November 23, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Song of Solomon? Here’s today’s reading:
Song of Solomon 1 (NIV)
1 Solomon’s Song of Songs.
She
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.
Psalm 145
The Lord is…
….great and greatly to be praised
….unsearchable greatness
….glorious splendor in majesty
….does wondrous works.
…..does mighty and awesome acts
….great
….good
…..righteous
….gracious
….full of compassion
…..Slow to anger
…..great in mercy
…..good to all
…..power
…..tender mercy
…..righteous in all His ways
…..Gracious in all His works
……near to all who call upon Him in truth
…..hears their cry and saves them
…..preserves those who love Him
HIs kingdom is……
…..glorious majesty
…..an everlasting kingdom
…..endures throughout all generations
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.
I assume this book of the Bible is a way for God to show us the importance and intent of marriage and marital love. Outside that context I would wonder why it even made it into the Old Testament.
Song of Solomon 1
“Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with chains of gold.”
Song of Solomon 1:10 NKJV
I was wondering if this suggests that she has piercings.
Yes Kelly, that is right. And we don’t need to spiritualize the text in this book although at times it is a fitting comparison of God’s love for us. We see in this book the proper place for sexual thought and expression. And although Solomon is not a good example of a proper husband (having so many wives and concubines), we do have here a good model of the kind of communication that is appropriate for a husband and a wife. It’s place in the Scripture shows that the sexual interaction between a husband and wife is something God has ordained and is pleased by…and in no way does that need to be tame!
Song Of Soloman 1
“He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4 KJV
There are three books credited to Solomon in the Bible. They are Song of Solomon. Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Presumably Solomon wrote Song of Songs in his early adult years, Proverbs in his middle ages, and Ecclesiastes near the end of his life as he reflected on his experiences. [ The Bible Knowledge Commentary] I researched the times when these books were written. Song of Songs was probably written some time during his reign between 971 and 931 BC. The book of Proverbs was fully compiled by 700BC. Not sure when he wrote them but by him but compiled latter. The book of Ecclesiastes is also attributed to Solomon but probably compiled together as Proverbs was. He reigned for 40 years. I don`t believe that this book is a allegory and intended to convey spiritual meanings but is a true person and his wife. In other words King Solomon and perhaps his first wife. God allowed it to go into the canon of the Old Testament for a purpose. Here is how The Bible Knowledge Commentary words it. [ The purpose of the book is to extol human love and marriage. Though at first this seems strange, on reflection it is not surprising for God to have included in the Biblical canon a book endorsing the beauty and purity of marital love. God created man and woman Gen 1;27; 2;20-23 and established and sanctioned marriage. Gen 2;24 Since the world views sex so sordidly and perverts and exploits it so persistently and since so many marriages are crumbling because of lack of love, commitment , and devotion, it is advantageous to have a book in the Bible that gives God`s endorsement of marital love as wholesome and pure. I thought it was said so well that I had to type in here. But we can glean out of it how much God loves us as His bride. For He does want us to grow and learn from Him and also as husbands how we are to love our wives. This was put in to give us an example. Ephesians 5;25 [ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.] How far I fall short. But every day is a new day to start over or continue to build upon our relation with our wives. I am so reminded how patient God is with us. God teaches me constantly how patient he is with me for our granddaughter [ 4 years old] is so stubborn sometimes and then like a sweety a few minutes latter. She sure tests my love and patience. This is nothing compared to God`s love for us. God bless you all.