SONG OF SOLOMON LESSON 1


     The Song Of Solomon is sometimes, also, called the Song Of Songs.
It is agreed by most scholars, that Solomon was the penman of this
book. Love is spoken of in such an explicit way in this book, that
some people wanted to leave it out of the Bible. I personally believe
that would be a mistake. It is not to be taken literally. It is love
poetry and is really speaking of God's love affair with Israel, or
Jesus' love affair with the church. We will deal with it as the
relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. The bridegroom in this
book is speaking of Christ, and the bride is speaking of all
Christians.

     Some of the modern hymns in the church were based upon this book.
One is "Jesus Rose Of Sharon".  Some believe that "I Have Found A
Friend In Jesus" is taken from this book, also. Psalms chapter 45 is a
companion to this book. It is, also, a song of loves, which speaks of
Christ and His kingdom. "My beloved" is a frequent expression. This is
what the Christians call Christ, as in the following Scripture. Song
of Solomon 2:16  "My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth
among the lilies." The Father, also, spoke of Jesus as "My beloved".
Matthew 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of
the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased; hear ye him."

     We will now begin in Song of Solomon 1:1 "The song of songs,
which [is] Solomon's."

     This very first verse leaves no doubt this is penned by Solomon.
He intended this to be a love song to those lost souls who have found
a Saviour and a groom.

     Song of Solomon 1:2 "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his
mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine."

     The way a bride and her groom show their mutual love for each
other is in kissing each other's lips. This shows a very close
relationship that the world does not share in. Christ has just such a
relationship with the church. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The greatest
love that exists is that Agape love that Christ had for His followers.
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."  This love is far beyond human love. This is love
of the unlovely.

     Song of Solomon 1:3 "Because of the savour of thy good ointments
thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love
thee."

     Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who were waiting for the
bridegroom. Five of them ran out of oil, before He arrived. This is
speaking of virgins in the sense of those who have not profaned
themselves with false gods. II 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."  The virgin, in all
of these instances, is speaking of the believers in Christ, who make
up the bride. The name of Jesus is sweet to the Christians. Jesus
means Saviour, and that is exactly what He did for all of us who will
receive Him. We see, in the following Scripture, that one woman
thought much more of Jesus than she did her expensive perfume. Matthew
26:7 "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very
precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat]."

     Song of Solomon 1:4 "Draw me, we will run after thee: the king
hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in
thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love
thee."

     These are words spoken from a heart of love. I believe the bride
is speaking to her bridegroom here. The upright are the Christians.
All believers in Christ will be carried to the chambers of the Lord.
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."  John
14:3 "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."
He wants our love more than anything else. He asked Peter three times,
"Lovest thou me"? He loves us, and wants us to return that love to
Him.

     Song of Solomon 1:5 "I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of
Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon."

     Black, in this particular instance, means dusky. This could be
skin tanned by the sun, or dusty from the desert. Black can, also,
indicate famine or wretchedness, as well. "Comely" means suitable or
beautiful in this Scripture. The word "Kedar" means to be dark. It is,
also, a tribe descended from Ishmael. The curtains of Solomon could be
speaking of a tent in the wilderness, where he stayed, when he was
away from the palace. The bridegroom seems to be speaking of her
unworthiness here. It appears, from the verse above, these are the
Christians who make up the bride, and not the natural house of Israel.

     Song of Solomon 1:6 "Look not upon me, because I [am] black,
because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry
with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own
vineyard have I not kept."

     This black, again, means dark from the sun. It is almost as if
the bride is saying, do not look at my outward appearance. It appears,
the bride had done the work that had been intended for the brothers.
This still makes me think of the physical house of Israel, which
represents the "male child" throughout the Bible. The "maid child"
always represent the church. The maid child did the work the male
child would not do. Matthew 10:36 "And a man's foes [shall be] they of
his own household." Galatians 4:29 "But as then he that was born after
the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it
is] now."  Natural Israel {brothers}, were the flesh. Spiritual Israel
{daughters} are the Christians.

     Song of Solomon 1:7 "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where
thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why
should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy
companions?"

     This is the bride speaking to the bridegroom {Jesus}. He is the
Shepherd. His sheep do not follow after other shepherds. John 10:27
" My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" He
leads all the believers to a place of safety.

     Song of Solomon 1:8  "If thou know not, O thou fairest among
women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy
kids beside the shepherds' tents."

     The fairest among women is the bride of Christ. They are to bring
the young Christians with them. They are to eat what the Shepherd has
provided. They must stay as close as possible to the Shepherd. Their
protection is in His presence. This is like the Christians on earth
staying as close to the Lord as they can. They are waiting for the
rapture of the church. They will be doing whatever they can to bring
more into the sheepfold. They do not wander out in the world, they
stay close to the Shepherd.

     Song of Solomon 1:9 "I have compared thee, O my love, to a
company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots."

     The horses are just speaking of the stately beauty and the
strength that the horses had. They were at the command of Pharaoh.
They were the finest in the land. This is, possibly, speaking of the
bride, being chosen and being the finest.

     Song of Solomon 1:10 "Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of
jewels], thy neck with chains [of gold]."

     This is speaking of the blessings the groom had bestowed upon the
bride. Jesus has brought us blessings beyond measure, the greatest of
which is eternal life. The chains of gold around the neck show His
approval of the bride.

     Song of Solomon 1:11 "We will make thee borders of gold with
studs of silver."

     "Silver" symbolizes redemption. Gold symbolizes God. God has put
a protection around His bride. He has sealed her with redemption.

     Song of Solomon 1:12  "While the king [sitteth] at his table, my
spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof."

     "Spikenard" is a strong perfume. The king is at rest. The Lord is
even now sitting at the right hand of the Father. One of the things we
are instructed to do as Christians, is to partake of the Lord's table.
Every time we take communion, we are to do it in remembrance of Him.
The fragrance is the sweet odor rising to the Lord. The prayers of the
saints are to rise to Him as a sweet smelling savor.

     Song of Solomon 1:13 "A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto
me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts."

     "Myrrh" is sweet smelling savor for the wedding bed. Myrrh was,
also, used in the anointing oil. This is speaking of that wonderful
communion between Christ and His church. The statement above is
speaking of Christ's personal relationship with each believer.
Christianity is not collective. It is a personal relationship between
Christ and each Christian. Christianity is not a religion, it is a
relationship. "Betwixt my breasts" means next to my heart.

     Song of Solomon 1:14 "My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of
camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi."

     The figurative meaning of "camphire" is price of redemption.
There were beautiful gardens in En-gedi in the time of Solomon. Jesus
is our redemption. The plan of salvation is beautiful beyond compare.

     Song of Solomon 1:15 "Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold,
thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes."

     The bride has spoken of the wonder of the groom in previous
verses. Now, the groom speaks of the soft eyes of the bride. The
"dove" symbolizes love. Not only does the Lord love us, but He wants
our love, as well. He wants to see love in our eyes for Him. The
beauty, spoken of here, is that inward beauty that is seen in the
eyes, which are the windows to the soul.

     Song of Solomon 1:16 "Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea,
pleasant: also our bed [is] green."

     The bed of green is similar to the green pastures in the 23rd
Psalm. Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he
leadeth me beside the still waters."  The mutual admiration of the
bride and groom is very important.

     Song of Solomon 1:17 "The beams of our house [are] cedar, [and]
our rafters of fir."

     This speaks of a home that is made of cedar. Cedar is a wood that
is strong, and does not rot easily. This is a home that would be very
similar to a comfortable country home.  Hebrews 11:10 "For he looked
for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God."





                     Song Of Solomon 1 Questions


1.  What other name is Song of Solomon known as?
2.  Who was the penman?
3.  Why did some people want to remove this book from the Bible?
4.  What is it really speaking of?
5.  In this lesson, we deal with it as speaking of _________ ________
    and His ________.
6.  What are some songs taken from this book?
7.  What chapter in Psalms is a companion to this book?
8.  The Christians call Christ _____ ____________.
9.  Quote Matthew chapter 3 verse 17.
10. Where is another Scripture where the Father calls Jesus, my
    beloved Son?
11. The very first verse says these are ____________.
12. A bride and groom show their mutual love for each other by
    _____________.
13. Quote John chapter 15 verse 13.
14. Quote John chapter 3 verse 16.
15. Thy name is as ointment ____________ forth.
16. Jesus told a parable about ______ virgins who were waiting for the
    bridegroom.
17. I am jealous over you with _________ __________.
18. Who is the virgin speaking of?
19. Quote Matthew chapter 26 verse 7.
20. The upright are the _____________.
21. Quote John chapter 14 verse 2.
22. How many times did Jesus ask Peter, "Lovest thou me"?
23. What does "black", in verse 5, mean?
24. What does "comely" mean?
25. What does "Kedar" mean?
26. Who was Kedar descended from?
27. Why was she black?
28. Quote Matthew chapter 10 verse 36.
29. The "man child" represents the _________ _______.
30. The "maid child" represents who?
31. Quote Galatians chapter 4 verse 29.
32. Who is the Shepherd?
33. Quote John chapter 10 verse 27.
34. Who are the fairest among women?
35. What are the horses, in verse 9, speaking of?
36. What is the greatest blessing Jesus has given us?
37. "Silver" symbolizes __________.
38. What is "spikenard"?
39. What is "Myrrh"?
40. Christianity is not a religion, it is a ___________.
41. What is the figurative meaning of "camphire"?
42. The _______ are the windows of the soul.
43. Quote Psalms chapter 23 verse 2.
44. The beams of our house is ________.
45. Quote Hebrews chapter 11 verse 10.