Song Of Solomon

 

Greetings all!

Beginning today, June 1, the topic for this area is the Book of Song of Soloman.

I may take a bit of a different approach to this study since I will lead it

myself and since there is so little published commentary on the Book.

Please join us in the study of this very interesting (and contemporary) book. I

promise that I will do what I can to make the study worthwhile.

You may wish to write these messages to file on your system. Although I do not

claim to have totally original thought here (I believe that the Spirit of God

has led me in the study of this Book), I would appreciate the appropriate

attribution line crediting my part in the development of the thought. If you

quote others who post here, I am certain that they would likewise appreciate

the appropriate level of recognition for their work.

Other than stating the attribution and credit for quotes taken from this area,

I hereby release all text from this study of Song of Solomon to be used in any

NOT-FOR-PROFIT enterprise which brings glory to Christ. With this notice, all

who post to this area are advised that they (by virtue of posting here) agree

to the release of their material with the same rules as stated above.

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This is the introductory posting of the Bible book of Song of Solomon (SoS).

The sub-title might be:

=SOME NEW SONGS AND AN OLD DIRGE=

I. GENERAL

A. "Song of Songs" (One of 1005, cf., 1 Ki. 4:32)

B. Allegory -- A Symbolic Story

II. CAST OF CHARACTERS

A. The Beloved (King, Solomon, etc) - Type of Christ

(NIV readers will find this character as the LOVER)

B. The Bride (Virgin, Shulamite, etc) - the Church

(NIV readers will find this character as the BELOVED)

C. * The Daughters (of Jerusalem, Zion, etc) - Israel

D. * The Watchmen (Keepers of the wall) - Governmental Authority

E. * The Queens - The nation Israel after their conversion

F. * The Concubines - Those redeemed during tribulations

III. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDY

A. Watch CLOSELY who is speaking

1. Narraration by the Bride

2. Observe the first person pronouns

B. Watch for paragraph markers (look like a reversed "P" in KJV)

* NOTE: NIV readers will find all other characters called FRIENDS.

You may not agree with all of these thoughts. However, look at it with an

open mind. If you have a convincing reason to object, then do so. Otherwise,

please bear with me and see if this fits as we continue the discussion.

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SoS Chapter 1, "SONGS OF COURTSHIP"

I. SONG OF THE BRIDE'S CONDITION (vv. 1-7, Bride's voice)

A. Needy, ("Black," ie., evil, defiled, v.5)

B. Utter failure in personal efforts ("own vineyard", v.6)

(compare Prov 24:30-34, vineyard of the slothful)

1. The sun - allusion to the earthly or worldly attempts

2. Mother's children were angry with me - failure of all

personal relationships (divorce, loss of job, etc)

I see this to represent the condition of all who come to Christ. Do you see

any similarity?

C. Must be DRAWN into the union (v.4)

1. Jn. 6:44, "No man can come to me, except..."

2. Jn. 15:5, "Without me ye can do nothing."

D. Inner desire is for union ("where," v.7)

1. Intuition - self knowledge

2. Tradition - collective intuition

3. Reason - logical & acceptable (Is. 1:18 & Ro. 12:1)

4. Divine Revelation (theophanies, Christ, the Bible)

These are the ways that one can knowledge about Christ. To a large extent,

every person has this knowledge about "GOD". They may not know about "Christ"

-- but most do. In any case, it is my belief that every person on the earth

has enough knowledge about God to be able to call upon Him with a level of

faith. Do you agree?

II. SONG OF PROPOSAL (vv. 8-11, voice of the Beloved)

A. Beauty seen in the repentant bride (vv.9,10)

1. Ro. 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us..."

2. Mt. 11:19, "...friend of publicans and sinners."

3. 1 Tim 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all

acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save

sinners; of whom I am chief."

Christ can always see the POTENTIAL in us. He looks beyond the current

situation and our present status. He sees what we CAN be with His help.

Do you look at others with a view for finding their faults or do you look for

their inner value and potential?

B. Direction given (v.8)

C. Promise of protection and blessings (v.11)

(borders - hedge, compare Jn. 17:9-20)

Except for the grace that God has shown us, we would be in a terrible shape

ourselves. There is no one who can lift himself out of the mire of sin without

the unmerited favor of our Lord and Saviour.

Is this not exactly as our Lord does with each new child of God? Did He not

give you the guidance for the next day and protect you from the Devil's devices

until He knew that you were able to protect yourself?

III. SONG OF ACCEPTANCE (vv. 12-17, bride's voice)

A. Grace and love is accepted (v.13)

B. Wedding gift given (v.12)

C. Excited promises to the Beloved (vv.14-17)

The Bride is filled with joy at the union with Christ. Is the same not the

case with those who call upon Christ and experience His love and grace?

However, as the story unfolds, I believe you will see that She has not given

herself fully but has refused to yield *ALL* of her will to Christ.

What a shame that some would try to TAKE the blessings of Christ but not GIVE

their full devotion and love.

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SoS Chapter 2, "SONGS OF JOY"

I. THE JOY OF CHRISTIANITY (voice of the bride, vv 1-7)

A. The pride of the bride (1,2)

1. Agreement that bride is speaking in v.1

2. Disagreement about who is speaking in v.2

Contrary to the ideas of some laity (mostly based upon an old song), this is

*NOT* the voice of the Beloved here. Almost all contemporary authors appear to

agree that verse 1 is the Bride speaking. There is debate about who is

speaking in verse 2 but I believe it is also the Bride.

Thus, the "rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" is the Bride's pride

for herself. This is likely a result of her recognition of her new beauty (vs.

her low estimation of herself in 1:5). How true that Christ's touch can change

the lowest sinner into a valued member of the Church and community. It is,

however, very presumptious to assume that *WE* had anything to do with that

change.

3. "My love" seems to describe her emotion vice

"my beloved" in verse 3

The comparison of "my love" to the "lily among thorns" in Chapter 2 is

interesting. It seems that she is discribing the EMOTION that she is feeling

rather than using "my love" to describe the Beloved (she definitely points to

Him in verse 3). If she is discussing her emotional love, then this too is an

example of the pride and presumptiousness that seems typical of her attitude in

this book.

If, as I suggest, the Bride is representative of the New Testament Church, what

would all of this say about us? Could this be akin to the concept that

Believers can command God in their behalf?

"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Co 10:12)

B. The excitement of the bride (3-6)

1. The security of the bride (3)

a. Take the Beloved for granted

b. At ease without concern

Do you think that her comment "I sat down under his shadow" represents a

tendency to take Christ for granted? Is it not common to experience the

attitude that "Everything is fine. I can put the religion issue on the back

burner for now"?

It sounds like she (we) is at ease without great concern.

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1)

2. The fruit of the bride (3)

a. She enjoys the Beloved's fruit

b. She does not appear to possess PERSONAL fruit

The Bride is clearly enjoying the Beloved's fruit. Where is her own?

We are not saved by works.

However, remember to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see

your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

3. The love FOR the bride (4)

a. The Beloved "commendeth his love" (cf Ro. 5:8)

b. He brought to banqueting house and gave a banner

The Beloved "commendeth his love" (cf Ro. 5:8) for the Bride. He brought her

to the banqueting house and placed a banner over her. Anyone want to

elaborate on what the banner is/was?

4. The love OF the bride (5,6)

a. Flagons and apples (5)

Early in their marriage, the Bride begins to demand *THINGS* of the Beloved in

order for her love to remain.

This is, again, similar to the popular notion of demanding from God. Some

would even say that if we do *NOT* place demands upon God, we are living below

our privilege and are demonstrating a "lack of faith." Do you think that this

Scripture has relevance?

b. Sick of love (5)

Verse 5 states, "I am sick of love." The margin reads "faint." It suggests

that she was "lovesick" in today's terms. Another term would be "puppy love."

Still another is "infatuation." A more base term is simply, "sexual

attraction." She is really excited about this marriage. However, what will

she have when hard times come?

In the bible times, there was no such thing as "love at first sight."

Practically speaking, all marriages were arranged and the couple was expected

to DEVELOP emotional love from their COMMITTMENT to each other. Today, it

seems that has been reversed. The result is an overwhelming divorce rate.

If there is committment only as long as their is emotional love, then every

marriage is doomed to failure. There are going to be times of disagreement and

times when it is no longer "fun" to be together. However, if the marriage is

based on committment FIRST (and then the resulting emotional love), the couple

will stick it out through the hard times and know that what they have is far

more powerful than the infatuation that draws couples together today.

c. Embraced by the Beloved (6)

Well, here we are! The part that some folks were afraid to tackle. It reminds

me of the anxiety of the parents of a junior class when the Sunday School

lessons for the quarter were to be concerning each of the 10 commandments.

Everyone was up-tight about number 7! <grin>

Well, I do not have a deep, profound answer to this portion of Scripture!

Maybe someone else does but I feel that it is consistent with the rest of the

Book: It is descriptive of the intimate relationship between Christ and the

Church (Ep. 5:32).

There is no sin in sex as the Creator designed it (Heb. 13:4). When Satan (or

mankind) corrupts the natural use (Ro. 1:27), then it becomes sin.

As Christians, we must never allow our relationship with Christ deteriorate to

something base and physical. It must always be a relationship based upon the

LOVE that Christ has expressed to us and upon the love that we return to Him in

the form of worship and praise but also in personal communion and finally in

our representation of Him to others.

This verse describes how Christ lifts up our head. It also presents Him as

wanting to be intimately involved in our lives. Do we allow that?

C. The bride's reservations

1. "Stir not up...MY LOVE till he [it] please" (cf. v.3)

2. As, "Do not make me get excited..."

The NIV reads, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the

does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

The idea here appears to be that, as in verse 2, the Bride is discussing her

emotional love -- not the person of the Beloved. It seems that she is

satisfied with an emotional love that is sleeping -- not alert and awake. As

was the case earlier, she is concerned only with the infatuation and the

excitement of the moment. She does not wish to have the deeper love that comes

from truely knowing the Beloved.

In the case of the contemporary church, there are some who are only concerned

with "getting a blessing" when they worship. It seems very similar to me to

the problem of the Bride in SOS. If worship (and the underlying love) is based

solely upon what I can "get" from God and the excitement of the moment, then I

don't really have very much.

If all I want to know is that I was washed from my sins, then I am still a babe

and need to grow. If my main concern is in RECEIVING from God -- rather than

of worshiping Him for who He is and what He has done -- then I am still not up

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ep. 4:13).

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto

perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and

of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands,

and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do,

if God permit." (Heb. 6:1-3)

II. THE UNSEEN HAND (the voice of the bride, vv 8,9)

A. His voice is heard (8)

1. He is always near

2. He has power over creation (mountains, hills, etc)

B. He is seen through the lattice (9)

1. SHE is peeking through the lattice at HIM

2. She is not willing to open up entirely to Him

3. Kind of like playing "hard-to-get"

4. He is now ready to accept the bride

III. THE CALL TO BE READY (voice of the Beloved, vv 10-13)

(NIV states this to be the Bride)

A. Be ready to leave (10)

1. General call to be ready to go

2. This is the general call that is preached today

B. Signs of the times (11-13)

1. Winter is past

2. Rain is gone

3. Flowers appear on the earth

4. Birds singing (turtledove)

5. Figs on the trees

6. Grapes on the vine

7. Repeat the call from the Beloved, "come away"

IV. THE BRIDE'S RESPONSE (voice of the bride, vv 14-17)

A. Desire to see -- common today (14)

(NIV states this to be the Beloved)

B. Desire to take -- participate in little sins (15)

(NIV states this to be the Beloved)

C. Desire to change -- (16,17)

(NIV states this to be the Beloved)

1. "My beloved is MINE" (should include, "I am his")

2. Desire to change Christ (vice, "I change not")

3. If the church (ie, doctrine) does not agree with our lifestyle,

we want to change the church (Christ, doctrine, etc)

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SoS Chapter 3, "LULABIES TO HELP YOU SLEEP"

(Bride speaks during entire chapter)

I. FIRST SEPARATION OF YOUNG LOVERS (vv 1-3)

A. What can cause a break in fellowship with God?

B. What can effect a reconcilliation?

1. Must desire it

2. Do not ALL instinctively reach out for help?

C. Is it more difficult to reconcile than to save? Why?

II. RESTORATION WITH RESERVATIONS (vv 4,5)

A. She had already passed from the worldly institutions

(What worldly institutions do perople rely on today?)

B. She had to return to "her mother's house"

C. She had to hold on and not let go

D. She STILL maintained some reservations, however (cf. 2:7)

1. Was she SAVED and not SANCTIFIED?

2. Compare: Justification, Regeneration, & Sanctification

III. SUBMISSION THROUGH FEAR (vv 6-11)

A. The Person of Jesus Christ (v 6)

B. The armour of Christ (vv 7-10)

C. The crown of Christ (v 11)

D. The "espousals" made to Christ (v 11)

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SoS Chapter 4, "THE LOVESONG OF THE BELOVED"

(Voice of the Beloved except for v. 16 - the Bride)

I. THE BRIDE IS FAIR (vv 1-7)

A. Her salvation experience (vv 2,3,5 & 6)

Notes:

V.2, She "came up from the washing" This suggests that she has experienced a

regeneration at the hands of the "true Shepherd."

V.6, Myrrh and frankincense are significant (cf. Mt 2:11). Myrrh was used on

the dead and frankincense was used in worship (incense). Do you see any

associations that could be inferred?

B. Her provision (v 1)

C. Her speech is comely (v 3)

D. Tower of strength (v 4)

Note: The Shepherd is actively searching for value in each of His sheep.

E. None is barren (v 2)

Note: There *is* a prerequisite to this assurance. Compare 2 Peter 1, verses

5-9.

II. THE CALL TO OVERCOME (vv 8-10)

A. The call to heights of victory (v 8)

B. His supreme love and concern for her (v 9)

Note: The love of Christ is unconditional and universal (Jn 3:16). However,

He offers a special kind of love to those who have accepted his grace and keep

His commandments (John 15:10). The "IF" in this verse is VERY significant!

C. True love pleases the Beloved (v 10)

Note: After summing up the Bride as "all fair, my love; there is no spot in

thee" (v.7), yet the Bride does not listen to the call and, in Chapter 5, she

misses the rapture! WHY?

III. WARNING OF "DEAD SEA" EXPERIENCE (vv 11-15)

A. Honey and milk "under thy tongue" (v 11)

Note: What is the value of such nutrients *UNDER* the tongue? It sounds like

a child who tries to make it appear that they have taken their medicine when

they have only hidden the pill until they can spit it out.

B. Fallacy of a "sealed" fountain (v 12)

Note: A garden (a flower garden is inferred) is of little value if it cannot

be seen and appreciated. A spring that is "shut up" cannot quench any thirst.

Is there a parallel with contemporary Christian experiences?

C. Source of the stream (v 15)

Note: Of course, the only source of LIVING WATER is Christ (Jn. 4:14)

IV. THE BRIDE SPEAKS AND OFFERS FRUIT TO THE BELOVED (v 16)

A. Fruit is sweet-smelling to God

Note: In view of the suggestions on verse 12, do you feel that the bride's

"fruit" was true and lasting? Is it necessary to "advertise" (cf., "wind")

our fruit for Christ's benefit?

B. Personal beauty and purity is important

C. Real fruit produces "like in kind"

Note: The author believes that "A sack of seed is greater than a boxcar of

bananas." Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?


Index of Preacher's Help and Notes

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