Song of Songs Part 2

Part 2

A brief review

B1 Written by Solomon

B2 Solomon is reminiscing about his marriage. I believe that chapter 1 is their wedding night after the wedding ceremony.

B3 The woman character is Naamah, Solomon’s first wife and mother to 3 children—Rehoboam, his son (1 Kings 11:43 and Matthew, Taphath (1 Kings 4:11), and Basmath (1 Kings 4:15). No other children were listed in Scriptures being fathered by Solomon.

B4 Personally, I feel that, in general, all of Solomon other wives were for political or business reasons. He didn’t become intimate with them.

B5 We learned

C1 Sexual pleasure in normal for both husband and wife. Admiring each other’s beauty is not sinful.

C2 The greatness of being with each other.

C3 Some pointers when you are together, namely

D1 It is a time for just the both of you

D2 Shut the phone off

D3 Shut the TV off

D4 Stop any distraction

D5 It is realistic that interruptions do happen as emergencies or younger children. But, otherwise, you are spending time with your spouse.

D6 Listen to her. Listen to him. Do not interrupt. Do not offer advice or counsel. Shut up and listen. Don’t be reading or doing something when she is talking.

Notes

B1 Chapter 5

C1 This is a continuation of chapter 4. Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1 GNB Wake up, North Wind. South Wind, blow on my garden; fill the air with fragrance. Let my lover come to his garden and eat the best of its fruits. 5:1 I have entered my garden, my sweetheart, my bride. I am gathering my spices and myrrh; I am eating my honey and honeycomb; I am drinking my wine and milk. Eat, lovers, and drink until you are drunk with love!

C2 Her husband returns home and knocks at the door. She does not get dressed quickly enough. Opening the door, she finds he has left.

C3 She was worried and longing for him, so she goes out at night only to be assaulted/molested by law enforcement. Song of Songs 5:7 NLT The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.

C4 The chorus, Daughters of Jerusalem, ask her what is so special about him?

C5 She responds describing his handsomeness.

C6 Note, she identifies him not only as lover but friend. Song of Songs 5:16 NLT His mouth is sweetness itself; he is desirable in every way. Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend.

B2 Chapter 6

C1 The chorus of young women, Daughters of Jerusalem, offer to help find him. “Where should we look?” they ask.

C2 She suggests the garden area. Song of Songs 6:2 NLT Young Woman My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in the gardens and gather the lilies.

C3 Solomon sees her and is overwhelmed by her beauty and describes, with joy, her beauty.

C5 She goes to a walnut grove to enjoy nature.

C6 The Daughters of Jerusalem ask her to return so they can observe her grace of movement.

B3 Chapter 7

C1 Her husband, seeing her beauty, is overwhelmed. He describes it honestly.

C2 After his description, telling her why she is so beautiful, she becomes overwhelmed, too. Song of Songs 7:10 NLT Young Woman I am my lover's, and he claims me as his own.

C3 They enjoy being intimate in their private garden.

B4 Chapter 8

C1 There is a time for intimacy and a time to refrain. Song of Songs 8:4 NLT Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right. Consider:

D1 A husband can request intimacy, and the wife can refuse (maybe she is sick or too exhausted from work, etc.).

D2 A wife can request intimacy, and the husband can refuse.

D3 Sometimes one hears teaching that a wife must always be available to meet her husband’s sexual needs. This is wrong and evil. It is practically raping your wife.

D4 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 GW But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs. 4 A wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn't use your lack of self-control to tempt you. [Emphasis is mine]

C2 The wife explains the strength of love. Let us note it carefully.

D1 Song of Songs 8:6-7 NLT Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

D2 If a woman is afraid of her husband, then the husband does NOT love his wife. If a man is afraid of his wife, then the wife does NOT love her husband. 1 John 4:18 GNB There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

D3 If your marriage does not seem to have love, see below.

C3 Entering marriage as a virgin is God’s best. Some do not, so do not freak out about it. You ARE forgiven if you asked God to forgive you. Song of Songs 8:9 NLT If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar.

C4 Naamah was a virgin when she married Solomon. Song of Songs 8:10 NLT Young Woman I was a virgin, like a wall; now my breasts are like towers. When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees.

C5 Solomon is identified as the husband.

D1 He has a vineyard that he leases to tenants.

D2 She has a vineyard, herself, that he can have free. She is the vineyard. Song of Songs 8:12 NLT But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines.

C6 Solomon wants so listen to his wife. He wants to hear her voice and opinions. Song of Songs 8:13 NLT Young Man O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too!

C7 The wife, Naamah, wants to be with him forever. Song of Songs 8:14 NLT Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

We learn

B1 It is OK to tell your wife how beautiful she is from head to toe. Husbands enjoy your wife’s beauty.

B2 Sex is meant for husband and wife. Both are to enjoy it. Ask her what is pleasurable. Do not be in a rush.

B3 Togetherness is important. This doesn’t mean just living in the same house. This means to worship, eat, work, communicate, listen, pray, etc. together. You must have togetherness. It doesn’t mean having a date. It means enjoying each other’s company daily.

B3 Communication is important.

B4 The spouses need to know the language of love.

C1 A quiz husband and wife should take. The quiz is here.

C2 Take the quiz and discover each other’s language of love.

C3 There are more resources here.

B5 Love is a choice. You choose to love. It is not necessarily an emotion.

B6 The actions of love are found in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL 4 Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty,

5 Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs,

6 Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth,

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends,...

Song of Songs Part 1

Introduction

Author: Solomon, King of Israel, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

B1 It is most reasonable that Solomon wrote this.

B2 Consider: 1 Kings 4:29-34 GNB God gave Solomon unusual wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured. 30 Solomon was wiser than the wise men of the East or the wise men of Egypt. 31 He was the wisest of all men: wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame spread throughout all the neighboring countries. 32 He composed three thousand proverbs and more than a thousand songs. 33 He spoke of trees and plants, from the Lebanon cedars to the hyssop that grows on walls; he talked about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 Kings all over the world heard of his wisdom and sent people to listen to him.

Interpretation

B1 The plain, normal sense

C1 God is omniscient

C2 God is omnisapient

C3 God can communicate perfectly

C4 Thus, it is most reasonable to read and study Song of Songs in it plain, normal sense.

C5 Don’t interpret it. Read it.

B2 Others’ interpretation

C1 There is the plain, normal sense, allegorical sense, Typological, Bible code sense, symbolic sense and others. Maybe there are 50 different ways people have interpreted it. Much more can be found here.

C2 Criswell (as found here): Criswell rightly comments that the allegorical "approach often finds as many interpretations as interpreters, which shows its dubious value. Genuine allegory will usually yield basically the same interpretation to its varied interpreters (Ed comment: As a corollary thought, keep in mind that even figurative language always has a literal meaning, but as with all Scripture may have multiple valid applications)." (Criswell, W A. Believer's Study Bible: New King James Version. 1991. Thomas Nelson)

C3 Warren Wiersbe (same source): While the Song of Solomon illustrates the deepening love we can have with Christ, we must be careful not to turn the story into an allegory and make everything mean something.

All things are possible to those who allegorize—

and what they come up with is usually heretical.

C4 Henry Morris (Same source: Morris makes an interesting comment noting that "Although there have been a number of interpretations of this book, the most obvious interpretation is no interpretation at all. That is, it is simply what it purports to be--a romantic love poem describing the love of young Solomon and a Shulammite maiden who became his first bride...Clearly Morris' "non-interpretation" approach is a plea for us to interpret this beautiful love poem in its natural, literal sense.

Summary

B1 The honeymoon

B2 Day to day life

B3 Marriage growth, marriage matures in time

B4 Sexual love between spouses is not evil; it is to be enjoyed by BOTH.

Characters

B1 Solomon, the king, the bridegroom

C1 The king and bridegroom

C2 “Etymology of the name Solomon: The name Solomon comes from the fertile and familiar root שלם (shalem), to be or make whole or complete” (Source)

C3 Thusly, this is Mr. Solomon. Essentially, the same as the Shulammite.

B2 The Shulammite

C1 The bride, Solomon’s first wife, Naamah an Ammonitess (2 Chronicles 12:13).

C2 “Etymology of the name Shulammite: The name Shulam(mite) appears to be based on the familiar word שלום (shalom), meaning peace, which in turn is derived from the verb שלם (shalem), to be or make whole or complete” (Source) Essentially, the same as Solomon.

C3 Thusly, this is Mrs. Solomon.

C4 Naamah means loveliness/pleasantness (Source)

B3 The Chorus (Daughters of Jerusalem)

Notes

B1 Personally, I think Solomon was reminiscing about his wedding and marriage to Naamah.

C1 The language of the first chapter is very erotic.

C2 It would seem unlikely that the first time they meet, she wants him to sex with him. Song of Solomon 1:13 GNB My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts.

B2 Chapter 1

C1 In my opinion, this is the wedding night. It is their first night alone to consummate their marriage.

C2 She was admiring his physic.

C3 She felt that she was not as beautiful as she wanted to be, because of her brothers making her work. Song of Solomon 1:6 GNB Don't look down on me because of my color, because the sun has tanned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me work in the vineyard. I had no time to care for myself. Note, she might have felt she wasn’t perfect, but Solomon accepted her as perfect, just as she was.

B3 Chapter 2

C1 The bride is enjoying his caresses. Song of Solomon 2:6 GNB His left hand is under my head, and his right hand caresses me.

C2 The king had to leave for governmental duties but has returned. Song of Solomon 2:8-9 GNB I hear my lover's voice. He comes running over the mountains, racing across the hills to me. 9 My lover is like a gazelle, like a young stag. There he stands beside the wall. He looks in through the window and glances through the lattice.

B4 Chapter 3

C1 The Shulammite has a nightmare that her husband, her lover, is gone, and she cannot find him. Song of Solomon 3:1 GNB Asleep on my bed, night after night I dreamed of the one I love; I was looking for him, but couldn't find him.

C2 Solomon isn’t just coming home. He is coming in royal style. Song of Solomon 3:6-10 GNB What is this coming from the desert like a column of smoke, fragrant with incense and myrrh, the incense sold by the traders? 7 Solomon is coming, carried on his throne; sixty soldiers form the bodyguard, the finest soldiers in Israel. 8 All of them are skillful with the sword; they are battle-hardened veterans. Each of them is armed with a sword, on guard against a night attack. 9 King Solomon is carried on a throne made of the finest wood. 10 Its posts are covered with silver; over it is cloth embroidered with gold. Its cushions are covered with purple cloth, lovingly woven by the women of Jerusalem.

C3 His wife is excited. Song of Solomon 3:11 GNB Women of Zion, come and see King Solomon. He is wearing the crown that his mother placed on his head on his wedding day, on the day of his gladness and joy.

C4 They are already married.

B4 Chapter 4

C1 They are intimate again.

C2 They are admiring each other’s beauty. She has

D1 Beautiful hair: Song of Solomon 4:1 GNB How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil. Your hair dances like a flock of goats bounding down the hills of Gilead.

D2 Perfect teeth: Song of Solomon 4:2 GNB Your teeth are as white as sheep that have just been shorn and washed. Not one of them is missing; they are all perfectly matched.

D3 Her face and neck are stunning. Song of Solomon 4:3-4 GNB Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; how lovely they are when you speak. Your cheeks glow behind your veil. 4 Your neck is like the tower of David, round and smooth, with a necklace like a thousand shields hung around it.

D4 The rest of her body is beautiful, too.

D5 The husband admires her beauty, takes time to enjoy it, and makes sure she enjoys this attention too.

C3 His wife is his one and only.

C4 The physical joy of being together intimately.

C5 Personally, I feel that in general all of Solomon other wives were for political or business reasons.

D1 His father King David had a number of wives and many children.

E1 It is believed he has 8 wives. They were Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba, Ahinoam, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah (see here). Maybe he had more as stated in 2 Samuel 5:13 ESV And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.

E2 He had at least 20 sons and 1 daughter (see here).

D2 Solomon only has 3 children listed. Rehoboam, his son (1 Kings 11:43 and Matthew , Taphath (1 Kings 4:11), and Basmath (1 Kings 4:15). That’s it!

D3 If all his wives had 3 children were is the list of names?

We learn

B1 Sexual pleasure in normal for both husband and wife. Admiring each other’s beauty is not sinful.

B2 The greatness of being with each other.

C1 Husband and wife need to be best friends.

C2 They need to enjoy each other’s company.

C3 They need to take time off to be with each other.

C4 Marriage is a higher priority than work.

B3 When you spend time together

C1 It is a time for just the both of you

C2 Shut the phone off

C3 Shut the TV off

C4 Stop any distraction

C5 It is realistic that interruptions do happen as emergencies or younger children. But, otherwise, you are spending time with your spouse.

C6 Listen to her. Listen to him. Do not interrupt. Do not offer advice or counsel. Shut up and listen. Don’t be reading or doing something when she is talking.