The Song of Solomon - Study 1

SONG OF SOLOMON LESSON 1

The Song Of Solomon is sometimes, also, called the Song Of Songs. It is agreed by most scholars, that Solomon was the penman of this book. Love is spoken of in such an explicit way in this book, that some people wanted to leave it out of the Bible. I personally believe that would be a mistake. It is not to be taken literally. It is love poetry and is really speaking of God's love for Israel, or Jesus' love for the the church. We will deal with it as the relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. The bridegroom in this book is speaking of Jesus, and the bride is speaking of Christians.

Some of the modern hymns in the church were based upon this book. One is "Jesus Rose Of Sharon". Some believe that "I Have Found A Friend In Jesus" is taken from this book, also. Psalms chapter 45 is a companion to this book. It is, also, a song of loves, which speaks of Christ and His kingdom. "My beloved" is a frequent expression. This is what the Christians call Christ, as in the following Scripture. Song of Solomon 2:16 "My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies." The Father, also, spoke of Jesus as "My beloved". Matthew 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

We will now begin in Song of Solomon 1:1 "The song of songs, which [is] Solomon's."

This very first verse leaves no doubt this is penned by Solomon. He intended this to be a love song to those lost souls who have found a Saviour and a groom.

Song of Solomon 1:2 "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine."

The way a bride and her groom show their mutual love for each other is in kissing each other's lips. This shows a very close relationship that the world does not share in. Christ has just such a relationship with the church. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The greatest love that exists is that Agape love that Christ had for His followers. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This love is far beyond human love. This is love of the unlovely.

Song of Solomon 1:3 "Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee."

Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom. Five of them ran out of oil, before He arrived. This is speaking of virgins in the sense of those who have not profaned themselves with false gods. II Corinthians 11:2 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ." The virgin, in all of these instances, is speaking of the believers in Christ, who make up the bride. The name of Jesus is sweet to the Christians. Jesus means Saviour, and that is exactly what He did for all of us who will receive Him. We see, in the following Scripture, that one woman thought much more of Jesus than she did her expensive perfume. Matthew 26:7 "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat]."

Song of Solomon 1:4 "Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee."

These are words spoken from a heart of love. I believe the bride is speaking to her bridegroom here. The upright are the Christians. All believers in Christ will be carried to the chambers of the Lord.(the holy of holies) John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (the new Jerusalem)

John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.” (The Wedding Feast) He wants our love more than anything else. He asked Peter three times, "Lovest thou me"? He loves us, and wants us to return that love to Him.

Song of Solomon 1:5 "I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon."

Black, in this particular instance, means dusky. This could be skin tanned by the sun, or dusty from the desert. Black can, also, indicate famine or wretchedness, as well. "Comely" means suitable or beautiful in this Scripture. The word "Kedar" means to be dark. It is, also, a tribe descended from Ishmael. The curtains of Solomon could be speaking of a tent in the wilderness, where he stayed, when he was away from the palace. The bridegroom seems to be speaking of her unworthiness here. It appears, from the verse above, these are the Christians who make up the bride, and not the natural house of Israel.

Song of Solomon 1:6 "Look not upon me, because I [am] black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept."

This black, again, means dark from the sun or darkened from the stain of sin. It is almost as if the bride is saying, do not look at my outward appearance. It appears, the bride had done the work that had been intended for the brothers. This still makes me think of the physical house of Israel, which represents the "male child" throughout the Bible. The "maid child" always represent the church. The maid child did the work the male child would not do. Matthew 10:36 "And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household." Galatians 4:29 "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now." Natural Israel {brothers}, were the flesh. Spiritual Israel {daughters} are the Christians.

Song of Solomon 1:7 "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?"

This is the bride speaking to the bridegroom {Jesus}. He is the Shepherd. His sheep do not follow after other shepherds. John 10:27 " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" He leads all the believers to a place of safety.

Song of Solomon 1:8 "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents."

The fairest among women is the bride of Christ. They are to bring the young Christians with them. They are to eat what the Shepherd has provided. They must stay as close as possible to the Shepherd. Their protection is in His presence. This is like the Christians on earth staying as close to the Lord as they can. They are waiting for the rapture of the church. They will be doing whatever they can to bring more into the sheepfold. They do not wander out in the world, they stay close to the Shepherd.

Song of Solomon 1:9 "I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots."

The horses are just speaking of the stately beauty and the strength that the horses had. They were at the command of Pharaoh. They were the finest in the land. This is, possibly, speaking of the bride, being chosen and being the finest.

Song of Solomon 1:10 "Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of jewels], thy neck with chains [of gold]."

This is speaking of the blessings the groom had bestowed upon the bride. Jesus has brought us blessings beyond measure, the greatest of which is eternal life. The chains of gold around the neck show His approval of the bride.

Song of Solomon 1:11 "We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver."

"Silver" symbolizes redemption. Gold symbolizes God. God has put a protection around His bride. He has sealed her with redemption.

Song of Solomon 1:12 "While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof."

"Spikenard" is a strong perfume. The king is at rest. The Lord is even now sitting at the right hand of the Father. One of the things we are instructed to do as Christians, is to partake of the Lord's table. Every time we take communion, we are to do it in remembrance of Him. The fragrance is the sweet odor rising to the Lord. The prayers of the saints are to rise to Him as a sweet smelling savor.

Song of Solomon 1:13 "A bundle of myrrh [is] my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts."

"Myrrh" is sweet smelling savor for the wedding bed. Myrrh was, also, used in the anointing oil. Christ was possibly anointed with oil of myrrh at His death. This is speaking of that wonderful communion between Christ and His church. The statement above is speaking of Christ's personal relationship with each believer. Christianity is not collective. It is a personal relationship between Christ and each Christian. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. "Betwixt my breasts" means next to my heart or close to my heart.

Song of Solomon 1:14 "My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi."

The figurative meaning of "camphire" is price of redemption. There were beautiful gardens in En-gedi in the time of Solomon. Jesus is our redemption. The plan of salvation is beautiful beyond compare.

Song of Solomon 1:15 "Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes."

The bride has spoken of the wonder of the groom in previous verses. Now, the groom speaks of the soft eyes of the bride. The "dove" symbolizes love. Doves represent innocence. Not only does the Lord love us, but He wants our love, as well. He wants to see love in our eyes for Him. The beauty, spoken of here, is that inward beauty that is seen in the eyes, which are the windows to the soul.

Song of Solomon 1:16 "Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed [is] green."

The bed of green is similar to the green pastures in the 23rd Psalm. Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." The mutual admiration of the bride and groom is very important. Green speaks of growth or that which is nourishing. The bed speaks of the place of intimacy.

Song of Solomon 1:17 "The beams of our house [are] cedar, [and] our rafters of fir."

This speaks of a home that is made of cedar. Cedar is a wood that is strong, and does not rot easily. This may be speaking of that which is incorruptible. Jesus was incorruptible. This is a home that would be very similar to a comfortable country home. Hebrews 11:10 "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God."