“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along!” Who could resist such an invitation? Who wouldn’t want to be considered desirable and attractive? And don’t we all want those we admire to want to spend time with us?

Of course, Solomon’s beloved didn’t think she was worthy of his attentions. In a time and place when fair skin was a sign of wealth and leisure, she had a deep tan because of her labors in her family’s vineyards (Song 1:5-6). She couldn’t therefore imagine that any man would want anyone so unfashionable.

And in this internet-saturated era, it’s easy to share her perspective. With online access to so many photoshopped images of people with seemingly perfect figures and physiques, it’s no wonder that depression and eating disorders are on the rise for both men and women. And when we look into the pages of Scripture, when we see how far short we all fall of God’s spiritual expectations, it’s easy to imagine that no one would want to have anything to do with sinners like us, least of all the Lord.

But the amazing truth is that, in spite of all our flaws and faults, the Lord welcomes us anyway. In fact, Jesus specifically said that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). And He promises rest, not to those who are strong and self-confident, but to the “weary and heavy-laden” (Matthew 11:28). Yes, God proves the unconditional, self-sacrificial, faithful character of His love, “in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

And God invites those who trust Him enough to accept His invitation to be His own (Song 2:16), no matter how unlovely we might consider ourselves to be. And He calls imperfect sinners to Himself precisely so that He can cleanse us of all our selfish rebellion against Him, to make us truly lovely in His sight: “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

So instead of trying to measure up to impossible and arbitrary standards of human beauty, let’s rest in the gracious love of our Lord. For who are we (or anyone else) to question His craftsmanship?

Song of Solomon 2:10-16 (NASB)

10 “My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along.
11 ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.
12 ‘The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
13 ‘The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!'”
14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your form, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your form is lovely.”
15 “Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”
16 “My beloved is mine, and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies.