Download
Song of Solomon 1-4
We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the New Century Version.
7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate
Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis
Lord God, you love us in same the way that we are to be completely enamored and hopelessly “lost in love” with each other. Thank you for loving us so much. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
Here begins the final assessment of Solomon’s love life (a scenario that was immense and tangled) He got into a polygamous mess because he had the power to have more wives though it was not wise nor blessed. Solomon came to the end of it all and realized that he should have just found his every need and dream and desire in this one woman. ALL the others were simply a waste of time that drained his life, withered his soul and blurred his walk with God. It is intriguing to have this colorful book in the Bible. Let it be known that the way one treats their espoused is the way one is in their prayer life also. Whether rich and deep and real and passionate OR phoney, callous, sporadic and aloof, one’s love life and prayer life are as linked as our image in life is with our image in the mirror. It will show and be an exact replication; i.e.our love life and our prayer life are very linked.
1 – It’s evident right from the start that this woman is crazy about her man. She wants to be held and kissed and ravished. Remember that country song? ” …a woman needs someone warm to hold…” Her heart is racing to be taken into Solomon’s palace. The Cinderella syndrome is the stuff of legend: this woman too has had to work during her days. She isn’t “a princess” who was pampered in the palace and all absorbed in herself. And do you catch Solomon’s comment of where she fits on the beauty scale? She is the most beautiful of women – more beautiful than any he’d ever seen. Solomon has known 1,000 regal women and though the experiences gave him his professional opinion, it isn’t a virtuous part of his resume~. Nonetheless, he knows what he is talking about in calling her the most beautiful. And she is a whole new adventure for Solomon. She is from the outdoors and here they are getting “acquainted” in the outdoors – in a meadow. She is far more than just another woman on his list. She takes over Solomon’s heart and eclipses all other females for him.
2 – She claims she is one “among the lilies and roses” – Solomon replies that all other women are thorns in comparison to her. Solomon knows what a thorny issue “other women” are – yes it’s another professional opinion coming from Solomon. This isolated love is ecstatic and therein begins a theme that is recited several times in S/Sol. for emphasis. “do not wake love before it’s time for love.” Yes, love is like a bonfire, a road flare that cannot be put out once lit. While fire keeps life alive on earth, it must be contained; kept in the stove. In the wrong place, at the wrong time, it will burn everything to the ground. Those with disastrous love-lives know what this means! On a good note, these two are longing to be together, always seeking eachother. When they can’t be together, their thoughts are consumed with eachother until re-united. As for the “little foxes that spoil the vine” motif – it is encouraging people do deal with the irritations, the obstacles, the problems, barriers (at any level) in their relationship. This is clear advice to keep enemies of your relationship away and neutralized, whatever their source.
3 – Here’s a strange passage. She cannot find him. Many times in the cycle of a love life, one of them goes through a strange season, emotionally, physically, spiritually. And it severely affects the other one as well. This is also time to search eachother out. Look for eachother. Husband and I have been in church life for a combined century and we have seen this happen to both wives and husbands. This is here in the Bible to urge us to be fervently seeking eachothers’ well being even when these seasons hit. Don’t fold arms and resign, “well they went odd a week or a month ago, I’m calling an attorney…” Stop that jive-talk! Help them through it. What kind of hearts do we have if we will not hang on through valleys and treks through the shadow of death? This is not time to run elsewhere, it’s time to pray, and wait and work while longing for a return to the journey of love that all dream to be sailing upon. The picture of Solomon returning, being carried on a regal bed of cedar and silver and gold, draped with purple linen carried by strong men is quite a scene. It’s also worth her waiting for him to come home.
4 – This is symbolism and detail that needs no extra comment to describe what is being said. If love is feast, it is Thanksgiving day for these two! No dish is left untouched, unturned, untasted. It is a lovesong turned anthem chorus as these two are besides themselves. Solomon is thrilled to the core with her; her life, her soul, her beauty and he tells her so. Ladies need to hear from their man how beautiful and valued they are. And Solomon gushes all through this chapter with vivid description of her beauty. Everything about love leaves these two breathless and longing for more of eachother.
And as mentioned in the intro above, does our prayer life leave us wanting God more and more. All this earthly love is God priming us for when we see Him in all His glory. And in that day all we are able to do is fall on our faces in worship; completely unable to do anything different, anything less. It is like Solomon’s bride gushing, “I am faint with love!”
