Song of Solomon Simplified

Title

Some Call it “Song of Songs”

Some Call it “Song of Solomon”

Song of Solomon 1:1 (NASB)

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.

This Title in the First Verse Probably Means “The Best Song”

The Song of Solomon is Wisdom Literature and Love Poetry Rolled into One

Author

Verse 1 is Ambiguous Because it Could be Taken in 2 Ways

Solomon is Either the Author of the Song

Or the Song was Written for Solomon

1 Kings 4:32 (NASB)

He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.

Solomon Definitely Wrote Many Songs

Whether this was One of Them, We Don’t Know for Sure

Interpretations

In the Song of Solomon, We See a Male Voice and a Female Voice Communicating

Occasionally You’ll Have Others Chime in as Well

For Centuries, Scholars Have Tried to Figure Out the Best Interpretation for What is Taking Place in this Song

I’m Going to Briefly Present You with Several of the Major Interpretations

The Allegorical Interpretation

The Love Between the Man and Woman Symbolizes the Love Between God and His People Israel

For Christians, it Symbolizes the Love Between Christ and His Church

The Dramatic Interpretation

The Song is a Drama Telling the Story of the Love of Solomon for the Shulammite Girl

There are 2 Interpretations of the Dramatic Interpretation

The Two-Character Drama

There is Mutual Love Between Solomon and the Shulammite Girl

The Three-Character Drama

Solomon Loves the Shulammite Girl and Unsuccessfully Tries to Woo Her from Her True Love, the Shepherd

The Historical Interpretation

This is an Actual Historical Account about Solomon’s Love for a Shulammite Girl

The Wedding Interpretation

Song of Solomons was a Wedding Ceremony Text that was Used to Celebrate the Bride and Groom

The Love Song Interpretation

Song of Solomon is Exactly as it Appears to be - a Love Song

Brief Summary

The Courtship (1:1 - 3:5)

The Wedding (3:6 - 5:1)

The Maturing Marriage (5:2 - 8:14)

Key Phrases

The Shulammite Girl Tells the Women of Jerusalem to “Not Stir Up or Awaken Love Until She Pleases”

This May Be to Say that They Don’t Need to Fulfil Their Sexual Desires Until Marriage

This Type of Love Needs to Stay Asleep Until We can Rightfully Fulfil it with Our Spouse

But Many Times, People Put Themselves in Situations to Where Their Love is Stirred Up and Awakened Before it’s Time or with the Someone Other than Their Spouse

Purpose

To Show the Glory and Love of a Biblical Marriage Relationship

To Be a Type of the Love that God and His People Have for Each Other

Key Themes

God’s Covenant, Which Commands Sexual Purity Until Marriage, is the Perfect Framework for Love, Happiness, and Sexual Fulfillment

Marriage is a Gift of God, and When Founded Upon Loyalty and Commitment, Allows for Joy and Love

Key Passages

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 (NASB)

“Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord. “Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”

Why We Need Song of Solomon

It Teaches Us about Love, Marriage, and Sex

It Teaches Us to Give Our Spouses the Attention He/She Needs

It Teaches that Encouragement and Praise, Not Criticism, are Vital to a Successful Relationship

It Teaches Spouses to Enjoy each other. Plan Getaways. Be Creative, Even Playful, with Each Other. Delight in God’s Gift of Married Love

It Teaches Us to Do whatever is necessary to reassure your commitment to your spouse.

Renew Your Vows; Work Through Problems and Do Not Consider Divorce as a Solution.

God Intends for You Both to Live in a Deeply Peaceful, Secure Love.

Jesus in Song of Solomon

The Shulammite Woman’s Love/Husband is a Shepherd Who Cares for His Flock

Jesus is a Husband to and Shepherd Over His Church

Ephesians 5:22-33

Ephesians 5:22–33 (NASB)

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

John 10:10–11 (NASB)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”