Study of Song of Solomon

Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Song of Solomon. May God show us what He wants us to learn?

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:

What does the scripture say about God
Then what does the scripture say about me
Does something in this passage challenge me
What gives me hope in this passage
Is anything unclear to me

I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.

Book of Song of Solomon

Author: Solomon
Audience: All people
Date Written: Early in Solomon’s reign
Length: 8 Chapters
Keywords: Love
Key Verses, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.” (6:3)
Key People. King Solomon, the young woman of Shulam, and friends

Summary of Song of Solomon:

This book is often overlooked in the church today. And, the book appears as an oddity compared to all the other books of the Bible. Some find its language too amorous for a church setting. The words of Solomon intimately paint a picture of marriage. But it also illustrates the spiritual relationship between God and his people. Early scholars believed that the love story is a metaphor of God’s love for the humans he created. However, it is undeniable that the song celebrates not only human love but also the sensuous and mystical quality of sensual desire.

As I researched the history of the Song of Solomon, I found a Jewish interpretation that differed slightly and I found it interesting. In verse 2:14; “My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely,” some think it could also be interpreted as follows:

“Rabbi Elazar argues: ‘It should be applied to the passage in the Torah describing Israel’s plight as it stands on the shores of the Red Sea [before God parts the waters.] The phrase “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock” refers to Israel hiding itself on the shores of the sea, while the phrase “let me see thy countenance” refers to the verse in the Torah, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” [Exodus 14:13].

Rabbi Elazar

Sections of the Book:

The book of Song of Solomon contains six significant themes, which are:

Falling in love (1-2:7).
Brides love for the groom (2:8-3:5).
Solomon’s love versus the groom’s love (3:6-5:1).
The bride’s nightmare (5:2-6:4).
An assurance of love (6:5-7:10).
Remaining pure (7:11-end).

Messages in Song of Solomon:

The Song of Solomon is a lyric poem written to praise the virtues of love between a husband and his wife. The words clearly show marriage as part of God’s design. A man and woman form a union and live together within the framework of marriage, loving each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Through Song of Solomon, we also see the stages of acceptance of God’s love into our lives. In verse 2:8; “listen my beloved,” we hear the voice of our beloved Savior calling to us. Then in verse 6:3; “I am my beloved’s and He is mine,” we accept our beloved as our personal Savior. And finally in verse 8:6; “set me as a seal over your heart,” we are marked as Christ’s own for all eternity.

Final thoughts:

And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:

Faithful – 8:5
Loving – 8:6
Pure – 3:5; 4:1-16

All Lessons from the Bible

Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.

“14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Prayer

Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.

Do you need prayer? I would love to pray for you. Submit your prayer request on my website at https://yvonne-morgan.com/submit-your-prayer-request-here/