The Strand Study Bible

SONG OF SOLOMON

1032

SONG OF SOLOMON

(SOS 1:15 & 2:14 & 4:1 & 5:2 & 6:9). A dove in the Bible symbolizes seven things: 1. peace (Gen 8:8-12/ Gal 5:22 and Eph 4:3 ) 2. liberty (Psa 55:6/ II Cor 3:17 )

3. beauty (Psa 68:11-13/ I Chro 16:29 ) 4. innocence (Mt 10:16/ Jn 14:16-18 ) 5. meekness/gentleness (the point of being easily hurt - Num 12: 1- 3 , Jere 48:28 and Hos 7:11 & 11:11/ Eph 4:30-32 )

6. mourning (Isa 38:14 & 59:11; Ezk 7:16 and Nah 2:7/ Rom 8:21-26 ) 7. holiness (as in the HOLY SPIRIT ) ( Mt 3:16/Mk 1:10/Lk 3:22/Jn 1:32 ).

NOTE – Of the seven symbols represented by the dove, the two symbols that are talked about the most are holiness and mourning . What CHRIST (who is depicted by Solomon) is looking for when He looks at us (the Church) is HOLY SPIRIT empathy for others. In essence, we (the Church) should have doves’ eyes . Question: What does CHRIST see when He looks into your eyes? Does He see peace in your eyes? Liberty ? Beauty ? Innocence ? Meekness/Gentleness ? Mourning ? Holiness ? 1:16a Verses 16-17 contain the reply of the Shulamite girl and her thoughts concerning Solomon’s thoughts of her (vs 15). She replies that he, too, is comely ( thou art fair ). More than that, however, he is pleasant (sweet and delightful) to her. Question: What makes CHRIST (Solomon) so delightful ( pleasant ) to us (the Shulamite girl; the Church)? Answer : Whatever delights God makes Him delightful to us! NOTE – This word ( pleasant ) is found 13 times in the Old Testament and is used to describe what God delights in. Question: What does God delight in? God delights in: 1. the assets in another’s life ( II Sam 1:17 -23) All too often we focus on the liabilities of another instead of their assets. Although God’s righteousness demands accountability amongst His creation, His love (Jn 3:16) and mercy (Mic 7:18) is extended to all (Rom 6:23). Why? Because He delights in us (Psa 8:1-4-9) and focuses upon our worth, not our worthlessness ( Mt 13:44,45 ). 2. the Word/the WORD , with which the sweet psalmist of Israel (David) delighted our hearts (II Sam 23:1 and Prov 24:3-4) According to Psalm 138:2, God bases His entire reputation on His Word/the WORD (Isa 42:1 and Mal 3:1), and thus delights in its wisdom (Prov 8:22-32). 3. the obedience of His followers (Job 36:11 and Prov 22:17-18) God delights in the obedience of His creation (Psa 147:7-11) because He wants to bless them (Deut 28:1-14), not curse them (Deut 28:15-68), because He wants them “ to ride upon the high places of the earth ” (Isa 58:13-14). 4. the spiritual inheritance we have in God (Psa 16:5-7,11) The spiritual inheritance we have in God includes His great protection (SOS 2:3), which He delights in giving us (Eph 1:10-13/ Jn 10:27-29). 5. the songs we sing to the Lord (Psa 81:1-2 & 135:3 & 147:1) God delights in spiritual music and the instruments that accompany it (Eph 5:18-19). He even uses it to soothe fears (I Sam 16:14-23). 6. the beauty of unity (Psa 133:1) God delights in us (SOS 7:6) when we unify with Him in the things He delights in (Jn 17:20-23). Question: Can two be in unity if they fail to agree (Amos 3:3)? 7. the importance of our testimony (Prov 23:6-8) Those who hang with the wrong crowd end up marring their own testimony, but those who hang with the Lord are His delight ( Jere 9:23 -24). According to Proverbs 11:20 & 15:8, God delights in our testimony (… but such as are upright in their way are his delight ). IN CONCLUSION: Those who desire to delight in the Lord must:

1. think about others in light of their assets, not their liabilities 2. read His Word (Psa 1:1-2 & 119:16,24,35,47,70,77,92,143,174) 3. obey His Word (Job 22:22-26 and Psa 40:8) 4. dwell on the wealth we have in CHRIST (Psa 37:4 and Eph 1:3 ) 5. sing the songs that praise His name 6. strive to live peaceably with others (Rom 12:18-21, I Thess 5:12-13 and Heb 12:14) 7. hang with the right crowd (I Cor 15:33)

1:16b After spending the night in the country both Solomon and the Shulamite girl emerge from their tents, she from hers, he from his. Immediately she looks at him and expresses her delight by praising him ( thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant ), while admiring the country landscape around her (the meaning behind “ our bed is green ”). 2:1 The Shulamite girl likened “herself” ( I am ) to the rose (crocus) of the Plain of Sharon, that is, she likened herself to a mere flower of the coastal wasteland; a mere lily amongst a host of lilies. 2:2 Solomon responds to the Shulamite girl by telling her that she is indeed a lily ; first amongst the flowers in God’s eyes ( I Ki 7:19,26 ). 2:3 The Shulamite girl responds to Solomon by comparing him ( so is my beloved ) to an apple tree . Like the Lord (Psa 17:6-8 & 91:1-4 and Mt 11:28-30 & 23:37), the apple tree not only provides shade ( under his shadow ), it provides sustenance/nutrition ( his fruit was sweet to my taste ) to those who experience it (Psa 34:8). NOTE – There are over 7,000 varieties of apples in the world. Like the God who made them, apples offer seemingly unlimited benefits. The range of this fruit’s benefits is truly impressive. Besides the comforting cover the apple tree provides, there are three