September 6
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Psalm 50:1-23
Proverbs 22:22-23
Song 1:1 – You’re more likely to hear a message from Ephesians than from the Song of Solomon. But there is value to this book! As part of our premarital counseling, my pastor gave me Tommy Nelson’s video set on the Song of Solomon. If you have access to RightNow Media, you can watch the whole set for free, or you can listen to the sermon set from his church at DBCMedia.org for free. While models of courtship vary from family to family and church to church and this is in no ways a substitute for your family and church, he does a good job at explaining a very confusing book (see the overview of the “three character hypothesis” that involve a love triangle with a distant shepherd from Kauk). From his book (if you prefer reading):
The same God who has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, the same God who calls us to righteousness, holiness, and a life without compromise, the same God who forgives sin and guides those who seek wisdom, this same God is the foremost expert on your need for romance, your sex drive, and your future or current marriage. Based on what He knows about us and desires for us, He has provided an instruction manual so that we might truly live with the joy and intensity of satisfaction that He created us to experience. That instruction manual of God is the book of the Bible titled the Song of Solomon.
Song 1:2-3 – I’ll be borrowing from Tommy Nelson’s thoughts because he’s done a great job at expositing this book. In the first couple verses we see the physical attraction and the spiritual attraction (thy name = reputation).
Song 1:6 – She is sunburned from diligence, working in the fields (see Proverbs 31:13).
Song 1:7 – Nelson points out that she refuses to be one of the prostitutes who “turneth aside by the flocks,” and holds her as a model of a woman of conviction.
Song 2:1 – Nelson shows how Solomon’s love for the woman raised her self esteem (Song of Solomon 1:6).
Song 2:4 – Many in church history who were bothered by the vivid language used in this book, have interpreted this as an allegory of Christ’s love for his church. Thus this verse has been incorporated into a classic junior church song:
Song 2:15 – Romance is not just about vague generalities, a commitment to dealing with details (little foxes) is necessary.
Song 3:7 – The wedding bed approaches – Nelson shares these stats about marriage:
- 80% of couples that shack up before marriage, split up
- 60% of marriages by a justice of the peace, divorce
- 40% of marriages in a church end up in divorce
- Only 1 of 1,156 couples that pray together on a daily basis end up in divorce.
The problem is that as few as 11% of American couples pray together on a daily basis outside of meals, even though over 25% identify as Evangelical Protestant.
Song 4:1-7 – It’s ok to compliment your bride! As a newly married husband, this is one of the challenges to remember to not take her for granted!
Song 4:16 – As Solomon is consummating his marriage, this is a helpful reminder that sex outside of marriage is strongly warned against throughout the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Hebrews 13:4, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8)!
2 Corinthians 8:16 – We’ll read Paul’s letter to Titus soon – but it’s obvious that Paul values his heart for the ministry highly!
2 Corinthians 8:20 – As Christians, we must strive to be blameless in all aspects, including financial. If you need examples of financial safeguards, we can go back to look at Ezra!
Psalm 50:4 – We’ve seen several reminders lately that God will judge His people.
Psalm 50:15 – God doesn’t desire sacrifice as much as He desires us to call upon Him! Let’s spend time with Him in prayer!
Proverbs 22:23 – O.J. Simpson’s legal team were legends. Johnnie Cochran. Robert Shapiro. Robert Kardashian. But the greatest advocate in history is pleading the cause of the poor (James 2:16).
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