PROBLEMS IN PARADISE

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SONG OF SOLOMON 5:2-6:10
Lesson #05
PROBLEMS IN PARADISE

• Memory verse: Song 6:1
• The first part of this beautiful book is the ideal courtship and beautiful wedding day. But all of married life does not fall into the ideal relationship of living happily ever after. Sometime later in marriage, problems arise. It is not important to know how long after the wedding of Shulamith and Solomon these problems occurred, but in every marriage there are eventual challenges, adjustments, and problems that occur. We are going to examine the problems between Solomon and Shulamith and their resolution.
• Narrative:
• Song 5:2-8 A Dream of Love Refused
  • Shulamith: “ 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.” (5:2)
  • ^“I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” (5:3)
  • ^“My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.” (5:4)
  • ^“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.” (5:5)
  • ^“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” (5:6)
  • “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.” (5:7)
  • ^“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.” (5:8)
    • Daily married life, including making love, can become such a routine that romance dies from boredom.
      • This was the case with Shulamith. She felt neglected.
      • The king was too busy with the affairs of state to pay much attention to her.
    • Shulamith had a very restless dream that Solomon came to her late at night after she had already gone to sleep. Her door was locked. We know it was very late at night because that is when the dew falls heavily in Israel.
    • She hesitated to open the door because she had already removed her clothes for the day, bathed herself and was in bed.
      • This is her excuse for not being in the mood for sex.
      • Sometimes women use denial of sex to punish their husbands. This is never a good idea!
    • Finally she opened the door, but only after she had taken time to anoint herself with perfume.
    • By the time she opened the door, he was gone.
    • In her dream Shulamith goes to look for him but cannot find him.
    • She dreams that the watchmen beat her because she feels guilty for having denied Solomon’s entrance into her room. We know this is a dream because the watchmen would never beat the queen.
• Song 5:9-16 Change of Attitude
  • The Chorus: “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? (5:9)
    • The chorus brings Shulamith to focus on her attitude and the changes she needs to make in her attitude.
    • She does not blame him for coming home so late from work.
    • She concentrates on what is so special about Him that she loved about him from the beginning.
  • Shulamith: “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” (5:10)
  • “His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.” (5:11)
    • Solomon is very handsome and appears very regal.
    • His hair was black as a raven. The raven is known for its protective care of its mate.
  • “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.” (5:12)
  • “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.” (5:13)
    • It was the custom to perfume the beard.
    • It was the custom to crush spices in the mouth for a sweetened breath.
    • His lips speak sweet words to her.
  • “His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.” (5:14)
    • Beryl is pink stone indicating his fingernails.
    • Solomon was physically fit according to the description of the muscles of his stomach.
  • “His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.” (5:15)
    • Solomon was a strong man physically.
    • He walked with his head held high as a king should.
  • “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” (5:16)
    • Shulamith enjoyed Solomon’s beautiful words.
    • He is not only her lover but her friend.
• Song 6:1-3
  • The Chorus: “Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.” (6:1)
    • The question by the chorus is to remind her of the difference in their lifestyles that bothered her in the beginning.
    • After counting the cost of having a relationship with Solomon, she decided that his busy lifestyle was not unexpected. She had decided to adjust herself to it and marry him.
  • Shulamith: “My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.” (6:2)
  • “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.” (6:3)
    • Shulamith answers that he is busy taking care of the affairs of state.
    • He is being a pastor to the nation. He is feeding the people among the lilies.
• Song 6:4-10 Solomon Returns
  • Solomon returns but does not reprimand her for locking her door and refusing him access. He is patient and loving.
  • Solomon: “Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.” (6:4)
    • Tizrah was a beautiful city in the mountains to the north.
    • This city became the residence of kings after Solomon.
    • “Terrible as an army with banners” = Solomon was so touched by the look in her eyes that he would surrender to her desires.
  • “Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.” (6:5)
  • “Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.” (6:6)
  • “As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.” (6:7)
    • Solomon uses the same words he used on their wedding night.
    • In other words, nothing has changed in his love for her. He reminds her that even though he has been away his love for her has not changed.
  • “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.” (6:8)
    • Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines but she was his favorite.
    • Solomon inherited the harem from his father, David, which was the normal practice in that day.
    • But later in his reign Solomon added to the harem and fell away from God’s unique plan of one man with one wife for life.
  • “My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.” (6:9)
    • Even though there are many beautiful women in the harem, she is the most beautiful to him.
    • She was her mother’s favorite child.
    • She is his favorite.
    • She is not only beautiful but she got along with all of the other women in the harem.
  • “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (6:10)
    • Shulamith has authority in the palace.
    • Everyone knows she is Solomon’s favorite.
• Theme #1: Marital Relationship:
  • Romance:
    • Women need romance in a relationship as much as men need sex. The book Song of Solomon is filled with romance.
    • Romance includes the following:
      • It includes an element of the unexpected: For example, a small gift when there is no special occasion, or an invitation to spend time together at an unexpected location.
      • It includes a planned time alone together: For example, Solomon plans time alone with her. (7:11-8:14)
      • It includes the impractical aspect: The practical day to day routine often brings death to romance. Therefore, romance requires creativity in gifts and in planned events. It may not be financially practical, but once in a while a little impracticality is romantic.
      • It includes creativity: Solomon was creative in the words he used to describe her beauty and what she meant to him, as well as setting the scene for his time alone with her.
  • Denial of Sex or reward with sex:
    • It is never a good idea to deny your mate a sexual relationship because you do damage to your marital relationship.
    • It is never a good idea to reward your mate with sex when your mate has done what you asked.
      • Sometimes people use denial to punish their spouse.
      • Sometimes people use sex as a reward to control their spouse.
      • Rejection of your mate either psychologically or physically damages both love and trust and in fact is a sin.
    • Read 1Cor 7:3-5
    • The only Biblical reasons for abstinence of sex are:
      • …by mutual consent.
      • …only for a short time.
      • …only to devote oneself to a time of prayer.
  • Notice that a change of Shulamith’s attitude involved remembering his physical characteristics, but also his character as a shepherd protecting and providing for his people. (Phi 4:8)
• Theme #2: God and Israel:
  • Jewish customs:
    • Washing the feet – (5:3)
      • The Jews often ceremoniously washed their feet at night because of walking through unpaved streets.
      • But it was also a religious ceremony so as to symbolize the moral contamination of small transgressions in daily life. (Joh 13:10)
    • The hole in the door – (5:4) The door had a cross bar. But there was a small hole in the door that would enable a person from the outside to enter if the hole in the door was not covered.
    • Myrrh at the door – (5:5) It was the custom in Israel for a lover to leave myrrh at the door as a symbol that he had been there.
  • Israel’s constant rejection of God damaged their relationship with God. God used the whole book of Hosea to demonstrate this constant rejection.
    • In the same way as Israel, Hosea’s wife kept running away from him to run after other lovers.
    • Israel’s other “lovers” were the false religions that replaced God.
    • Hosea would go after his wife to bring her home, but she was never faithful to him. In the same way Israel was never faithful to God.
  • God was Israel’s shepherd. He was constantly shepherding his people like a shepherd with his sheep. Read Isa 40:10-11
• Theme #3: Christ and the Church:
  • As believers in Christ we do not always respond correctly, quickly, and willingly to Christ. But Christ is faithful and patient in His love for His church.
    • Just as Rev 3:20 tells us that Christ stands at the door waiting for man to open his heart to Christ.
    • Sometimes we make lame excuses for our spiritual distance just as Shulamith did when she delayed in opening the door.
    • Read Mat 8:19-22
      • Her excuse was that her feet were washed. (5:3)
      • Read Joh 13:6-10
        • Jesus wanted to wash Peter’s feet, but Peter refused.
        • When Jesus said that if Peter did not permit this, Peter would not be Jesus’ disciple.
        • What is the lesson the believer must learn here?

We are washed of our sins when we receive Jesus Christ as our savior and become a part of His bride, the church.

However, because we walk through a spiritually dirty world, as believers we need to let Jesus wash our feet periodically.

How do we do that? We permit the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin so that we can repent of that sin and become clean through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

• • Solomon was the pastor of the nation. Therefore he exhibits the characteristics of protection and provision that a pastor gives to his sheep.
    • Shulamith concentrated on these characteristics of protection and provision that made her feel safe with Solomon.
    • Eph 5:25 says “Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
      • This is the sacrificial protection and provision that Christ provides for His bride, the church.
      • As the husband is the pastor in his home, Christ is the pastor of His bride.
        • Read Joh 10:11-18
        • Notice that Shulamith recognized Solomon’s voice at the door. Jesus said that his sheep know His voice.
  • Characteristics of Christ in Song 5:2-6:10
    • “head is filled with dew” (5:2) = Jesus Christ has the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
    • “My beloved is white and ruddy” (5:10) = Jesus Christ is the perfect one without sin.
    • “the chiefest among ten thousand” (5:10) = There is no other that can equal Jesus’ perfection.
    • “His head is as the most fine gold” (5:11) = Gold represents royalty for He is King of kings.
    • “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk” (5:12) = Eyes represent spiritual perception and the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sees the heart of the believer because the Holy Spirit is living there in our hearts and reveals our needs to Him. The rivers of water refer to the Holy Spirit that gives the believer eternal life. Milk is a symbol of the Word of God. Jesus knew the Word of God and quoted it often. He placed the Spirit in us to give us eternal life.
    • “a bed of spices, as sweet flowers:” (5:13) = Jesus’ love is fragrant and beautiful.
    • “his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. (5:13) = His words are true and bring healing both physically and spiritually. Myrrh is the symbol for healing.
    • “gold rings” (5:14) = Christ’s deeds were done as a King by the authority of God, the Father.
    • “his belly is as bright ivory” (5:14) = The person of Jesus Christ is perfect righteousness.
    • “His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold” (5:15) = Strength with a foundation in God, the Father.
    • “countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.” (5:15) = Wood represents humanity. The cedars of Lebanon were the finest wood. Jesus as God became human flesh to dwell among us.
    • “His mouth is most sweet:” (5:16) = Jesus speaks with love and compassion.
    • “This is my beloved, and this is my friend” (5:16) = Jesus Christ is the lover of our soul and our friend.
  • Christ loves us constantly without change no matter how we respond to Him. His love is constant and acceptance is always there waiting patiently for us to respond to Him. (1Pet 3:7-9)

Homework
Song of Solomon 6:11-8:4

• Application of Song 5:2-6:10
  • Which characteristic of Christ stands out to you that affects your life in a tangible way today? Why?
  • How well and how rapidly do you respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
  • How can you improve your response to Christ?
• Preparation for Song 6:11-8:4
  • Read Song 6:11-8:4
    • In your relationship to Christ, what event in your life comes to mind that brought you the greatest joy?
• Memory verse: Song 7:10