Who better to write this book of romantic verse than King Solomon? In 1Kings 4:32 we read: He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. After all, Solomon was the son of a musician and songwriter King David. Solomon was well able to write about intimate relationships, and understood well, how to win over a new wife, for in his lifetime he had acquired six hundred wives. By reflecting on Solomon’s lifestyle in his early years as a king, we can learn many things of value that are importance to our way of life.
Lets reflect on what happened when Solomon became king, for in (I Kings 3: 9 to 12) Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding to rule God’s people well. God honoured Solomon’s request by granting him great wisdom and understanding far exceeding the wisdom of any one living on the earth at that time. But God did not drop the wisdom into his mind Solomon had to gain the understanding.
In 1 Kings 4:33 we read - He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34:Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. Solomon had to make time to sit, stand, listen, observe and ponder the ways of life to gain this understanding. In this modern world making time to reflect is something that is very hard to do, to observe learn and listen to what God wants us to enjoy, from Him. Solomon was King and ruler of a great nation, was the wisest man on earth, yet he had time to learn and listen, and get great joy from it. But also was able to impart that wisdom to others, bringing them joy and peace also. The secret was in having God as the source to the wisdom and understanding.
We need to make God our source of wisdom and knowledge, and make time to learn and enjoy it.
Let us take a brief look at the Song of Solomon. We soon become aware of the heart of Solomon, as we read some of the intimate and affectionate feelings of his heart. In Song of Solomon 4:9 we read; You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10:How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!.
The first and most important lesson we learn is, the deep love that they both have for one another. This is the bedrock to a good marriage, but to the Christian it is also the foundation to our life with the Lord. How true are the words of Paul to the church in 1 Corinthians 13:13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Gods Love should be at the centre of our life.
But are you able to accept the love that the Lord has to offer you. If we go to the 1 Kings 4:29 we read (KJV) And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. We see that Solomon had an open heart, ready to receive all the love given to him, yet we, as the children of God can we receive from him. John speaks about himself in John 21:7. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" The question you may ask is, why only John whom Jesus loved. Jesus loved all the disciples equally, but it was evident to all the other disciples that Jesus had a more intimate relationship with John. John accepted the affection of Jesus whole-heartedly as well as his teaching. Consequently John was able to receive from the Lord in a more intimate and deeper way.
For the Christian that openness of heart is so important, if we are to receive the full depth and understanding of Gods love.
Solomon then describes the security of their relationship, but does not mention his security in his beloved only the security by his beloved for in Song of Solomon 2:16 we read: My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 7:10 I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me. Song of Solomon 6:3 I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies. In chapter 2 she is assured of his loyalty to her, and that he accepts and welcomes that loyalty. In chapter 7 she goes a step further and she is wholly his, and that he accepts that she is wholly his. But than in chapter 6 she reveals there is singleness of heart by both, and knows that the one she loves does wholly accept her, and she is totally accepted by him.
What can we learn from these words? Solomon says in Song Of Solomon 4:9 You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. As children of God, as Christians we see Paul states in Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Again John describes seeing in a vision a celebration for the church, having been taken up into heaven in a day to come in Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. John then records seeing the church coming back down out of Heaven for in Revelation 21:2 we read: I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Solomon’s relationship is with his bride, and portrays a wonderful example of our relationship with the Lord as our bridegroom. Solomon does not state his need for security, only the bride. Likewise as the bride of Christ, we have the Lord who is our total security, as we read in Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
We do not read of the marriage-taking place in the Song of Solomon. For us as the bride of Christ we also are still awaiting that call from the bridegroom to the marriage. In the mean time let us live in the words of Song of Solomon 2:8 Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9:My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.10: My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. 11:See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12:Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13:The fig-tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." 14:My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding-places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
I came to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me,And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own,
And the Joy we share as we tarry there,
Non-other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the bird’s hush their singing,
And the melody, that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go, though the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling
Let us seek out our Lord with all our heart. Let us make time to learn and follow Him. Let us discover afresh the Joy of being in His presence and to feel the richness of His eternal Love.
Further studies to this book will be given at a later date.
