Song of
Solomon
This
book is a love story depicting the love of Solomon for a Shulamite woman. It is
obviously intended to teach by allegory the love of Jehovah for Israel and the
love of Christ for the church and the reciprocation of love by Israel and the
church for Jehovah and Christ.
Song of Solomon 1, 2 – Romancing. These two chapters
speak of the courtship of Solomon and the Shulamite. This consists at least six
things. •Enlistment of affections: loving attraction to each other
begins. •Encouragement of others: the daughters of Jerusalem encourage
the Shulamite in her love for Solomon. •Enjoyment of each other's
company: she wants to be with him. •Enlargement of affection: the
love for each other grows. •Endearing words: both describe each other
in high praise. •Engagement: "My beloved is mine, and I am his" (2:16).
Song of Solomon 3, 4 – Rejoicing. Love culminates in
joyous marriage ("the day of his gladness" [3:11]). •Coming
for the marriage (3:6-11): the
coming of Solomon to get his bride according to Jewish marriage customs; the
procession of Solomon to the bride's house was most impressive.
•Consummation of the marriage (4:1-16): this
involves Solomon declaring to the bride her great and enchanting beauty.
Song of Solomon
5 – Removal. Estrangement occurs, and
the couple is removed from each other. •Reason for the removal:
slowness of the wife to respond to the husband. •Remorse over the
removal: the wife searches sorrowfully for her husband, tells others of his
attractiveness.
Song of Solomon
6 – Recovery. •Concern of
others: "where is thy beloved gone?" •Coming to the husband: the
wife goes to the husband she had offended. •Communication of the reunited
couple: he speaks of her beauty and she delights in his presence.
•Curiosity of others: they want to know the outcome.
Song of Solomon 7, 8 – Reaffirming. The love of the
husband and wife grows and matures in these two chapters. •Words of
love: he tells her how beautiful she is, and she delights in his love.
•Words of longing: the wife expresses her desires to her husband about
various matters of life which especially concern her.