Song of Solomon 1-8Author: Solomon
Theme: The Beloved
Date of Writing: 10th Century B.C
Theme: The Beloved
Date of Writing: 10th Century B.C
"My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies." Song of Solomon 2:6
The Shulamite Cinderella
Act 1: Put to Work!
Solomon had a vineyard in the hill country of Ephraim, just outside the little town of Shunam, about 50-miles north of Jerusalem (8:11). The vineyard was rented out to a family of sharecroppers, consisting of a mother, two sons, and two daughters. The oldest of these girls was the Shulamite, and the youngest, her little sister (6:13; 8:8).
Solomon had a vineyard in the hill country of Ephraim, just outside the little town of Shunam, about 50-miles north of Jerusalem (8:11). The vineyard was rented out to a family of sharecroppers, consisting of a mother, two sons, and two daughters. The oldest of these girls was the Shulamite, and the youngest, her little sister (6:13; 8:8).
The Shulamite was the Cinderella of the family, having great natural beauty, but unnoticed by the world. Her brothers made her work very hard, tending to the vineyards, so that she had little opportunity to care for her personal appearance. (1:6) She pruned the vines, she set traps for the little foxes (2:15), she also kept the flocks (1:8).From being out in the open so often, she became sunburned (1:6)
Act 2: The Shepherd Stranger
One day a mysterious, handsome stranger comes to the vineyard and soon wins the heart of the Shulamite girl. Unknown to her, he is really Solomon, disguised as a lowly shepherd. She asks about his flocks (1:7). He answers evasively, but is very definite concerning his love for her (1:8-10). He leaves her, but promises he will someday return to her.
During his absence she dreams of him on two occasions;
a. First Dream - that they are already married and that one night she awakens to find him missing from her bed. She quickly dresses and goes out looking for him (3:2-4).
b. Second Dream - that her beloved has returned and besought her to open the door and let him in. But she refuses for she is unwilling to re-clothe herself and soil her feet going to the door. Soon however, her heart smites her for this shabby action and she leaps for the door. But alas, he has gone! "I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." (5:4-6) Suddenly and joyfully she discovers his whereabouts.
a. First Dream - that they are already married and that one night she awakens to find him missing from her bed. She quickly dresses and goes out looking for him (3:2-4).
b. Second Dream - that her beloved has returned and besought her to open the door and let him in. But she refuses for she is unwilling to re-clothe herself and soil her feet going to the door. Soon however, her heart smites her for this shabby action and she leaps for the door. But alas, he has gone! "I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." (5:4-6) Suddenly and joyfully she discovers his whereabouts.
These then, are her two dreams concerning the mysterious shepherd lover of the Shulamite girl. But why did he leave her? Where did he go? Would he ever return?
Act 3: The Mighty Monarch
One day the little town of Shunam receives some electrifying news. King Solomon himself is approaching their city. But the lovesick and lonely maiden is not interested, and takes no further notice until word is brought to her that the powerful potentate himself desires to see her. She is puzzled until she is brought into his presence, where she recognizes him as her beloved shepherd. He then gently explains to her that although he has already gathered sixty wives, eighty concubines, and unnumbered virgins, that she will be his choice bride and true love (6:8). He invites her to come with him and promises to care for her little sister (8:8, 9). The bride is then placed in the King's chariot, made from the wood of Lebanon, with silver posts, a golden canopy, and purple seating (3:9, 10). Together, they ride off to the Royal Palace in Jerusalem, accompanied by sixty mighty swordsmen and experienced body guards (3:7, 8)
One day the little town of Shunam receives some electrifying news. King Solomon himself is approaching their city. But the lovesick and lonely maiden is not interested, and takes no further notice until word is brought to her that the powerful potentate himself desires to see her. She is puzzled until she is brought into his presence, where she recognizes him as her beloved shepherd. He then gently explains to her that although he has already gathered sixty wives, eighty concubines, and unnumbered virgins, that she will be his choice bride and true love (6:8). He invites her to come with him and promises to care for her little sister (8:8, 9). The bride is then placed in the King's chariot, made from the wood of Lebanon, with silver posts, a golden canopy, and purple seating (3:9, 10). Together, they ride off to the Royal Palace in Jerusalem, accompanied by sixty mighty swordsmen and experienced body guards (3:7, 8)
In Conclusion
Solomon, represents Christ as the triumphant prince of peace. The camp in the wilderness represents the Church in the world; the peaceful reign of Solomon, after all enemies had been subdued, represents the Church in heaven, of which joy the Song gives a foretaste. The interpretation is twofold:
Solomon, represents Christ as the triumphant prince of peace. The camp in the wilderness represents the Church in the world; the peaceful reign of Solomon, after all enemies had been subdued, represents the Church in heaven, of which joy the Song gives a foretaste. The interpretation is twofold:
1. Primarily, the book is the expression of pure marital love as ordained of God in creation, and the vindication of that love as against both asceticism and lust--the two profanations of the holiness of marriage.
2. The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church.
Personal Observation
My soul's treasure is Jesus Christ. He is the darling of Heaven and the delight of Earth! The Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon; perfect in His character and powerful in His atoning death. "Oh, how I love Jesus!"
My soul's treasure is Jesus Christ. He is the darling of Heaven and the delight of Earth! The Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon; perfect in His character and powerful in His atoning death. "Oh, how I love Jesus!"
"Yea, thou art mine, my blessed Lord,
O my Beloved, thou art mine!
And, purchased with thy precious blood,
My God and Savior, I am thine.
"MY CHRIST! Oh, sing it in the heavens,
Let every angel lift his voice;
Sound with ten thousand harps his praise,
With me, ye heavenly hosts, rejoice.
"The gift unspeakable is given,
The grace of God has made him mine;
And, now, before both earth and heaven,
Lord, I will own that I am thine."
I Love You,
Deborah
No comments:
Post a Comment