SONG OF SOLOMON 1-8
I am not going to approach the study of this book in the normal format of chapter by chapter, verse by verse. I obviously saved this book for last for a reason. I do not feel qualified to try and determine all the different speakers and make total sense of the narrative. I might add that the commentators differ on these things as well as how to interpret this book. That said, I am going to share things that stood out to me as I read through the book several times and researched the thoughts of different teachers and commentaries.
As I start this study, I am reminded of an important verse in scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
That tells me that the LORD inspired the words of this book for our benefit.
Like in Esther, the name of God is not mentioned in this book; yet His presence is evident in the many allegorical applications to the relationship of God and His people. The Jews make this application to God and the nation of Israel as His wife. Christians make this application to Jesus and the church as His bride. Based on scripture, I think there is validity to both.
Isaiah 54:5 “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”
Ephesians 5:31–32 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
On the surface, the book reads like a love story. Though it is quite detailed in describing intimacy between a husband and wife, it is not presented in a disrespectful, crude or smutty way. It offends and grieves me when I hear marital love being referenced from the pulpit with language intending to entertain and provoke laughter, language that cheapens the holiness of the marriage relationship. When the pulpits take their cue from the culture of the day (especially as depicted in advertising and “entertainment”), it is no wonder that intimacy in marriage is no longer considered holy and precious. The language Solomon uses is beautiful and creates an aura of awe and respect for the love relationship in marriage.
Song 1:9–15 “I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver….A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.”
Song 4:1–5 “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.”
Song 5:10–15 “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.”
Song 7:1–5 “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.”
Obviously, the language Solomon used related to the culture of his day. No man today would compare the woman he loves to horses, goats, sheep, deer, etc. In Solomon’s day, however, these were highly treasured possessions.
One main truth stands out as you read this book as demonstrated from the verses above, true love is rooted in an intimate relationship. I was reminded of the words of one of my favorite old hymns, “Nearer, Still Nearer,” by Lelia Morris, that speaks to the desire of the Christian for intimacy with his/her Savior.
“Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast;
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.
Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.”
In this song of Solomon’s, we see a picture of what it is like to love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength as we read about the love story of this married couple.
Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
As I read through the book many times, I made note of some things that caught my attention as I thought about being the bride of Christ.
The bride desires intimacy and declares it to be more intoxicating than wine.
Song 1:2 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.”
We should have the same desire towards our LORD.
Psalm 73:25–26 “…there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
The bride compares the name of her love to a sweet smelling fragrance.
Song 1:3 “Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth….”
This reminds me of how the the name of Jesus embodies everything He is to us that fills our life with meaning and blessing. Again, this reminds me of another beautiful old hymn; this one by Haldor Lillenas.
“I know a name that can drive away all sorrow
I know a name that is sweeter than them all
I know a name from which comfort I can borrow
When others fail and when tears of anguish fall.
I know a name that dispels the powers of evil
I know a name that can break the tempter's snare
I know a name that unlocks the gate of heaven
When through its merits I go to God in prayer.
I know a name, a wonderful name
That wonderful name is Jesus.”
She can only enter the king’s chamber if he draws her or extends an invitation.
Song 1:4 “Draw me…the king hath brought me into his chambers….”
So too, we cannot come to Jesus until we are drawn. The beautiful thing is that He draws all that desire to come to Him.
John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him….”
John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life….”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Though she was insecure, the bride realized that love is not rooted in outward beauty.
Song 1:5 “I am black, but comely….”
In context, the maid is referencing her skin being darkly tanned in a culture in which fairer skin was considered beautiful. She recognized that her looks did not make her a less desirable partner. She knew she was “comely”; she had a graceful, becoming manner.
We know from scripture that true beauty emanates from the inside.
1 Peter 3:3–4 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Proverbs 31:30 “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”
We can be confident that the LORD sees us as beautiful because He sees us clothed in His righteousness, in the garments of salvation that He gifted us.
Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
The bride wants to spend time with the one she loves.
Song 1:7 “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon….”
In the same way, we should want to spend time with the LORD—in His word, in prayer, in praise and worship. It shouldn’t be a drudgery or something we have to try to make time for in our day. It should be a priority that we anticipate with pleasure.
Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 119:14–16 “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
The shepherd/king tells her that she can find him by following the tracks of the flock.
Song 1:8 “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock….”
Hopefully, we, as His flock, are making tracks that others can follow as they seek the Good Shepherd, our Savior.
John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me….”
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
James 2:17–18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone….I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
The bride knows that the king delights in her fragrance.
Song 1:12 “While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.”
Spikenard was a highly valued and expensive perfume. The bride made sure to use the best she had to please the king. Does my life provide a sweet smell to the LORD? Am I always seeking to give Him my best? to please Him? Do I honor Him as my King?
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
John 13:13 “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
The bride enjoys intimacy with her beloved; being with him provides an oasis of refreshment amidst the demands of life.
Song 1:13–14 “A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.”
Myrrh is a plant that does not yield its fragrance until is has been crushed. Our Savior was crushed as He died on the cross to allow us the ability to enjoy intimacy with Him.
Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised [crushed] for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Camphire is a white flower that grows in clusters and is very fragrant. It was interesting to note that the Hebrew stated that it referenced the price of redemption figuratively. The Shulamite recognized that her beloved would provide her redemption to a new way of life just as the LORD redeems us from sin and makes us part of His family with a glorious future.
Ephesians 1:3 & 7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace….”
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name….”
Engedi is a natural oasis in the Israeli wilderness, a place of refreshment in the midst of the desert. Time we spend with the Savior is an opportunity to find refreshment amidst the mundane and the troubles of this world.
Matthew 11:28–29 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The king sees his bride through eyes of love.
Song 1:15 “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.”
Song 2:2 “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
How amazing it is to me that King Jesus can look at His bride through eyes that focus through love! Personally, I know I have grieved Him so many times, yet He continually gives me a fresh start as I ask for forgiveness over and over again. I so desire to be like Jesus, but I continue to fall so short. Still, He continues to love me and encourage me and bless me because He sees me through eyes of love.
Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it….”
1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”
My granddaughter pointed out that dove’s can only focus on one thing at a time. Our King notices when our love is focused on him. The LORD covets that focus from those that declare their love for Him.
Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee….”
Solomon assures his bride that their home will be of the finest materials.
Song 1:17 “The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.”
This made me think of how the LORD is preparing a wonderful home for us in heaven where even the streets are paved with gold.
Revelation 21:2 & 18–21 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband….And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
The bride delights in the shadow of her king’s protection; she is resting in his presence.
Song 2:3 “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”
This reminds me of our LORD’s omnipresence; He is always with us. How blessed we are to know that our King is ever watching over us and protecting us from the attack of the enemy. He is ever interceding for us and only allows in our lives what He purposes to work for good.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Hebrews 7:22–25 “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament….Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
The king sees his love as a lily among thorns.
Song 2:2 “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
Again, I’m amazed to think that when the LORD looks at me, He sees me in the same way because He has made me a new creation and clothed me in His righteousness. I’m a child of God living in a world of darkness and evil.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
The bride sees her king as an apple tree among the woods, a source of great delight and sweetness.
Song 2:3 “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”
This seems to be referring to time spent together alone. If we take the time to have alone time with our Savior, we will experience the same delight. The kiss of His words will be sweet to our taste.
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
The lover is proud to present his wife to his friends, to the public.
Song 2:4 “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”
The bride is secure in the love of the king whose love for her is so obvious that she compares it to a flag or banner declaring his love before everyone. Throughout this book the husband and wife are full of public praise for their spouse.
The LORD Jesus is just as proud of His bride, and one day soon the whole world will witness her public presentation. We will be part of the heavenly army that accompanies Him as He returns in victory as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:6–8 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints….And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
The bride is intent on not allowing others to interfere in her relationship with her king.
Song 2:7 “I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem…that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.”
We should be just as jealous of our relationship with the Savior. We should be intent on pleasing him and guarding our intimacy with Him.
Matthew 22:37 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Solomon is eager to take his bride away to enjoy time together.
Song 2:10–13 “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”
This section made me think of the LORD’s promise and desire to take us to our home in heaven with Him. I compared the winter and rain to the hardships of this life that we must endure before we can experience the joys He has awaiting us in our heavenly home.
John 14:2–3 “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. 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.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
The voice of one’s lover is sweet to hear.
Song 2:14 “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”
When you fall in love, you can spend hours talking to one another. You never get tired of hearing the voice of your lover expressing his/her love for you. As you grow older, the quantity of what you have to say may lessen; however, you treasure the expression of love even more because it has passed through the fires that test your love over time.
The application to the Christian concerning the word of God is obvious. We should desire to hear and meditate on His word. If we truly love the LORD, we should love and value His word, No one expresses that truth better than the psalmist.
Psalm 119:97 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:47 “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”
Psalm 119:72 “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
Psalm 119:131 “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.”
Psalm 119:167 “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.”
It also stands out that in this particular verse, it is the groom that is eager to hear the voice of his bride. The LORD is eager to hear our voices as we pour out our hearts to Him in praise and supplication.
Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers….”
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
The couple is aware that little foxes seek to destroy their love.
Song 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
I actually like the wording of the NLT: “Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapevines are all in blossom.”
The enemy is ever on the hunt to destroy the relationship between Jesus and we who are His bride. He is ever seeking to destroy any possibility of spiritual fruit that might result from that relationship.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy….”
Ephesians 6:11–12 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour….”
Once you are married, you belong to each other.
Song 2:16 “My beloved is mine, and I am his….”
Song 6:3 “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine….”
The LORD declares that not only do you belong to one another, you become one in His sight.
Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Matthew 19:3–6 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
The fact that husband and wife belong to one another and, in fact, are one in the eyes of God should affect how we treat each other. Though God has established the husband as the authority figure in the relationship, that position comes with great responsibility before the LORD. A wife will have no problem submitting to a husband that loves her with that kind of sacrificial love.
Ephesians 5:22–25 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it….”
Marriage is a picture of the union that is ours in our relationship with Jesus.
Ephesians 5:29–30 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
You should never take love for granted.
Song 3:1–2 “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.”
The bride awoke to find her lover gone and immediately went out to search for him. Love takes unselfish commitment and discipline. No one describes what that entails better than the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.
I like the wording of the Complete Jewish Bible: 1Corinthians 13:4–7 “Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.”
None of the things in this list come naturally; it takes desire, commitment and effort to develop that kind of love. Frankly, I think it is impossible to do without the Holy Spirit working within you.
Because she searched diligently, she found him.
Song 3:4 “…I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go….”
This reminded me of the verse in which the LORD promised that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart.
Jeremiah 29:11–13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
The groom is the King, but remember that he is also a shepherd.
Song 3:11 “Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.”
Song 1:7 “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon….”
As a Christian that is part of the true church, the bride of Christ, you are married to the King of kings. Your position calls for you to act and live in such a way as to honor your husband, King Jesus. God’s word is the definitive handbook on what is acceptable behavior for the bride of Christ.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
1 Timothy 6:14–15 “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords….”
Revelation 19:11–13 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God….And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
What a privilege to be loved by the King of kings! But not only is Jesus our King, He is also our shepherd. He watches over us, protects us, guides us and provides our needs.
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep….My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Psalm 23:1–4 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
The groom sees no spot or blemish in his bride.
Song 4:7 “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”
Paul makes the application to the church, the bride of Christ, very clear in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:25–27 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
The groom calls the bride his sister.
Song 4:9 “Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse;”
Song 4:10 “How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse!”
Song 4:12 “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse….”
Song 5:1 “I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse….”
This made me think of how we too are not only the bride of Christ, we are also the children of God and joint-heirs with Jesus.
Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
The bride sees her husband as not only her lover, but her friend.
Song 5:16 “This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
I am reminded that to love is a choice; however, to be a friend is to develop that love through shared interest, concern and investment in one another. A true friend can be depended upon to be there for you at all times—especially in hard times. A true friend helps to bring out the best in you.
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loveth at all times….”
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
There is security and strength in true love.
Song 8:6 “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death….”
A seal is a mark of possession and security. To be a seal on your lover’s heart and arm is a picture of both emotional and physical security. Your safety and security come from the strength of knowing that your love is a “til death do us part” kind of love.
The Christian has that same kind of security in Jesus. When we take our "wedding vows” so to speak, as we place our faith in Him, we are secure in the strength of His love—a love that will last for eternity. We basically say, “I do” to consecrate our vow of commitment when we accept His offer of salvation. The sincerity of the vow is proven by our response to His love.
John 10:27–30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
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.”
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
The Shulamite responded to the King’s desire and love for her just as we respond to the LORD’s desire and love for us.
Song 7:10 ““I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me.”
1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Jealousy is a source of grief and sorrow in a love relationship.
Song 8:6 “…jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.”
This type of jealousy is a sin of passion and insecurity. It results in actions that are harmful to your relationship. It is not a part of a true love relationship that is rooted in security and strength as described above.
Scripture does tell us that God is a jealous God. Paul describes that jealousy in his letter to the Corinthians.
2 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.”
That type of jealousy is not motivated by a passionate insecurity; it is motivated by earnest concern and a desire to protect us from those that would try to destroy our relationship.
I liked the way Ironside explained God’s jealousy: “God’s jealousy is as pure as is His love and it is because He loves us so tenderly that He is jealous. In what sense is He jealous? Knowing that our souls’ happiness and blessing alone will be found in walking in fellowship with Himself, He loves us so much He does not want to see us turning away from the enjoyment of His love and trying to find satisfaction in any lesser affection, which can only be for harm and eventual ruin.”
Love cannot be bought; it can only be freely given as a gift.
Song 8:7 “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”
If you ever tried to buy true love, your offer would be utterly despised. It would be considered an insult. To try to buy love is to cheapen it and put it on par with prostitution.
This truth also applies to the salvation that Jesus offers us that makes us part of His bride. You can’t buy it or earn it. It is freely given and received.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
The bride is always eager for her beloved to return. She wants to be in his presence.
Song 8:14 “Make haste, my beloved….”
That certainly should speak to the heart of every believer that is a part of the bride of Christ. We should be eagerly anticipating His return and looking forward to enjoying the wedding celebration! We are in fact awarded a crown for desiring His return.
Revelation 22:17 & 20 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely….Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
INTERESTING QUOTES AND INSIGHTS FROM OTHERS
Chuck Smith
Song 4:7 “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”
“The Bible speaks of the church as being without spot or blemish or any such thing. The way the Lord views us, and that’s to me a glorious thing that the Lord views me that way, because He views me through love. And the Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins. And God sees us through the eyes of love, and as He sees us through the eyes of love, He sees us not in our imperfect state, but He sees us in that completed, perfect state in Christ Jesus. And it’s so comforting for me to realize that God looks upon me and sees no fault. Sees no sins. Sees no blemish. Looking upon me through love, seeing me in Christ Jesus. I stand before Him without fault in Christ.”
Song 4:16 “Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.”
“The invitation of Christ into the church that He might come into our midst and partake of the pleasant fruit of His garden, as we bear forth and bring forth fruit unto Him.”
Song 6:10 “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?”
Making application to the church he states: “And the church declares to the world that is wrapped in its darkness, there’s a new day about to dawn. And that is always the consistent message of the church. New opportunity that God gives to man. Not only to the world is a new day going to dawn very soon, but a new day can dawn in your life. And that darkness in which your life has been held can turn into a new day….The moon’s light is reflected light, the light of the sun reflected in the moon. And so the church’s light is a reflected light. It is the light of Jesus Christ….And even as the light of the moon declares to you that the sun is still shining, though you cannot see the sun, but as you look at the moon and see the reflected light of the sun, you know that the sun still shines. So the world who cannot see Jesus Christ knows that He lives as they see the reflected glory of Christ from our lives….Clear as the Son. The church. We are to be pure as He is pure….’And he who has this hope purifies himself, even as He is pure’ (1 John 3:3).”
Easy English Bible - https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/songsolomon-lbw.htm
“God is like Solomon in many ways. God is the greatest king. God looks after his people. So God is also like a shepherd (Psalm 23). (A shepherd is a man who looks after sheep. God looks after his people, rather than sheep.) And God loves the people who obey him. Especially, God loves the people who trust him completely. And these people are glad to do his work. God’s love is perfect although our love for him is often weak. This is exactly like the man in Song of Songs.”
“God likes to do his work by means of those people whom nobody respects. He gives honour to people who seem unimportant (1 Samuel 2:8; Luke 1:52). When he does that, it shows his greatness in a special way. It shows how he rules all things. In the same way, Solomon, as a great king, was able to change the life of this woman.”
Expositor’s Bible Commentary Abridged
“There is a realism in the Song that merits our respect. The course of true love seldom runs smoothly for long. For every moment of ecstasy, there seems to be the moment of hurt and pain. The openness that lovers experience with each other makes possible both extremes.”
“The Song is unabashedly erotic. Yet it is never satisfied to be content with the physical alone. A normal person finds the erotic ultimately meaningful only if there are trust and commitment, delight in the other’s person as well as in the body. The writer of the Song understands this. Our hero is her lover, but he is more: he is her friend.”
“Although the Song is really the bride’s song, there are three occasions when the groom describes her beauty in detail and only one where she reciprocates. If the Song has any allegorical significance, it should indicate that God finds us much more delightful than we find him. If this seems strange, it should be remembered that his love is pure and eternal. His capacity for love and joy is greater than ours even though the object of our affection is greater and infinitely more worthy.”
Harry Ironside
“One of the great griefs that comes to the heart of many a one who is seeking to lead others on in the ways of Christ, is to know the influence that the world has upon them after they are converted to God. How often the question comes from dear young Christians, “Must I give up this, and must I give up that, if I am going to live a consistent Christian life?” And the things that they speak of with such apparent yearning are mere trifles after all as compared with communion with Him. Must I give up eating sawdust in order to enjoy a good dinner? Who would talk like that? Must I give up the pleasures of the world in order that I may have communion with Christ? It is easy to let them all go if the soul is enraptured with Him; and when you get to know Him better, when you learn to enjoy communion with Him, you will find your-self turning the question around; and when the world says, “Won’t you participate with us in this doubtful pleasure or in this unholy thing?” Your answer will be, “Must I give up so much to come down to that level? Must I give up communion with Him? Must I give up the enjoyment of His Word? Must I give up fellowship with His people in order to go in the ways of the world?”
Henry Law - www.gracegems.org
Referencing Song 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
“SATAN, also, ever hates, and ever plots, and ever watches to check the holy work. He is termed the old serpent. Is he not, also, a wily fox? How stealthily he crept into Eden's fair garden--with what deceitful words he enticed our first parent! With a lie he tempted and prevailed, and with daily lies he still continues to succeed. But let us meet this fox with resolute determination. When boldly encountered he will instantly depart. We know, that if we resist the Devil, he will flee from us. We know, also, that if our strength is weak against this ensnaring foe, we may call Jesus to our aid. Satan may be strong--but Jesus is stronger. The arch-enemy may have power--but Jesus wields omnipotence. Thus let us catch the fox and all his brood. The victory will be ours. We shall tread Satan under our feet shortly.
Let our eyes be open, also, to the crafty temptations of the WORLD. No fox can surpass it in treachery and deceit. It calls to an attractive walk. It makes a show of pleasing prospects; and a path fragrant with flowers. But the path is beset with every peril. It leads from God, and goes down straight to hell. It presents a goblet mantling with enticing draughts, which, sweet for a moment to the taste, prove to be deadly poison. The world checks the budding of all grace. It renders the soul an expanse of dreariness and disappointments. Let us catch this wily fox. Never let him be spared.”
Referencing Song 4:12 “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed”
“How carefully, also, are they preserved! A garden locked up, is their emblem. Many are the foes which hate and strive to lay them waste--but such rage and enmity are impotent as a broken reed. They are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal life. Jesus their Lord is ever watchful to defend. As the mountains stand round about Jerusalem, so His watchful eye and His almighty arm bestow security.”
Kristen Terrette - www.crosswalk.com
“God can and will use our weaknesses for His glory. King Solomon was known for having a lot of wives, and I mean a lot. 1Kings 11:3 (NIV) tells us he had, ‘seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines.’ Yet in Song of Solomon, we read, ‘Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number…’ (v. 6:8 NIV). So, one can assume that this book must have been written early in his life, prior to accumulating his harem, as his women are often called. I’ll be honest and admit I about laughed out loud in realizing the truth in this observation. How ironic that a book about love and marriage was written (according to most) by a man who couldn’t be faithful to anyone? And yet in that same breath, as my chuckle released, it hit me that God used an imperfect man and his greatest weakness—women—to highlight the strength of a true and loving marriage relationship. Aren’t we all glad God doesn’t let our weaknesses define us?”
My Jewish Learning website, www.myjewishlearning.com
“Some Sephardic and Hasidic Jews have a custom to recite it each week on Shabbat evening, as Shabbat serves as a renewal of loving vows between God and the Jewish People.”
Quoting Maimonides: “What is the proper form of the love of God? It is that he should love Adonai with a great, overpowering, fierce love as if he were love-sick for a woman and dwells on this constantly… And it is to this that Solomon refers allegorically when he says: ‘For I am love-sick’ (Song of Songs 2:5) for the whole of Song is a parable on this theme.” (Hilchot Teshuvah, 10:3)