TODAY’S READING: SONG OF SOLOMON 1-8
OVERVIEW:
The song of all songs that describes the love between a man and a woman; this is one of 1005 songs written by Solomon (I Kings4:32).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
This is a love story that involves three main characters: a lovely maiden, who was forced to work by her selfish family (1:5-6, 2:15); her beloved, a man who had won her heart, who also happened to be a shepherd (1:7); and King Solomon, who is known for his attraction to beautiful women (I Kings 11:3).
While on one of his trips to survey his lands, Solomon meets this lovely maiden and takes her to his palace. There she can think only of her beloved back home (see chapters 1 & 2). She tells the other women (the “daughters ofJerusalem” – 2:7, 3:5, 8:4) not to try to persuade her to forsake her true love. In 2:8-3:5 she even dreams about her beloved! Solomon visits her to try to win her love but it is to no avail, because she cannot forget about her true love back home (3:6-4:16). Her beloved then has a dream about her (5:1-6:3). Once again, King Solomon tries to win her love, but just as before, she refuses (6:4-7:9). She is not impressed with the King’s wealth, spices, lands, or flattery. Finally, true love wins out and the maiden is set free. She flees to her beloved and is restored to her family again (8:4-14).
In this story, Solomon is a picture or type of the world that tries anything and everything to lure the believer away from the beloved Shepherd! We, as believers are the bride of Christ and should not allow anything in this world come between us and the love we have for our Savior! We are commanded by God to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark12:30), and to not love this world at all (James 4:4; I John2:15)! Let’s remember daily, the love that our beloved Savior showed us, so we can return that same love to Him.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As THE SHEPHERD – Song of Solomon 1:7. (Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls – I Peter 2:25).
As THE BELOVED – Song of Solomon 1:14, 2:8, and 8:5; see Matthew3:17and12:18.