Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon Homework

1. What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

Song of Solomon was written during a golden age for the people of Israel and, being poetry, would have been highly appreciated. We can see in the text that it refers often to going out into the city (3:2) and having night watchmen (5:7), so we can see that they were in a time of peace. 

It is likely that although this was probably written for an individual at the time, it would have been appreciated by all the people of Israel as well. 

2. What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

This book could either be written by Solomon, for Solomon, or to Solomon. It is often assumed by scholars that it was written for Solomon to perhaps be read at one of his wedding ceremonies. Other believe that it was Solomon himself that wrote it for someone he loved dearly. And yet others also believe that it could have been written by a woman to Solomon.

Looking at the text as a whole, I personally believe this to be written with Solomon in mind, possibly for him to perform. Solomon himself, with the many wives and concubines, I do not believe would have written something so personal and intimate for just one woman (4:9). Likewise, I feel as if the poetry itself would not have been written by a woman at the time, because they wouldn’t have been as versed in the arts as men of the courts of the king. My deduction would be that it is written by a poet with Solomon in mind, possibly to be performed for or by Solomon himself. 

3. What are the main themes and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

Song of Solomon is overflowing with a picture of love and intimacy in marriage and what it means to belong to someone else. Through the book, we see an idea of purity through their romance. The two long for each other in a very passionate way. They love that they are seen as beautiful and desirable to the other (8:10), but they constantly encourage the reader to “not awaken love before it’s time.”(8:4) Purity is encouraged as a building block for this type of intimacy. Likewise, there is a deep devotion towards one another that can not be broken, even through long distances. (8:6-7) 

Song of Solomon is a beautiful poem about the intimacies of a love that is pure and to be delighted in- within the walls of a marriage covenant. 

4. What is the primary reason this book was written?

Song of Solomon, although most likely written for or by Solomon for a specific reason, was included in the word of God because it shows the purity of love within God’s boundaries. God is God in all aspects of life, and although sex is seen as a somewhat taboo subject, this is in fact a very important area. We have the chance to look into God’s heart within relationships through the book of Song of Solomon.

5. What does this book show about the Character and Nature of God?

Ok I’m going to go off on my own little rant here. I know that there is a debate on whether this is a literal story about sex and marriage or whether it is figurative, but I honestly think that it is both. Song of Solomon is certainly a literal book. It is about sex, hands down. But all the while, I think we need to understand why God made sex in the first place. 

Sex is very important to God simply because, in the same way that marriage is meant to be a picture of God’s relationship with his bride, sex is a part of that picture. Without getting too graphic, it is an intimate moment to open yourself up and know someone so deeply and personally (3:4), to not be ashamed, and to be known by them in the same way (6:3).

Song of Solomon, although I believe is very literal in it’s subject matter, shows us God’s heart for his people. This is why purity before marriage and during marriage is such an important issue to Him (4:12). This is why he hates divorce. It’s supposed to be a picture and a model our of our relationship with the Lord. 

So through Song of Solomon, I believe we get to see God’s heart and love for his people. We see that sex and intimacy are important to God, as is a love that is pure. He is the creator of love, sex, and marriage. He creates the desire between a man and a woman. It is a sacred, beautiful thing before God. 

6. What does this book show you about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

Song of Solomon, although not explicitly about God’s redemptive plan, gives us a picture of the redemption of marriage. In history up to this point, sex has been used in many perverted ways. In fact, sex was most often used as a sacrifice to the pagan gods even as a way to entice the gods themselves. It was extremely graphic and vile. 

But God is redeeming what this looks like to the people. He is reminding them that there is beauty in the creation of marriage and sex. It’s God’s own doing, not of the other gods. 

7. Personal Application

This is such an interesting time in our lives as a newly married couple. It’s so weird and different having this whole new aspect of life to manage. But even through all the change in our lives right now, all the struggles, it is important to remember the reason God created sex. It’s not just simply something that is done. It really is an act of worship to God. Not in the nasty pagan ways, but in the healthy marriage kind of way. Marriage isn’t easy. There are so many aspects to it. And so often we look at finances and family and so many other aspects of marriage, but this cannot be over looked. I think this is important for us to remember in our marriage as well.

8. Point of Passion 

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to waken love until the time is right.” (2:7)

We’ve all seen those little skits that you do in youth group where the woman is standing at the alter to get married, holding a paper heart. As she goes to hand it to her husband, multiple men come up and tear a piece off. When she is finally able to hand it over, it’s no longer whole. 

This is often seen as super cliche. (Guilty!) But it’s so so so true. I’ve seen many friends who have had to go through some very intense healing, always painful, when it comes to mistakes in past relationships. God’s boundaries on relationships are always for the benefit of his people, but that’s sometimes hard to us to understand. This can be taken even beyond just sex, but emotionally as well. Wait for God’s timing which comes in the form of marriage. And to add onto that, wait for God’s timing to be married! I’ve seen others as well that desired each other so much (among the reasons) that they got married very quickly. Yes, it was right to wait for marriage, but the marriage itself might not have been God’s timing. There’s a lot of growing up that is then forced when you become one with someone else.

Marriage isn’t easy, but it’s especially difficult when you bring in complications such as past relationships and not waiting on the Lord.