Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Marks of True Beauty”

The Song of Solomon is more than a love story between a man and women; it’s also a love story between God and His people.

So what does the Lord value in His love? What does the Lord see as true beauty? It isn’t outwardly as the world judges; rather it’s inwardly in our service to the Lord.

This is brought out in the first chapter.

“Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected.” (Song 1:5-6)

She says she is dark due to her service, yet she is beautiful. She says the sun has scorched her due to keeping the vineyard of others. Therefore, since the king delights in her and desires her, her beauty is not that which is seen on the outside, that which the world values, rather it’s on the inside due to her service to and for others before service to herself.

(Note her own vineyard has been neglected due to her serving the vineyards of others.)

It’s this beauty that draws the king towards her; “The king has brought me into his chambers.” (Song 1:4b)

To the world we might not look all that good, but the Lord sees through different eyes. Our beauty isn’t based upon any outward marks; rather it’s based upon what lies inside and our love for Him, which is manifested in our service for Him to others.

This is the heart of the Great Commandment. We are to love the Lord with the whole of our being, and the way this is worked out is found in the second commandment, which Jesus said is like the first, and that is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).