Song Of Solomon Lesson 1
SONG OF SOLOMON
“The Christian Love Song”
KEY VERSES: Song of Solomon 2:4 – “He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.” Song of Solomon 6:3 – “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.”
THEME: Love – Under the figures of a bride and bridegroom is expressed the love of Christ for His own and the love that each believer has for his Lord.
DATE: 1000 B.C.
WRITTEN: The Book, Song of Solomon, was written to express the inner most feelings of God for His people.
Some people say the Song of Solomon is just a love song and, therefore, has no place in the Bible. A superficial reading of the Book might lead to that conclusion. When one considers the tremendous truth found in Ephesians Chapter 5, the union of husband and wife as an earthly illustration of the heavenly relationship between Christ and His church, then the Song of Solomon takes on new meaning.
This Book is probably censored more and read less than any other Book. Critics have said that it is indecent. It may appear to be so to the unspiritual mind, but there is no question that this was written by inspiration by the Holy Spirit through Solomon.
THE BOOK: No. in Bible: 22nd of 66 Books of the Bible; No. of Chapters: 8; No. of verses: 117; No. in order of writing: 5th and final Book of Poetry.
PURPOSE: In contrast to the Book of Ecclesiastes that shows the emptiness and vanity of all the world has to offer, Song of Solomon shows the height and fullness that is offered in a spiritual relationship to the Lord. Here we have the day and night of it all. We come from the Wilderness Journeys into the Land of Canaan.
DIVISIONS:
ACT I – The Shulamite Cinderella – Solomon has a vineyard in the hill country, just outside the little town of Shulem fifty miles north of Jerusalem. It is rented to a family of sharecroppers. They have two sons and two daughters. The oldest girl is the “Shulamite,” and the youngest is her “little sister.” The Shulamite is the Cinderella of the family. Her brothers make her work hard pruning vines, setting traps for the little foxes, and keeping flocks.
ACT II — The Shepherd Stranger — One day a mysterious, handsome stranger comes and wins the heart of the girl. Unknown to her, he is really Solomon, the king, disguised as a lowly shepherd. She asks about his flocks, and he gives evasive answers, but he is definite about his love for her. He leaves and promises to come back some day. During his absence, she dreams of him on two occasions. First Dream — She dreams they are already married, and she awakens to find him missing from the bed. She goes looking for him. Second Dream — Her beloved returns and beseeches her to open the door and let him in. She refused and he goes away. She is not able to find him again. Joyfully, she discovers his whereabouts but is not able to understand why he left, where he went, and when he will return.
ACT III — The Mighty King – One day the little town of Shulem receives the electrifying news – King Solomon is approaching the city! The lonely maiden is not interested at all until word comes that the great king wants to see her personally. She is puzzled. When she is brought into his presence, she recognizes that he is her beloved missing shepherd. She is placed in the king’s chariot, and they ride off to the royal palace.
ACT IV – The Bride of the Story – As described by the bridegroom, she is the most beautiful girl in the world (1:8). She is a bouquet of flowers (1:14), with eyes soft as doves (1:15) and like the lilies among thorns (2:2), and etc.
FACTS: Like many accounts of Scripture, we have an actual, historical setting that has deep spiritual meaning and application. To the spiritual mind, the dialogue between the bridegroom and the bride typifies the mystery of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:25-32).
OUTLINE:
I. The Bride’s Self-Knowledge (1:5) – The Shulamite said, “I am black, but comely.” Looking from her standpoint, she saw the dark-skin tanned by the sun (which symbolizes the blackness of a heart of sin). But, the Lord looks upon us a Solomon looked upon her in the expression of: “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” (4:7).
II. The Bride’s Awakening (5:2) – When the groom came to the door, the bride was too sleepy to open it. He went away. The Lord does not always tarry when we do not respond to Him impressions and moods.
III. The Bride’s Excuses (5:3) – “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” Backsliders usually do not need much of an excuse. A weak alibi serves the purpose, and the Lord departs, leaving us to our misery.
IV. The Bride’s Discovery (5:6) – “I opened to my beloved…” Christ sometimes withholds His blessing and will not come on in until we seek Him totally.
V. The Bride’s Remorse (5:6) – “…My soul failed when he spake…” What a miserable condition resulted from refusing to respond immediately to the call of the lover who was outside wanting in. Fellowship was broken, separation resulted, and her prayer was unanswered. “I called him, but he gave me no answer.”
VI. The Bride’s Repentance – She is now ready to acknowledge him. Following this, he returns. Fellowship is restored.
CONCLUSION: Across every page of Song of Solomon could be written these words of the Apostle Paul. “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Bernard, an old saint, said, of the Song of Solomon, “It is the song of songs. This is the first of all the rest. Grace alone can teach it – experience alone can learn it. Without a spiritual mind, it is impossible to enter into the spirit of the song, illustrating as it does, the union and communion existing between Christ, as the Bridegroom, and the church, as the bride.”
Someone has written that, in light of the teaching of the Song of Solomon, we should do the following things: 1. Make a definite dedication of ourselves to Christ. 2. Be very careful not to offend Him in our conduct. 3. Prove our devotion by obedience to His commands. 4. Defend Him and His cause against all present-day enemies. 5. Seek to extend His Kingdom from shore to shore.
MISCELLANEOUS: CONTENT OF SONG OF SOLOMON: Ch. 1 – The Bride’s Love for the King; Ch. 2 – The Bride’s Delight in the King’s Love; Ch. 3:1-5 – The Bride’s Dream of Her Lover’s Disappearance; Ch 3:6-11 – The Bridal Procession; Ch. 4 – The King Adores His Bride; Ch. 5 – Another Dream of the Lover’s Disappearance; Ch. 6 – The Shulamite, the Loveliest of the Lovely; Ch. 7 – Their Mutual Passionate Devotion; Ch. 8 – Their Love Unquenchable.
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