…

United Kingdom – Part 2 Lesson 23 Song of Solomon

3000 year old play (poetic language) Emphasis on romantic love Anticipation of aspects of marriage

Song of Solomon Various Interpretations Figurative allegory Literal – 2 major views Two Characters (Solomon, Shulammite woman) Three Characters (Solomon, Shulammite woman, and the shepherd)

Love The bride is brought into the chambers of the King She is thinking of her love She is self conscience of her appearance “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, …”

Solomon and the Shulammite They are together (1:8) Solomon looks to woo her (1:9-15) She complements him back (1:16) She begins to long for her true love (2:3-6)

Dreams of her love The First Song of the Shulammite 2:8-17 – Seems to be as day dream of her love and what he has said to her 3:1-5 – Reflects on her dream at night and her searching to find him then finding him

Love faces off The procession with Solomon Chapter 4 Solomon’s words of love The Shepherd’s words of love

A Second Dream Chapter 5 She may be too late. He is gone. She is lovesick Her description of her beloved

Solomon’s third attempt Solomon repeats his love of her beauty The queens and concubines speak of her beauty Solomon states his desire to be with her She responds that she is her beloved

Love is victorious She comes back to her home with her beloved Her brothers speak She speaks of what she has Make haste for the marriage

Key Verses 2:7 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the L ORD. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.

…