July 31

Introduction to Song of Solomon

Read Song of Solomon 1 – 8

Highlights:

This beautiful love story shows the love of God for Israel and illustrates the love of Christ for His Church. It provides a model for the quality of love God desires to see between a man and his wife as well as our love for His Church. It opens with a Shulamite maiden working in a vineyard. A handsome stranger wins her heart. He promises to return and when he does he reveals himself as the mighty monarch.

This poem describes the wholesome enjoyment of married love between a man and a woman. It expresses the delight of the bridegroom in the bride and of the bride in her husband. The bride describes her wonderful memories as her bridegroom tarries. The whole narrative has a dreamlike quality. The circumstances are vague and not such as occur in ordinary life. The longing, the wondering, and the searching represent the images of dreams. The bride was asleep on her bed, but her thoughts were continually about her beloved absent bridegroom. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not (Song 3:1).

Every believer is assured that my Beloved is mine, and I am His (2:16), for Jesus Christ has entered into our very lives. Our love relationship continues to grow and deepen as we listen to Him speak to us as we read and apply His Word. We become different people by virtue of our relationship with the coming Bridegroom. With Paul, we too can say: I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

As Christians, sometimes we enjoy a very close sense of the presence of Christ. The hymn writer wrote: "He walks with me and He talks with me." But all too often His presence seems far away. Yet our love for Him continues to grow as we wait expectantly for that first glimpse of Him when He welcomes us home (John 3:29; Eph. 5:22-23; I Thess. 4:16-17).

As the bride, we also wait with great anticipation for the return of our Bridegroom Jesus when we too will be able to say: He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love (Song 2:4).

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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 (John 14:1-3).

Thought for Today:

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (Rom. 12:12).

Christ Revealed:

As the chiefest (outstanding) among ten thousand (Song 5:10). Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16).

Word Studies:

1:3 savour = fragrance; 1:11 borders = ornaments; 1:12 spikenard = perfume; 1:16 our bed is green = we recline on a grassy field; 2:5; Stay me = Invigorate me; flagons = with delicacies; sick of love = overcome, lovesick; 4:4 bucklers = small shields; 5:4 bowels = heart; 8:5 raised = awakened.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Government Officials: Gov. Deval Patrick (MA), Rep. Adam Putnam (FL), Rep. Betty Sutton (OH), and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC) • Country: Switzerland (7 million) in central Europe • Major languages: German and French • Religious freedom • 53% Roman Catholic; 41% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Intercede in prayer for your friends (Job 42:7-10).

Optional Reading:

Hebrews 8

Memory Verse for the Week:

Isaiah 53:5