The Song of Solomon
Overview
Solomon owned a vineyard at Baal-Hamon in the territory of Asher in Northern Israel. As was common in Bible times, he had leased the vineyard out to vinedressers. The vineyard was not producing: the keepers were not attending it, and the birds and wild animals were eating the grapes. Further, it seems that the tenants Solomon had leased the vineyard to were not willing to pay their "thousand shekels of silver." Solomon, disguised as a shepherd, went to Baal-Hamon to inspect his vineyard. While there he met a beautiful Gentile girl working in the fields, called the Shulamite. He fell in love with her and she returned his love. He had to return to Jerusalem, but before leaving he promised her he would return and make her his bride. Solomon kept his promise and carried her away to his palace, where they were married and became one. Although the new bride lived in the splendor of the palace, she longed for the beautiful hills and vineyards of Baal-Hamon, so Solomon took her back there for a visit.
The Song of Solomon is the record of this romance, early in the career of Solomon, before the vanity of his later years. It should come as no surprise that God would see fit to include in the Bible a story wholly dedicated to the romance of courtship, wedding, and marriage. God created man and woman and established and sanctioned marriage. Since the world views sex so sordidly and perverts and exploits it so persistently, and since so many marriages are crumbling, it is appropriate to have in your Bible a book that examines romance, wedding, and marriage from heaven's pure perspective.
The Song of Solomon is a controversial book. Early church leaders, such as Origen and Jerome, refer to a Jewish saying that the Song of Solomon should not be studied by anyone until that person was thirty years of age. Other people are not so sure it should be studied by anyone, regardless of age!
It is definitely a unique book in the canon of Scripture. Let me list a few unusual facts connected with it:
Another source of controversy is the problem with how to interpret the book. Is it allegorical or literal? That is, is it an allegory of God’s love for the believer, or is it a historical account of Solomon’s love for a woman? Or is it both?
If you take the book allegorically, there are many wonderful types to discover. As we work through portions of it this weekend, consider some of the things I’ve already mentioned and try to identify the types: A king came in disguise as a shepherd, fell in love, left and returned revealed as King to take his bride home. You don’t need a degree in rocket science to see what those things typify!
If you take the book literally, it is very sensuous, almost erotic. This is what causes many Christians to avoid the book entirely! It is also precisely why we shouldn’t avoid the book - - especially at a time when the Starr report is a bestseller, and when people can’t seem to agree on the definitions of sexual acts!
The book is, of course, both allegorical and literal.
Can we trust Solomon? This account is of his first love. Even if he wrote the book after his many marriages, then it is a testimony to the foolishness and tragedy of his backsliding. The Song is his way of emphasizing that this is what marital love is all about - - one man and one woman totally in love with each other.
Also, even though God is not named, I believe He speaks in this book. I think when He speaks and what He says will surprise you!
You become familiar with Solomon and his first love, called "the Shulamite." Her name can also be translated Shulamith. It is the feminine form of Solomon - - like "George" and "Georgia." It emphasizes their unity.
It’s a first clue that wonderful things about the marriage relationship await us. A man is to leave his wife and cleave to his spouse - - the two becoming one flesh. Solomon and Shulamith are an example for us two becoming one.
The book is remarkably chronological. It follows the relationship of Solomon and the Shulamite through the ordinary stages: They meet, they date, they marry and consummate their marriage, they resolve a conflict, they enjoy a second honeymoon, and they grow old together.
They Meet
1:1-11
They Date
1:12-3:5
They Marry
3:6-5:1
They Resolve Conflict
5:2-6:13
They Second Honeymoon
7:1-13
They Grow Old Together
8:1-14
While the story is the literal account of the romance between Solomon and the Shulamite, it should come as no surprise to you that it also has a typical meaning. The New Testament frequently refers to your relationship with Jesus as a romance of courtship, as a wedding, and as a marriage:
The romance of courtship is seen in the Apostle Paul's statement in Second Corinthians 11:2, "...I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
You are said to be preparing yourself for your wedding and to Jesus:
Revelation 19:7 (NIV) "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."
Your relationship to Jesus in eternity is compared to the intimacy of a maturing marriage in Revelation 19:9,
Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' "
Marriage is a picture of the relationship between Jesus and you, His Church. That's why Paul, when teaching you about marriage in Ephesians Five, can also say,
Ephesians 5:32 "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Solomon was the richest king who ever lived to that time. He had leased out his vineyard at Baal-Hamon. His vineyard was not producing, and its vinedressers were withholding their lease payment. Solomon laid aside his kingly garments and glory and went to Baal-Hamon clothed as a common shepherd. The vinedressers at Baal-Hamon did not recognize Solomon. There was one who did receive him, the Shulamite. Solomon and the Shulamite fell in love. After a short time Solomon had to return to Jerusalem. In the Song, Solomon leaves the Shulamite in his vineyard with the promise that he will return for her. One day, as she is working in the fields, she looks to the horizon and exclaims,
Song of Songs 3:6 Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant's fragrant powders?
Song of Songs 3:7 Behold, it is Solomon's couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel.
Song of Songs 3:8 They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.
The Shulamite's betrothed was returning to her - not as the lowly shepherd when he came the first time, but as the mighty king surrounded by an army with drawn swords because the night is coming in which there is much danger. Solomon catches up his bride and sweeps her away, back to Jerusalem, where she reigns as queen. At the conclusion of the Song of Solomon, when the Shulamite returns to Baal-Hamon with the king, she is so changed that no one recognizes her, as you read in 8:5,
Song of Songs 8:5 "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved?"
Solomon and his bride eventually return together to Baal-Hamon to enjoy and express their love:
Song of Songs 7:11 Come, my beloved, Let us go forth to the field; Let us lodge in the villages.
Song of Songs 7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, Whether the grape blossoms are open, And the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.
Song of Songs 7:13 The mandrakes give off a fragrance, And at our gates are pleasant fruits, All manner, new and old, Which I have laid up for you, my beloved.
Most of you have already figured out the typical meaning of each of these details. Jesus, even though wealthy and glorious as God in heaven and Creator of the universe, laid aside His wealth and glory to come to earth clothed as a man - God in human flesh. You see, Israel was God's vineyard, but she was not producing fruit, and her vinedressers - the religious leaders - were withholding the obedience that was rightfully owed to God. When Jesus came to Israel He was not recognized by the vinedressers; as you read in the Gospel of John,
John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Even though rejected by the Jews, Jesus would be received by others:
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…
Believers of all ages are like the Shulamite as they fall in love with Jesus.
Just like Solomon, Jesus had to leave the vineyard and return to His palace:
John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
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."
Jesus promised His beloved He would return:
John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Solomon returned for the Shulamite, taking her back to the palace under guard "because of fear in the night" it said in Song of Solomon 3:8. When Jesus returns for His Church, He will take her back to heaven - to the place He has prepared for her - prior to the fearful night that is coming upon the world. The Bible calls this terrible, dark time the Great Tribulation. You won't go through it; you will be caught away by Jesus in the Rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Once in the palace, the Shulamite was changed into Solomon's queen. At the Rapture, you will be changed - transformed into a glorious, heavenly body:
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed;
1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Solomon and the Shulamite returned to Baal-Hamon. He was revealed in all his kingly glory, and the Shulamite was not even recognized for her glory. The Bible says that, at the conclusion of the seven year Great Tribulation, Jesus will return in all His glory, and that you will return with Him as His bride. From then on you will enjoy the love of Jesus in His kingdom of heaven on earth, and then on into eternity.
As you dwell upon these wonderful truths, expressed in types, can you not hear Jesus, your Savior, saying to you, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away"? As the Song of Solomon ends, you read in its final verse,
Song of Songs 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices.
As the Bible ends, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, you read,
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Your Lord is returning to take you to heaven, to transform you into glory. You are to live expecting His appearance any moment - as someone betrothed awaits the return of the Beloved.
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Contents | Overview | How To Remain Romantic | Incredible Intimacy | When Faults Need Forgiving | Love that Lasts
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