Journey Through Song of Solomon
The Bible is the greatest love story on earth. There is no love story like the story of God’s love for us. In the Bible, one book stands out above all others as a book primarily about love: the Song of Solomon. We discover much about God and His love for us as we journey through Song of Solomon.
Listen: Journeying through Song of Solomon
Overview of Song of Solomon
You will remember that Solomon wrote three books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Most Bible teachers believe that he wrote the Song of Solomon when he was young and in love, so he wrote about love. He wrote Proverbs at the height of his power and reign, so he wrote about wisdom. Then he wrote Ecclesiastes as an old man to talk about the folly of departing from that wisdom.
We live in an Ecclesiastes world, but I want to keep a Song of Solomon heart. Although there is a lot of evil and emptiness around us, we can keep a heart filled with the love of God, filled with love for God, and filled and overflowing with the love of God for other people.
Song of Solomon is the opposite of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes shows a man with an empty heart. Song of Solomon shows a man with a full heart. As someone said, Ecclesiastes teaches us about the human intellect, about the mind and thought. But Song of Solomon teaches us about human emotion.
The Love of God
There is nothing more wonderful than the love of God. You remember that Solomon wrote nearly one thousand songs. Yet, this one is called in Song of Solomon 1:1 “The song of songs…” Why is this “the song of songs“? Because it addresses the subject of all subjects. It is on the greatest thing ever discussed. What is that? The love of God.
Remember, the one thing that is going to last forever is God’s love. Because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). “…the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13). “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). When you come to Song of Solomon, you stand on holy ground. It must not be approached lightly.
Theme of Song of Solomon
When you journey through Song of Solomon, you deal with very intimate subjects. The theme of the book is twofold: marital intimacy and spiritual intimacy. In other words, Song of Solomon reveals to us the beautiful intimacy and oneness that God intends for a man and a woman to enjoy.
We are introduced to the bride and the bridegroom. We see how he woos her and draws her, how she falls in love with him, how the two of them come together and become one. It is beautiful as it relates to marital intimacy, and married couples should study it because there are so many beautiful aspects to married love. Married love requires communication and prayer, especially during difficult days, but it is beautiful, especially when couples serve the Lord together.
But I would remind you, there is a great spiritual truth in Song of Solomon, because every human relationship that God ordains is simply to be a reflection of a spiritual relationship, a spiritual reality. The great love in Song of Solomon is not just the love of a man for a woman. It is the love of our bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, for His bride, the church.
And then consider our response to that love — us loving Him in response to it. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Some people have suggested that Song of Solomon is a human love song. It is more than that; it is a divine love song, a song about the love of God. And there is no love like that love. (To access a Bible Reading Plan on The Love of God, click HERE).
Song of Solomon as a Book of Prophecy
If you go back and read and study, you will find that the Jews believed that this book was not only a book of poetry. They believed it was a book of prophecy. As a matter of fact, the Jewish community called the Book of Song of Solomon “The songs and the hymns which Solomon the Prophet, King of Israel, delivered by the spirit of prophecy before Jehovah, the Lord of the whole earth.” I am glad I do not have to remember that whole title when I say, turn to this book, aren’t you? And yet, did you catch it? He is the prophet, king of Israel. He delivered it by the spirit of prophecy.
They believe this book was as much prophecy as it was poetry. And I believe they are right. You see, in Song of Solomon 2:1, we are introduced to the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. In chapter five we are introduced to the Chiefest of 10,000, to the Altogether Lovely One. Who is this? Oh, this is Jesus. This is our heavenly bridegroom. It is the one that we are connected to. That is the one that we are married to if we know the Lord as our personal savior. It is the one we are going to the marriage supper of the Lamb with someday.
Union with God
When you journey through Song of Solomon, you must read it with a sanctified mind. It is a book of union and communion. God wants union with me. As surely as married people are united, they are made one; Christ wants to be one with us. That happens at the moment of salvation. It is a loving union, a living union, and a lasting union. But then He wants more than just a mere union. He wants communion. He wants fellowship.
Are you saved? Do you have union with Christ? Are you one with Christ? When was the last time you communed with Him? He wants you to enjoy Him, and He wants to enjoy you. That is the thing about two lovers: they find mutual satisfaction in one another.
This is an amazing thought to me, to think that God and His grace through the blood of Jesus could find any satisfaction in my worship and my fellowship. That is profound, my friend, because you see, I am a sinner. I do not deserve to be brought into such fellowship. And yet, that is exactly what happens in the person of Jesus Christ.
Key Verse and Key Word of Song of Solomon
There are so many wonderful verses; it would be easy to get bogged down, but let me give you one verse that unlocks the book. Song of Solomon 6:3 says, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: He feedeth among the lilies.” This is the testimony of the bride.
This is the woman speaking about the one who has captured her heart, who has won her love. It is our testimony concerning Jesus. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Isn’t that beautiful? The key word of the book is the word beloved. It is found 23 times in this book. It refers to both the man and the woman, both the bride and the bridegroom.
Thank God I am both possessing and being possessed. I belong to Jesus, and Jesus belongs to me. He loves me with an everlasting love He could never love you any more, and He will never love you any less. There was never a time He started loving you, and there will never be a day He stops loving you. He loves you. He wants you to love Him in return. The Lord wants to enter into a relationship and fellowship with you.
Outline of Song of Solomon
You find a progression of love in this book:
- Love is expressed in chapter 1.
- Love is enlarged in chapter 2.
- Love is enjoyed in chapters 3-4.
- Love is entreated in chapter 6
- Love endures in chapters 7-8
Note that in chapter five, there is a continued discourse back and forth. Friend, God wants that with you today. He wants to speak to you, and He wants to hear your voice. He wants to commune. The bridegroom comes knocking, wanting closer fellowship, and she delays. She pushes him away. Do not do that today.
When you come to the end of the book, you see a lasting picture of Song of Solomon. Even when she fails him, his love for her does not change. Even when I fail, the Lord’s love for me endures.
The Song of Solomon, my friend, will help you in your marriage. But more than that, it will help you in your own personal walk with Jesus Christ. Love Him today with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all of your strength, because He first loved you.
(To order Scott’s Book “New Testament Marriage”, click HERE)
Related Page: New Testament Marriage
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