RETURN TO THE VINEYARD

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SONG OF SOLOMON 8:5-14
Lesson #07
RETURN TO THE VINEYARD

• Memory Verse: Song 8:7
  • We have arrived at the final section of the love story between Solomon and Shulamith.
    • We learned about their relationship from the beginning:
      • They met in the vineyard in Lebanon.
      • Their lifestyles were totally different. She was a country girl that worked in the vineyard and he was the king of Israel having grown up in the palace in wealth.
      • She decided to marry him despite these great differences.
      • These differences were the source of problems in their marriage.
        • Solomon was frequently away from the palace because of his duties as the king of the nation of Israel. She was often alone and felt neglected.
        • She missed her home in the vineyard. Solomon had promised to take her back to the vineyard for a visit on their wedding night. They had been married for more than a year and he had not fulfilled his promise.
    • We learned how they overcame these problems together to make their marriage stronger.
      • Shulamith concentrated on the qualities of Solomon that she loved. She did not complain or nag him about his long hours of work.
      • Solomon did not reprimand her for locking her door against him but expressed his deep love for her.
    • We learned that Shulamith reminded Solomon of the promise he had not yet fulfilled…his promise to take her back to the vineyard for a visit.
• The Narrative:
• Chorus: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (8:5a)
  • The scene is in Lebanon. Solomon and Shulamith have come for a visit to her mother’s home.
  • This means that Solomon has kept his promise to bring her back to the vineyard.
• Solomon: “I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.” (8:5b)
  • Under the apple tree next to her mother’s home where she was born, Solomon was first aware of the love growing between them.
  • Remember that apples symbolize sexual passion. The idea of a sexual relationship began to awaken in both of them.
• Shulamith: “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.” (8:6)
  • The seal of a king was the sign of ownership, possession, and identity.
    • The seal in the heart is the personal relationship they have with each other in private.
    • The seal on the arm is the personal relationship they demonstrate in public for all to see.
    • The seal represented his protection and provision for her.
      • This was her security. Notice that this seal of love is valid as long as they lived.
      • The seal is a love that burns strongly in their hearts.
  • How do we know that this seal is love? The next verse tells us.
• “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” (8:7)
  • The problems of life cannot drown the love they have for each other. The unconditional aspect makes love burns unquenchably through every situation in life.
  • If man thinks he can purchase this kind of love, he would be condemned or despised (contemned) as a fool.
  • This love is unconditional love, and that is the highest form of love.
  • How is this unconditional love obtained?
• Shulamith’s Brothers: “We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?” (8:8)
  • This verse presents us with a flashback in time to when Shulamith was a young girl.
  • Her older brothers were concerned for her and wondered what this child would need to learn in her life to prepare her for this kind of marriage relationship when she grew to be a woman.
    • Unconditional love is taught in the home and modeled by the parents in two ways:
      • Unconditional love is taught by encouragement.
      • Unconditional love is taught by discipline.
    • She must learn unconditional love before puberty because that is when the boys begin to notice her and present her with temptation.
• ^“ If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.” (8:9)
  • At puberty the brothers decide they must determine her character. What does that mean?
    • If she is like a wall and rebuffs the advances of young men, her brothers will simply encourage her strong stand for righteousness by praising her wise decisions.
    • If she is like a door and is persuaded to give in to the advances of young men, her brothers will put themselves between her and the young men.
  • Encouragement and discipline are both necessary for her protection as she grows into a mature woman.
• Shulamith: ^“ I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.” (8:10)
  • Besides the loving protection of her family, Shulamith decided for herself that she would be a wall.
  • Therefore, besides a person’s upbringing in the home, the person must finally decide for himself or herself by free will what direction his or her life will take…toward righteousness in a relationship with God or away from righteousness into immorality.
  • After she decided that she would guard her own virtue, then she met Solomon.
    • Solomon saw her character was strong and her actions were righteous.
    • These were the characteristics of moral strength and purity that attracted Solomon to her.
• “Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.” (8:11)
  • Shulamith discusses the time she and Solomon first met in the vineyard.
  • Solomon owned many vineyards in Israel. It was common for a vineyard owner to contract a lease for others to care for and operate the vineyard giving them 20% of the profits. Shulamith’s brothers were on contract to run Solomon’s vineyard. That is where Shulamith worked in the vineyard when she first met Solomon.
• “My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.” (8:12)
  • Shulamith refers to her own body as a vineyard. This is not the first time she has done that. (1:6 2:15)
  • Because her brothers cared for her and protected her virginity as she grew up, Solomon owed her brothers a 20% reward for her protection. It was not that she expected Solomon to actually pay her brothers but to acknowledge his appreciation to them. They helped to make her into who she was so that she was fit for a king.
• Solomon: “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.” (8:13)
  • Solomon asks her to say a few final words of wisdom to the companions of her youth.
  • They are ready to leave to return to their life together in Jerusalem.
• Shulamith: “Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.” (8:14)
  • Instead of giving a departure speech, she speaks only to Solomon.
  • She invites him to make love to her. In other words, the allusion is to animals playing together and enjoying one another.
    • Solomon has fulfilled his promise to her to visit Lebanon. Now they will return to the palace.
    • Their future together is one of enjoyment in their relationship of marital love.
    • She does not need to say anything to the people around her because there is no better testimony of a marriage designed by God than the living relationship between the two of them that all can see.
• Theme #1: Marital Relationship:
  • “…love is strong as death;…” (8:6) = Marital love is a commitment for life.
    • The person you marry should also be your best friend and companion.
    • Even though Shulamith was isolated and working hard in the vineyard with her brothers, God brought into her life the mate God planned for her.
    • Trusting in God’s sovereignty in every area of life is a matter of faith.
  • “Many waters cannot quench love…” (8:7) Love burns unquenchably through every situation and problem in life. This is a commitment to see every problem and every situation through together.
  • “…if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” (8:7)
    • You cannot calculate the value of this type of marital love as described in Song of Solomon.
    • Solomon said it best in Proverbs 18:22. “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.”
      • Unconditional love like that between Solomon and Shulamith is not earned or merited, deserved or demanded.
      • It is first freely given and then freely received.
  • “My vineyard, which is mine, is before me” (8:12)
    • Shulamith established her own standard of morality and the way she would express her love.
    • Many times people feel that their mate owes them love.
      • Many people enter into marriage with the idea of what they will gain from this relationship.
      • Instead they should be asking what they can give to the relationship.
    • This kind of love relationship is developed over time. The relationship between Solomon and Shulamith did not start out being unconditional but developed as they worked at it.
      • How did Shulamith and Solomon demonstrate this aspect of giving?
        • They both assumed responsibility for their own behavior instead of blaming the other for the problems.
        • They both changed their attitudes to dwell on the positive aspects of their relationship instead of on the problems. They were teachable.
        • They both gave blessing for insult. (1Pet 3:9)
        • They both extended unconditional forgiveness for the sake of the relationship.
      • The chances of this type of an unconditional love relationship between a husband and his wife are increased if both are born-again believers in Jesus Christ and walking in close relationship with God. (2Cor 6:14)
• Theme #2: God and Israel:
  • “…for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave:” (8:6) = God said He was a jealous God over Israel. (Exo 20:5)
    • The jealousy of God refers to the intensity of His love and desire to be exclusively their God forsaking the foreign religions and idols of other gods.
    • “coals of fire” (8:6) = God’s love burns hot and unquenchable for Israel.
  • “Set me as a seal upon thine heart…” (8:6)
    • The great High Priest of the Old Testament wore a breastplate of stones on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel to indicate that God’s love engraved them upon His heart.
    • The great High Priest of the Old Testament wore a stone on each shoulder engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel to indicate that God carried them and their burdens on His shoulders.
  • “…then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.” (8:10)
    • The Hebrew wording in this verse is strong, and it is an interesting play on words.
    • Solomon’s name in Hebrew sounds like Shulomoh.
    • The word for favor in this verse is “shalom”.
      • The Hebrew word “shalom” has a broad perspective and means: = wellness, happiness, friendship, health, prosperity, favor, rest, safety, welfare, or peace.
      • Therefore, she says, “Shulamith had found shalom with Shulomoh.”
        • In the Bible there is often the phrase “found grace in thy sight” as Ruth said to Boaz. (Rut 2:10)
        • Just by the definition of the word “shalom” we see that both Solomon and Boaz represent God’s deep and broad love for Israel and Christ’s amazing love for His church in which a broad perspective of blessing is provided by way of that love.
  • Will Israel ever come to the place of having this kind of love relationship with God, the Father?
    • Yes. At the second coming of Christ the Jews will receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Then when Christ establishes His kingdom on earth for 1000 years, the Jews will fully trust in God and become the people God desired from the beginning.
    • Read Zec 12:10 and Zec 13:9
    • Read Mat 25:34
• Theme #3: Christ and the Church:
  • “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (8:5a)
    • Shulamith represents the church through this book. We see that her relationship with Solomon who represents Christ has strengthened and developed over the course of these eight chapters.
    • The church is leaning heavily in faith on Christ as the last days of the church age come into reality when persecution and false doctrines abound.
    • Read Rom 8:35-39
  • In the same way as Solomon, God keeps His promises to His people. God always keeps His promises even though at times it seems as though God delays too long.
  • “I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth…” (8:5b)
    • The Holy Spirit breathes into man physical life. (Gen 2:7).
    • He is the same Holy Spirit that gives man spiritual life when he is born again. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life. (Rom 8:10)
    • From the beginning of life on earth God had a plan of redemption even before the sin of Adam and Eve.
      • That plan was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8)
      • That plan contained the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost so as to provide a great multitude of born-again believers that would eternally praise God. (Rev 7:9)
  • “Set me as a seal upon thine heart…” (8:6) = The seal of the Holy Spirit
    • Read 2Cor 1:21-22
    • The Holy Spirit is the seal of assurance and security that the believer in Jesus Christ has that:
      • …enables the believer in Christ to worship God in spirit and in truth. (Joh 4:23)
      • …enables the believer in Christ to have the oil of the Holy Spirit in his heart so that the Holy Spirit takes the believer to heaven in the rapture of the church. (Mat 25:1-13 1The 4:16-17)
      • …enables the believer in Christ to inherit eternal life with God. (Rom 8:10 1Joh 4:13)
  • “coals of fire” (8:6) = God’s love burns hot and unquenchable for His people. (Heb 12:29)
    • Just as Solomon’s love burned for Shulamith, just as God’s love burned for Israel, so also Christ’s love burns for His church of New Testament believers.
    • Because of this great love for the church, the fires of judgment will not touch those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev 21:27)
  • “We have a little sister…” (8:8)
    • Believers have a responsibility to establish new brothers and sisters in Christ on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. (1Cor 3:10-11)
    • The purpose of the church is to build up and edify the body of Christ by means of:
      • …teaching new believers the Word of God. (Eph 4:11-13)
      • …training new believers how to minister to others and do the work of reconciliation. (2Cor 5:19)
  • “…every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.” (8:11)
    • As workers in the harvest, believers should work for a harvest of many born-again believers in Christ redeemed by the blood of Christ.
    • Remember that silver represents the price of redemption.
  • “…the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.” (8:13)
    • The believer in Jesus Christ must keep his personal relationship with Christ active by means of:
      • ….prayer to express your love for Him.
      • ….worship to give praise and honor to Him
• Conclusion:
  • The love of God cannot be worked for, earned, bought, bargained, or stolen. It is something that is freely given by the will of the giver. (Joh 3:16)
  • The characteristics that attracted Solomon to Shulamith are the same character qualities that Christ wants for His church. (Eph 5:27 holiness without blemish).
  • Rev 22:17, 20-21
    • ^“ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:17)
    • “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev 22:20-21)

The End