[By Ron Halbrook] [Part Three]

2 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

Introduction: 2. We see their relationship develop as a series of scenes & stages. 3

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5 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

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7 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

8 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

9 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Introduction: 3. This poem celebrates loyal steadfast love experienced in marriage. Married love: spontaneous, beautiful, powerful, & exclusive— includes “moments of separation & intimacy, anguish & ecstasy, tension & contentment” (Zondervan NIV Study Bible: 1020) 10

Introduction: 3. This poem celebrates loyal steadfast love experienced in marriage. King Solomon found this love as a young man but later stumbled over political marriages— this gift can be damaged or lost. 11

Introduction: 4. Why people avoid this book, or spiritualize it as a poem of Christ’s love for the church. Satan associates passion with sexual sins. Study with appreciation not fear: God not Satan created passionate love in marriage. 12

Introduction: 5. God’s gift of married love is a priceless blessing: Changes our character by teaching us to value & serve our mate! Perpetuates the human race in a godly way! Merits praise, celebration, & thanksgiving! 13

14 TITLE 1:1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s 1. Solomon asked God for wisdom (1 Kgs. 3:9). 2. He wrote 3,000 proverbs, 1,004 songs (4:32). 3. This is his most beautiful & unique song!

I.FIRST SCENE 1:2-2:7 Love’s Passion SUMMARY SUMMARY : Solomon & his beloved Shulamite share admiration & affection. “His banner over me was love” (2:4). 15

II. SECOND SCENE 2:8-3:5 Love’s Promise SUMMARY SUMMARY : Their love grows like the beauties of springtime. The Shulamite dreams about searching for Solomon. 16

III. THIRD SCENE 3:6-5:1 Love’s Wedding SUMMARY SUMMARY : After the joys of the royal wedding, Solomon praises the beauty of his wife. She invites him into the garden of love. 17

IV. FOURTH SCENE 5:2-6:3 Love’s Reconciliation SUMMARY SUMMARY : Love includes seeking & finding, alienation & reconciliation. The young wife’s dream reflects this experience. 18

19 2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? She says: His tender, fervent plea Why do you bother me at the most inconvenient time?

20 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. She says: She had a change of heart…& opened…too late!

21 6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. 6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. She says: The damage was done— I was heartsick— All my efforts failed— No one helped me!

22 8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love. She says: Her tender, fervent plea: Can someone please help me? Tell him, “I love him, I cannot live without him!”

23 9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? Friends say: Separation finally provokes reflection: Why does finding him (reconciliation) matter so much? How much does he really mean to you?

24 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. She says:

25 14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. 15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. 14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. 15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. She says: As he found her perfect for him (4:7), she finds him perfect for her! A prize, not an inconvenience!

26 1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. 2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. 1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. 2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. Friends say: She says: Separation Reconciliation: Growing security (2:16) in a mutual, committed, exclusive relationship Regret, reflection, & reevaluation

27 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

Conclusion: 2. We see their relationship develop as a series of scenes & stages. 28

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Conclusion: 3. This poem celebrates loyal steadfast love experienced in marriage. Married love: spontaneous, beautiful, powerful, & exclusive— includes “moments of separation & intimacy, anguish & ecstasy, tension & contentment” (Zondervan NIV Study Bible: 1020) 31

Conclusion: 4. God’s gift of married love is a priceless blessing: Changes our character by teaching us to value & serve our mate! Perpetuates the human race in a godly way! Merits praise, celebration, & thanksgiving! 32

33 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

34 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

35 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.