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Reading Song of Solomon #1
Reading Song of Solomon #1
My first experience in reading this book was simply ???? What am I to do with this? How do I go about understanding this book? Over the years of study, I find that I am not alone in these questions. In fact, next to the book of Revelation, this is one of the books that has gendered the greatest number of interpretations of the Bible.
My first real class on this was having Homer Hailey teach it. He has influenced many preachers and teachers over the years. So, today I simply offer his outline and approach of this book. He organized it as a three-person interaction along with a ‘chorus’ that would join in. He understood it as the story of a simple shepherd girl who was in love with a local shepherd boy, but Solomon comes and wants her to marry him. True love wins out over marrying for wealth and popularity. I took the text of this book and used a colored scheme to mark who was speaking: pink for the shepherd girl, blue for the shepherd, purple for Solomon, and green for the chorus. This made it simple to just read it as a ‘play’.
This is not the only way of reading this book, but it was the one that I used because it made sense. Below are several places to download study guides using this approach, and an outline.
Enjoy - Hugh
A study guide by Berry Kercheville
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8n4i9n7jb9nwpix/SongofSongs%20Kercheville.pdf?dl=0
A study guide by R. Harbison
https://www.padfield.com/acrobat/harbison/song-of-solomon-rh.pdf
Outline from Sam and Patsy Dawson for help received
from their Commentary on the Song of Solomon:
GOD’S WOMAN, THE ROSE OF SHARON.
http://www.oocities.org/athens/sparta/3483/Otsong.htm
1.THE POEM IS INTRODUCED -- 1:1.
A.See 8:11, King Solomon had vineyards in the country.
B.See 1:6, A Shulamite girl worked in the King’s vineyard.
C.We suggest this as the opening scene in this drama -- Solomon is camped in the country, inspecting his vineyards; He has discovered this beautiful girl and brought her to his camp.
D.1:1, The story unfolds; And its conclusion Solomon writes the Poem.
2.THE SHULAMITE GIRL -- 1:2-3:5, INTRODUCED TO HER.
1:2-4a, The girl, brought to the Kings’ camp, thinks of the Shepherd she loves.
1:4b, Maidens who wait upon the King think this girl will be perfect for the King.
1:5-6, The girl describes herself: She is darkened by the sun, and is very beautiful.
1:7, She is in love with the Shepherd boy, and wants to leave the King and go to him.
1:8, Those who wait upon the King assure her that she has the choice to leave the King and go after the Shepherd if that is what she really wants, but she needs to be sure she is willing to give up wealth and live in poverty.
1:9-11, Solomon tells her how beautiful she is, and offers her a life of luxury.
1:12-14, While she is being wined and dined by the King she thinks of the Shepherd boy -- He may not be able to give her gold and silver, but he loves her and wants to be her husband. Her choice: She can have either true love with the Shepherd, or sensuous luxury with the King.
1:15, Again the King praises her beauty.
1:16-17, While the King is offering her a life in his palace, her mind turns to the handsome Shepherd -- He offers her a home, but it is not a king’s palace.
2:1, She has beauty of character which cannot be painted on with makeup. She does not have to accept just any man who might propose to her, even a king.
2:2, Solomon agrees she is like a beautiful rose, and that all the other girls are only thorns compared to her.
2:3-6, She loves the Shepherd; She longs for his embrace after they are married.
2:7, One theme of the Book: “Love cannot be forced.” Let love develop slowly and carefully; This will then be the solid foundation for a lasting marriage.
2:8-9, Her Shepherd is a strong man; Not a sissy, or feminine.
2:10-13, She considers the Shepherd’s proposal. They will have to work for their living, but they will enjoy the blessings that come with hard and honest work.
2:14, The Shepherd wants to be near her; She has a sweet comforting voice and a lovely form.
2:15-17, Just as the Shepherd needs her tenderness, she needs his strength; They love each other and they belong together.
NOTE: The Words “My Beloved is mine, and I am His” is the assurance of possessing and of being possessed by the Adorable Savior who brings joy to the heart of every saint.
3:1-4, She dreams of looking for the Shepherd. In her dreaming she finds him and refuses to let him go. She had rather have true love with a humble dwelling in the country than to have the prestige of being the wife of King Solomon.
3:5, She beseeches the maidens not to try to force love. If she is to love Solomon the way she loves the Shepherd, it will take time.
3.SOLOMON OR SHEPHERD? -- 3:6-6:3, SHE MUST CHOOSE.
3:6-11, Solomon’s great wealth and splendor is paraded as he brings the beautiful vineyard-keeper to his palace, hoping to win her love.
4:1-5, Solomon describes her beauty; He desires her in a fleshly way.
4:6, Her reply is sensible -- She asks for time to think.
4:7, She can think about it, but Solomon wants her to know he thinks she is beautiful.
4:8-15, She remembers the Shepherd’s proposal and how it contrasts with Solomon’s. The Shepherd does not think of her as just a toy, a passing delight for the flesh, but as someone to love and to cherish for the rest of his life. Verse 8, He wants to be with her. Verse 12, Her garden is locked and sealed up for her
husband; The Shepherd respects her purity and is glad she has saved herself just for him. (“My sister” -- They had a common background.)
4:16, She wants to be worthy of his praise and confidence.
5:1, The Shepherd looks forward to their marriage and their happiness together.
5:2, In the other dream she was searching for him; In this one he is begging her to come to him.
5:3, She resists at first; Far away from the country and in the glamour of the King’s palace, she is unsure of her feelings.
5:4, She sees the Shepherd’s hand in her dream, and this awakens her love for him. She thought that in the palace she could forget him, but she could not.
5:5, Now she knows for sure she wants the Shepherd; In her dream she runs to let him in.
5:6-8, But he is gone! She searches, but he is nowhere to be found. She no longer wants the attention of the King; She seeks the Shepherd she loves.
5:9, The maidens want to know why the Shepherd is so special.
5:10-16, She describes him; He is handsome and strong, and he speaks kind words (his language will never embarrass her); She will gladly practice Eph 5:33. He is her FRIEND; For a marriage to survive the bad times as well as the good, the couple must be true friends who enjoy being with each other.
6:1, The maidens want to know where the Shepherd has gone.
6:2, The Shulamite knows she can depend on him to be working.
6:3, The Shepherd and the Shulamite are bound by mutual love and respect; They belong together.
4.FLESHLY LUST TRIES -- 6:4-7:9: SOLOMON PROPOSES.
6:4-7, Solomon describes her beauty (sensuous love sees only this). Her eyes confuse him because she does not look at him with love; She is not ready to spend her life with him.
6:8-10, Solomon has lots of wives, but none as beautiful as the Shulamite; His queens praise her.
6:11-12, Solomon tells his women how he met this girl.
6:13, The Shulamite has made up her mind to go to the Shepherd; Solomon and the women beg her to stay; They want to gaze at her.
7:1-5, They describe her as one who is perfect to dance for them and to amuse them.
7:6-9, Solomon tells why he wants her: She is beautiful and he thinks her body will solve his problems; Her kisses and perfume will make it more pleasant for him.
5.TRUE LOVE TRIUMPHS -- 7:10-8:14, THE SHEPHERD WINS!
7:10, She cannot stand the thought of being united with Solomon, whom she does not love; The Shepherd loves her, and she is saving herself for him.
7:11-13, She calls the Shepherd to take her to the country and to their life there. She will give her love freely and will not withhold any of her charms from him. Their happiness is sure and their home will be blessed.
8:1, The Shepherd is like a BROTHER (their backgrounds are similar), and she expects to find real love and a happy marriage. She will love him with true love in a beautiful and pure relationship.
8:2, She will wait on him. A liberated woman would say, “He can wait on himself!”, but this ROSE OF SHARON (2:1) is not that kind of woman; she is THE LILY OF THE VALLEYS (2:1), and she shows her love and affection in acts of kindness.
8:3, She looks forward to the Shepherd’s embrace, and will not withhold her affection in any way.
8:4, She does not want the other girls to force love. Wisely, she is laying a foundation for a lifetime of love and affection.
8:5, The Shepherd speaks; He did not force himself upon her, but won her love by spending time with her, getting acquainted with her.
8:6, He understands the seriousness of marriage; There is no doubt she belongs only to him; Love is as strong as death, and marriage is for life.
8:7, True love will not die, but will endure and grow through the years. A man might buy beautiful women, but love cannot be bought or forced. Solomon, with wealth and power, could not buy the love which she freely gave to the Shepherd.
8:8, Others saw her happiness and asked for advice. Their sister is too young to be interested in boys, but what should they do when she gets older?
8:9, If she is a WALL (can say “NO” to fleshly offers), give her extra privileges; If she is a DOOR (open to all boys), they will have to protect her from them.
8:10, The Shulamite could say “NO,” even to the King’s offers.
8:11, Solomon owned vineyards which he leased to others to work for him.
8:12, Just as Solomon controlled his property, so the Shulamite controlled her purity.
8:13-14, The Shepherd calls her; She is ready for marriage because she has selected her husband according to God’s principles of truth and wisdom. This couple will enjoy the blessings God created to be enjoyed in marriage.
