Study Guide / Outline

• Authorship: Solomon (Song of Solomon 1:1)
• Historical Context: Written during Solomon’s 40-year reign
• Purpose:
  • Teach the sanctity and beauty of marriage as God intended it
  • Read at the Feast of Passover to teach young Israelites about courtship and marital love
  • Allegorical depiction of God’s love for Israel
  • Illustration of Christ’s love for the Church (Christological view)

Structure of the Song of Solomon

• The book can be divided into six portions:
  1. Courtship (Chapter 1 – Chapter 2:7): Bride and groom sing to each other.
  2. Bride’s Praise (Chapter 2:8 – Chapter 3:5): The bride sings the groom’s praise.
  3. Marriage (Chapter 3:6 – Chapter 5:1): Marriage takes place, and the bride is praised.
  4. Bride’s Love (Chapter 5:2 – Chapter 6:9): The bride sings of her love and the groom’s beauty.
  5. Bride’s Beauty (Chapter 6:10 – Chapter 8:4): Focus on the beauty of the bride.
  6. Beauty of Love (Chapter 8:5-14): Discussing the beauty of love.

Courtship (Chapter 1 – Chapter 2:7)

• Main Point: The beginning of the song, where the bride and groom express their longing for each other.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 1:2 – “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is more delightful than wine.”

Bride’s Praise (Chapter 2:8 – Chapter 3:5)

• Main Point: The bride praises the groom, highlighting his love and her desire for him.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:16 – “My beloved is mine, and I am his; he browses among the lilies.”

Marriage (Chapter 3:6 – Chapter 5:1)

• Main Point: The actual marriage takes place, and the bride is praised. It represents the consummation of their love.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 4:7 – “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”

Bride’s Love (Chapter 5:2 – Chapter 6:9)

• Main Point: The bride expresses her love and desire for the groom. She longs for intimacy but emphasizes the importance of waiting for the right time.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 5:16 – “His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.”

Bride’s Beauty (Chapter 6:10 – Chapter 8:4)

• Main Point: Focus shifts to the beauty of the bride, showing how the groom cherishes her appearance.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 7:10 – “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.”

Beauty of Love (Chapter 8:5-14)

• Main Point: The song ends with both the husband and wife secure in their love, emphasizing the lasting nature of true love.
• Scripture: Song of Solomon 8:6 – “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”

Application

• Main Point: The text encourages believers to recognize God’s pursuing love, overcome insecurities, and yearn for intimacy with Him.
• Additional Point: The consequences of rejecting God’s love are symbolized in the text but can be avoided by staying in a relationship with Him.
• Key Theme: God’s unconditional love for us and our need to respond with love, security, and a desire for intimacy with Him.