The “Song of Songs” is Solomon's song (1:1). Solomon composed over a thousand songs (1 Kings 4:32), but this one is described as his “Song of Songs” meaning it must be one of the best of his compositions. It is not a short song but we must remember it is a song, or poetry and not historical narrative. Why was it written? Presumably it just came out of his creative heart to express something of the wonder of the love he had known and experienced. Whereas Proverbs tends to be a “mind-writing”, the Song is “heart-writing”. Ecclesiastes that comes before it is an anguish at the end of his life, a jaded view of life “under the sun”, from vain human striving. The Song is a simple outpouring of the young, pure heart in love.

Struggling to Understand it

Probably more than any other book in the canon of Scripture this book has raised more questions as to how it should be understood. That it is poetry is clear and as we've just said it is not a straight forward narrative or story. Indeed it's coming and going is what makes it so difficult to comprehend.

In an attempt to make sense of it we have rewritten it as a stage production and when you do that you can imagine the two main characters at opposite sides of the stage developing their feelings for one another and making throw away comments to the audience, asides in their thinking, not directed at the other. In the background there is this chorus of ‘the Friends' who seem to make comment about what the other two are feeling, or to provoke thoughts by questions. The friends often seem to lead into the next part.

One almost wonders if the whole thing was the daydreaming or just a dream of the girl, because it has that same sense that you find in dreams of a somewhat disjointed flow.

Whatever it is there are individual parts that are poignant and there are individual verses that leap out with significance. Whatever else, being in the midst of the canon of the Old Testament, it demands that we pray and seek for revelation in understanding. Was it God's humorous way of driving us back to Him in our frustrations as we seek to get to grips with it?

How we'll consider it

Some people allegorise the Song to make it only refer to the cry of the heart for Christ, yet when Solomon wrote it that was not his intention. His intention was simply to write a song of love, love that is physical and emotional, love being experienced by two young people. That, first and foremost is what this Song is. Relish the wonder of what God has provided for us, but which in today's world is so often tarnished and abused, the wonder of physical beauty and enjoyment. God gave us bodies that, within the right context of marriage, are to provide us with pure enjoyment. Christians are often so super-spiritual (unreal!) that they ignore the wonder of God's physical provision.

Having noted what the intent of the passage is, we can then see if there are spiritual parallels that help us understand our relationship with our Lord. In the N.T. (Rev 19:7,8) the church is pictured as the bride of Christ, and Jesus himself spoke of himself as the bridegroom (Mt 9:15) and compared the kingdom of God to a wedding feast (Mt 22:2). We'll follow the NIV's divisions of “Beloved, Lover and Friends” for simplicity sake.

PART 1: Initial Love

In the early verses of this Song, first of all note how it is an interchange between the Bride and Groom, or Beloved and Lover, with an occasional chorus by “Friends” who make comment. See here the early expressions of love.

Chapter: SONGS 1

Passage: SONGS 1:1-4

A. Find Out:

1. What does she dream of happening? v.2a

2. Why? v.2b

3. What does she like about him? v.3a

4. Indeed what does she feel about his name? v.3b

5. What does she want him to do? v.4a

6. What do the “friends” confirm about the beloved? v.4b

B. Think:

1. What do different kisses signify?

2. What therefore is she wanting?

3. What are we told about the lover here?

C. Comment:

A kiss can be a peck on the cheek, indicating affection. It can be the kiss on the neck, a kiss of forgiveness & reconciliation (Lk 15:20). But a kiss directly on the lips is a kiss of intimate relationship. This girl wants nothing less than intimate relationship. Do we know and want that with Jesus - to be known intimately. He knows us like that but do we know him like that?

She is aware of his fragrance. Today we might say she knows the deodorant he uses. This indicates again a closeness of proximity, to even know what he smells like! His very name, when it is mentioned seems to bring a fragrance into the room. When his name is mentioned everything changes. See the blush that comes to a young girl's face when the name of her sweetheart is mentioned. Even his name has effect. Is that how it is with Jesus, for us?

“Take me away with you” - oh whisk me away from the humdrum life to a place where we can share together in intimacy. Do we sometimes feel that? We know we do when we put everything else aside to just wait on him. Into the king's chamber? Yes, into the place of his dwelling, for us the heavenly realms (Eph 2:6)

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Oh Lord, draw me close, hold me close, let me have a sense of your intimate closeness. Help me, Lord, to put aside everything else to be with you. Stir that sort of love in me!

Chapter: SONGS 1

Passage: SONGS 1:5-8

A. Find Out:

1. How does she describe herself? v.5a

2. Why was that? v.6a

3. What had actually happened? v.6b

4. What did she want to know? v.7a

5. What didn't she want to just be? v.7b

6. What was she told to do? v.8

B. Think:

1. Of what is she aware about herself?

2. How might that apply spiritually to us?

3. What is obvious about her seeking in v.7 & 8?

C. Comment:

As she dreams about this young man, Solomon, she is aware of her own ruddy complexion. There is none of the pale fragility of the women who spent most of their time indoors. No she's been made dark by the sun because her family insisted she work for the family.

Spiritually we may say the same: I am dark, in my innermost self, left to myself, I am dark and within me no good thing dwells (Rom 7:18). This shows itself on the outside, my words, my acts are sometimes less than perfect. Yet she says, “I am lovely”. It is at this point so many Christians stumble. Can we say that in Christ “I am lovely”? It sounds strange to our ears perhaps, but true! When God looks at me He sees me clothed in Christ, in righteousness. I am a child of God, redeemed, and an heir with Christ, wonderful and much loved!

Then she overcomes this self justifying and her mind wonders where she will now find him. He goes out with his sheep (to check his shepherds and their flocks), but where is he? She feels like an onlooker or even perhaps a servant with others. She wants to find him, to come to him. Where is he? Follow the tracks, she is told. Where is the presence of Jesus, we sometimes feel? Follow the tracks of old, reading the Bible, pray, wait on him, and worship, and you'll find him.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Lord I feel so unworthy and so inadequate, but thank you that you have made me your child, perfect in your sight!

Chapter: SONGS 1

Passage: SONGS 1:9-11

A. Find Out:

1. To what does he first liken her? v.9a

2. Where has he seen this? v.9b

3. What does he observe about her? v.10a

4. And what else? v.10b

5. How will he enhance that beauty? v.11

B. Think:

1. What would horses on one of Solomon's chariots be like?

2. What do you think is significant about his commenting on her adornments, rather than just her?

3. What does verse 11 say about her adornments?

C. Comment:

Remember this is the first description of her by the man. As an opening gambit they are typically male comments. He likens her to a horse! Admittedly the horse he used to compare her was probably the best of the best, a thoroughbred mare harnessed to the king's chariot for all to see, but a horse! Still, it's only his opening shot.

He then continues to refer to the beauty of her cheeks and her neck, but they seem to only be made beautiful because of the jewellery she is wearing and, even more, he promises her that he'll provide her with better jewellery. What she has at the moment is all right, but….

He means well but it is a limited and restrained description. Later he will extol her beauty without restraint, but these are the comments of early love.

When we first come to Jesus, we are unable to hear anything more than limited endearments. Our level of belief is so shallow that we couldn't handle the Lord telling us deep endearments about ourselves. Thus the things the new Christian hears are but superficial things about what Christ has done for us, what he has made us. They are not the things of deep endearment, but (in his case) it's not because he doesn't feel them, but simply we couldn't receive them.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Lord open my heart in belief to hear your words of love and acceptance that you want to whisper into my heart.

Chapter: SONGS 1

Passage: SONGS 1:12-14

A. Find Out:

1. Where was the king? v.12a

2. What happened there? v.12b

3. How did she envisage her lover? v.13a

4. What was he doing? 13b

5. How did she also picture him? v.14

B. Think:

1. How is this passage all about fragrance?

2. What is the purpose of scent or deodorant?

3. Why do you think she uses the picture of scent here?

C. Comment:

In v.3 she had referred to the awareness of his personal scent. In a day of deodorants, scents and bath oils we are, perhaps, especially aware of smell. In each case the smell is to remove or cover up the natural body odours that we consider distasteful.

When she says “my perfume” (v.12) we might first think she refers to herself, but then she goes on to say that her lover, lying against her, resting between her breasts, as they lounge (as is the Eastern custom) around the low table. No, he is the scent for her. Whereas normally she might wear a small sachet of ointment to give a sweet perfume, her lover lying close to her exudes the same sort of beautiful scent. It may also be that she simply means his very presence is like having a beautiful scent. She goes on: he is like the beautiful scents that come from the aromatic plants from En Gedi.

Everything about this speaks of intimacy, a closeness that generates a heightened awareness, or fragrance, this fills the senses. Here is the potential of our relationship with Jesus, a closeness that fills our awareness, a sense of his beautiful presence that is almost intoxicating. For so many, more aware of the things of the world, such talk of the beautiful presence of the Lord is quite alien. How sad.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Dear Lord, please draw close to me, draw me close to you, help me to be aware of your lovely presence, heighten my sensitivity to your presence.

Chapter: SONGS 1

Passage: SONGS 1:15-17

A. Find Out:

1. What does he next declare about her? v.15a

2. What part of her does he compare to what? v.15b

3. What does she next declare about him? v.16a

4. How does she describe their bed? v.16b

5. How does he describe the “roof” of their “dwelling”? v.17

B. Think:

1. What is the difference between the male & female address here?

2. Where do they seem to be?

C. Comment:

Remember this is a song or a poem, not factual narrative. The endearments at this point are short and to the point. He says she is beautiful, she says he is handsome and charming, all a little bit restrained, still the expressions of the early days of the relationship, yet as we observe how they speak we note a difference. He refers to her as “my darling”, a term of some emotion, while she simply refers to him as “my lover”, a less expressive term. The strength of feeling seems to come from the man. So it is with us and Jesus, it is he who makes the running, who makes the strongest professions of love and commitment (see 1 Jn 4:19) and whatever we say is a response to him.

Again he comments on her eyes, she merely comments on where they are. She has little to say directly to him about him. He describes her eyes as doves. There is an air of beauty and purity about a dove and her eyes strike him like this. Doves take flight easily, indicating almost a shyness. The flashing of the eyelids indicate a shy reticence of the heart. So often in the believer there is this shy reticence - surely he can't love me like that?

She comments that their bed is grass; he comments that the trees form a roof over them. They are in the countryside, in the woods, enjoying lying together. This is a picture of peace and harmony.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Lord thank you that you take the initiative, that you wooed me and drew me to yourself by your love. Open my heart to be more expressive of my love for you.

Chapter: SONGS 2

Passage: SONGS 2:1-3

A. Find Out:

1. What does she say she is? v.1

2. But what does he say she is? v.2

3. What does she say he is? v.3a

4. What does she like doing with him? v.3b

B. Think:

1. What do you think his description of her indicates?

2. How may that be in contrast to verse 1?

3. What is her description of him really saying?

C. Comment:

From the general interchanges of verses 15 and 16 in chapter 1, these verses give us the two young people making comparisons of each other. First of all the girl says that she is a lily. Now lilies were very common, so it is as if she is saying, “Oh, I'm just a very ordinary person”. He gallantly rises to the occasion with, “A lily you may be, but you stand out from all the rest as a lily alone surrounded by thorn bushes on the hillside.” You'll see from the note in your Bible that this “Rose of Sharon”, this lily, may in fact be a member of the crocus family. Imagine in your garden in early spring, the first crocus coming up, standing out against the hard earth. That is what he says she does, she stands out colourfully in this hard world.

So often Christians put themselves down by saying “I'm only……” and thus demeaning themselves. Yes, without Christ we can do nothing (Jn 15:5), in ourselves there is no good thing (Rom 7:18), but in Christ we are children of God (Jn 1:12), in Christ we are holy and blameless in God's sight (Eph 1:4), in Christ we can do everything he gives me to do (Phil 4:13). Oh no, from God's viewpoint we stand out in this world like a crocus against the thorns!

She compares him to an apple tree in the woods. In the same way he stands out, but even more so, for he produces fruit that is a blessing to eat. Being with him is a blessing, as it is for us with Jesus.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Lord, thank you that I stand out in this world. Lord, it is wonderful knowing you, because of all you give, your fruit. (Gal 5:22)

Chapter: SONGS 2

Passage: SONGS 2:4-7

A. Find Out:

1. Where had he taken her? v.4a

2. What did she see as flying over them? v.4b

3. What did she need and why? v.5

4. How did he hold her? v.6

5. Who does she charge not to do what? v.7

B. Think:

1. What does a banner signify? What does it signify here?

2. How does verse 6 compliment verse 5?

3. What do you think is the meaning of verse 7?

C. Comment:

The first part of the chapter has pictured the two of them swapping pastoral images of each other. They are in the woods in the countryside, the branches of the trees forming a roof over them. For her though it is like they are in his banquet hall, a place of consuming all good things. When a king is in residence his banner flies over the residence. It proclaims his presence and his reign there; it declares his protection and provision for all who reside there. The banner that flies over her is love. It declares his intent toward her, his protection and provision for her. She feels secure under it. So it is with us and Jesus: wherever we are with him, it is a banqueting hall, a place of blessing, of receiving from him, a place of knowing his beautiful provision.

Yet love is heady thing, and she feels weak with it. Does she want literal feeding, or having just spoken of him as an apple tree, is she saying she simply wants more of him? He supports and holds her, she feels protective intimacy. That's how it is with us and Jesus, we need more and more of him, we need his support and protective but intimate closeness.

But wait, don't rush things, let love take its time (v.7). Love has to grow naturally otherwise it is so easily bruised or abused. Let it develop stage by stage, not rushed. How we need to learn this in this day. Our love for Jesus needs to develop stage by stage.

D. Prayer Suggestion:

Lord, hold me close, feed me with your presence.

RECAP - "Initial Love" - Songs 1-2

SUMMARY :

In this first group of 7 studies we have seen:

- The girl dreaming of being kissed by the man

- The girl acknowledging what she's like

- The girl needing to find where he man is

- Basic surface interchanges of love

- Awareness that they are together in the woods

- Describing each other in flower/tree terms

- Her being held by him, secure in his embrace

COMMENT:

If this song was the script for a play, these passages would be Act 1. Scene 1 would be the girl dreaming her dreams out loud yet bemoaning her darkness and then thinking, “I must go and look for him, where is he?”, with the chorus telling her to follow the tracks of the sheep. Scene 2 would be the two young people together, starting to express things about each other, initially in a somewhat superficial way. As they develop we begin to be aware of their surroundings, the woods. The curtain falls with her in his embrace but saying, “Don't rush love, let it develop at its own natural pace.

LESSONS?

In this set of studies, instead of point by point lessons, we'll consider our relationship with Jesus as pictured in the song. The believer has yearnings to know Jesus more fully, yet so often is filled with self doubt in the awareness of self-failure. Yet action must be taken to seek his presence. We become aware of initial declarations of love about us and we make similar ones about him, yet it is all very tentative in the early stages. Faith grows gradually

PRAY:

Ask the Lord to deepen your awareness of his love for you.

PART 2: Seeking One Another

In this next Part, we'll see how he first comes looking for her, then she goes looking for him. Where there is love there is a desire to be together.