Bob Feather November 8th, 2008
- The shepherd/king’s description of his love continues (7:1-9).
- She wants the two of them to run away (7:10-13); and
- she dreams of their being together (8:8:1-3).
- The attendants imagine her returning with her beloved (8:5a).
- The bride vows eternal love (8:6-7).
- Her friends would improve her looks (8:8-9).
- She agrees with their assessment of her beauty (8:10).
- When her friends speak of Solomon’s vineyards (8:11),
- she asserts that a thousand vineyards could not replace her true love (8:12).
- The two exchange parting thoughts of their love and desires (8:13-14)
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Bob Feather November 7th, 2008
- The shepherd responds to the Shulamite’s invitation to visit (5:1); but
- she is unprepared for his arrival (5:2-4).
- When she finally opens the door (5:6), he is gone.
- While she is out looking for him, the city watchmen abuse her, and take away her veil (5:7).
- Her attendants ask what makes this shepherd so desirable to her (5:9); and
- she gives a marvelous description of this man of her dreams (5:10-16).
- Her friends volunteer to go with her to search for her beloved, but they must know where (6:1).
- She is described (by the shepherd or Solomon?) as an only daughter who is more beautiful than 60 queens and 80 concubines (6:4-10).
- The chorus asks who is so beautiful (6:10); and
- he cries for the Shulamite to return (6:11-13).
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Bob Feather November 6th, 2008
Chapter 3
The Bride (vs 1-11)
- Searching for the one who satisfies
- Who is this?
- Solomon’s bed, chariot and caravan
Chapter 4
The Bridegroom (vs 1-5)
The Bride (vs 6)
- A night with the one I love
The Bridegroom (vs 7-15)
The Bride (vs 16)
- Oh, that the wind (spirit?) might blow and that my beloved might come to me. (John 3:5-8)
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Bob Feather November 5th, 2008
Introduction to the Song of Solomon
- The name: Variously called the Song of Solomon, the Song of Songs (vs 1), and Canticles, this book is unlike anything that Solomon’s father has recorded in the scriptures.
- The canonicity: Although the book never mentions the name of God or even instruction in worship, and it is never quoted directly by NT writers, yet many believers have found profit for their souls by reading herein.
- The benefit: Purely literal reading discovers a love song, the story of a woman’s love for a man. But the believer will quickly surmise the spiritual connection with the love which God’s people (Old and New) have for their Lord. Yet, the focus must not be upon the Bride, but upon the Bridegroom, not upon the people of God, but upon God Himself. The Bride ever wants to glorify the Bridegroom.
- The form: One help to understanding the book is to see where the dialogs begin and end. Sometimes it is the Bride speaking; sometimes it is the Bridegroom. And at other times it is the chorus of Attendants speaking. Admittedly, the divisions are sometimes obscured by translation into a language without a grammatical gender distinction.
- The date: Since Song of Songs 6:8 speaks of numerous queens and concubines, if the book is to be seen as autobiographical, then the writing must have occurred before the end of Solomon’s life when he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
- The message: Three times the observers are charged not to attempt to manipulate the Bridegrooms affections with unnatural stimulants (Song of Songs 2:7; 8:4). This instruction is most interesting relative to all the various interpretations of the book.
- The plot: Does the book relate the woman’s intense love for her shepherd lover, a love which forces her to reject the overtures of the king; or does the book relate the love of a shepherd who is, at the same time, the king? Obviously, both cannot be true.
Chapter 1
(vs 2-7) The Bride
- I am black, but beautiful. I’ve been forced to work
- I am in love with a shepherd. Where is my love?
(vs 8) The virgins
(vs 9-11) The Bridegroom
- You remind me of Pharaoh’s jeweled chariot horses.
(vs 12-14) The Bride
- In the palace are many sweet aromas; but none so fair as scent of my beloved
(vs 15) The Bridegroom
- You have eyes like a dove
(vs 16-17) The Bride
- Our love is not hindered by our meeting outdoors. (Who needs a palace to promote love?)
Chapter 2
(vs 1) Who is the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys?
(vs 2) Bridegroom
- You are a flower among thorns
(vs 3-13) Bride
- You are like an apple tree
- I am love-sick
- Lo, my beloved is coming.
- He invites me to run away with him.
- All creation supports his request.
(vs 14-15) Bridegroom
(vs 16-17) Bride
- I am His, and He is mine.
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