Song of Songs Part 2

Part 2

A brief review

B1 Written by Solomon

B2 Solomon is reminiscing about his marriage. I believe that chapter 1 is their wedding night after the wedding ceremony.

B3 The woman character is Naamah, Solomon’s first wife and mother to 3 children—Rehoboam, his son (1 Kings 11:43 and Matthew, Taphath (1 Kings 4:11), and Basmath (1 Kings 4:15). No other children were listed in Scriptures being fathered by Solomon.

B4 Personally, I feel that, in general, all of Solomon other wives were for political or business reasons. He didn’t become intimate with them.

B5 We learned

C1 Sexual pleasure in normal for both husband and wife. Admiring each other’s beauty is not sinful.

C2 The greatness of being with each other.

C3 Some pointers when you are together, namely

D1 It is a time for just the both of you

D2 Shut the phone off

D3 Shut the TV off

D4 Stop any distraction

D5 It is realistic that interruptions do happen as emergencies or younger children. But, otherwise, you are spending time with your spouse.

D6 Listen to her. Listen to him. Do not interrupt. Do not offer advice or counsel. Shut up and listen. Don’t be reading or doing something when she is talking.

Notes

B1 Chapter 5

C1 This is a continuation of chapter 4. Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1 GNB Wake up, North Wind. South Wind, blow on my garden; fill the air with fragrance. Let my lover come to his garden and eat the best of its fruits. 5:1 I have entered my garden, my sweetheart, my bride. I am gathering my spices and myrrh; I am eating my honey and honeycomb; I am drinking my wine and milk. Eat, lovers, and drink until you are drunk with love!

C2 Her husband returns home and knocks at the door. She does not get dressed quickly enough. Opening the door, she finds he has left.

C3 She was worried and longing for him, so she goes out at night only to be assaulted/molested by law enforcement. Song of Songs 5:7 NLT The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.

C4 The chorus, Daughters of Jerusalem, ask her what is so special about him?

C5 She responds describing his handsomeness.

C6 Note, she identifies him not only as lover but friend. Song of Songs 5:16 NLT His mouth is sweetness itself; he is desirable in every way. Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend.

B2 Chapter 6

C1 The chorus of young women, Daughters of Jerusalem, offer to help find him. “Where should we look?” they ask.

C2 She suggests the garden area. Song of Songs 6:2 NLT Young Woman My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in the gardens and gather the lilies.

C3 Solomon sees her and is overwhelmed by her beauty and describes, with joy, her beauty.

C5 She goes to a walnut grove to enjoy nature.

C6 The Daughters of Jerusalem ask her to return so they can observe her grace of movement.

B3 Chapter 7

C1 Her husband, seeing her beauty, is overwhelmed. He describes it honestly.

C2 After his description, telling her why she is so beautiful, she becomes overwhelmed, too. Song of Songs 7:10 NLT Young Woman I am my lover's, and he claims me as his own.

C3 They enjoy being intimate in their private garden.

B4 Chapter 8

C1 There is a time for intimacy and a time to refrain. Song of Songs 8:4 NLT Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right. Consider:

D1 A husband can request intimacy, and the wife can refuse (maybe she is sick or too exhausted from work, etc.).

D2 A wife can request intimacy, and the husband can refuse.

D3 Sometimes one hears teaching that a wife must always be available to meet her husband’s sexual needs. This is wrong and evil. It is practically raping your wife.

D4 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 GW But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's sexual needs. 4 A wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn't use your lack of self-control to tempt you. [Emphasis is mine]

C2 The wife explains the strength of love. Let us note it carefully.

D1 Song of Songs 8:6-7 NLT Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

D2 If a woman is afraid of her husband, then the husband does NOT love his wife. If a man is afraid of his wife, then the wife does NOT love her husband. 1 John 4:18 GNB There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

D3 If your marriage does not seem to have love, see below.

C3 Entering marriage as a virgin is God’s best. Some do not, so do not freak out about it. You ARE forgiven if you asked God to forgive you. Song of Songs 8:9 NLT If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar.

C4 Naamah was a virgin when she married Solomon. Song of Songs 8:10 NLT Young Woman I was a virgin, like a wall; now my breasts are like towers. When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees.

C5 Solomon is identified as the husband.

D1 He has a vineyard that he leases to tenants.

D2 She has a vineyard, herself, that he can have free. She is the vineyard. Song of Songs 8:12 NLT But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines.

C6 Solomon wants so listen to his wife. He wants to hear her voice and opinions. Song of Songs 8:13 NLT Young Man O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too!

C7 The wife, Naamah, wants to be with him forever. Song of Songs 8:14 NLT Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

We learn

B1 It is OK to tell your wife how beautiful she is from head to toe. Husbands enjoy your wife’s beauty.

B2 Sex is meant for husband and wife. Both are to enjoy it. Ask her what is pleasurable. Do not be in a rush.

B3 Togetherness is important. This doesn’t mean just living in the same house. This means to worship, eat, work, communicate, listen, pray, etc. together. You must have togetherness. It doesn’t mean having a date. It means enjoying each other’s company daily.

B3 Communication is important.

B4 The spouses need to know the language of love.

C1 A quiz husband and wife should take. The quiz is here.

C2 Take the quiz and discover each other’s language of love.

C3 There are more resources here.

B5 Love is a choice. You choose to love. It is not necessarily an emotion.

B6 The actions of love are found in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL 4 Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty,

5 Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs,

6 Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth,

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends,...