The Song of Songs

And the winner is . . . Song of Solomon! This book is called the Song of Solomon because Solomon is credited as the author. Out of all of the 1,000 songs that he wrote, God chose this one and made it part of His Word. It is the "song of songs" - the best song of all. Sometimes the book is also called CANTICLES which is just another word that means "song." The Song of Solomon is a love story, and it tells us about the love between a man (Solomon) and a woman (the Shulamite maiden). The key word is "beloved," and it is found 32 times in these chapters. (I have wondered if this Shulamite maiden that Solomon loved and wrote this song for was his only "true love" and if the many other wives he had were mainly for political reasons (like Egypt) and to seal treaties and trade agreements with other nations. He sure got pulled away, didn't he?)
As I read through these chapters, I was reminded that our God has chosen this special union (marriage) between a man and a woman to be something wonderful, holy and pleasing to Him. We are living in a world today where marriage is taken lightly and often ridiculed by Hollywood and "free thinkers" - something "old fashioned" and not needed in today's society. God (the Author of marriage) and His Word must not be left out if marriage is to be successful and fulfilling. Divorce is not what God intended. It usually is not the solution to the problem. It often leads to devastating hurt and more and more problems. The real and right kind of relationship between a man and a woman is rare today!

Speaking of love, the right kind of love songs are not often heard anymore! Now, I'm the first to admit that I wouldn't want my someone writing me a poem or singing me a "love song" about how my neck looked like an Ivory tower; my eyes resembled doves; my hair reminded him of a flock of goats; nor would I like being compared to Pharaoh's favorite mare - (OK Mindy, you just might understand that analogy). Remember to praise your mate and compliment them often. Try and use the language they understand. There are many lessons we can learn from reading these verses despite the poetic rhyme and unfamiliar descriptions.

The Shulamite woman says do not awaken love until it pleases. Getting to know someone takes time and effort. Get to really know one another - all about them - their likes and dislikes, their goals and ambitions, their background; their religion, their family; their true personality. Don't rush ahead. Patiently wait until love and commitment can grow together.

Song of Solomon 6:3 says I am his and he is mine. Authentic love is more than a surface relationship. It is a commitment. That is one of the things that is lacking in so many marriages today. Just the secret buried thought of "if this doesn't work out, we can always get a divorce" will doom a marriage from the beginning. It will never last. There will always be problems in any marriage. You must be able to talk and work things out together. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Gen. 2:24). When my husband and I married, just before I walked down the aisle, my mother turned to me and said, "Remember, you belong to him now, not us." What sage advice. Don't go running "back home" - make a new home together.

The great message of the Song of Solomon is the beauty of love between a man and a woman as experienced in the relationship of marriage. In its frank but beautiful language, the song praises the mutual love which husband and wife feel toward each other in this highest of all human relationships. The sexual and physical side of marriage is a natural and proper part of God's plan, reflecting His purpose and desire for the human race . . . God created man and woman and brought them together to serve as companions and to share their lives with one another (quote from Donald Curtis.)

Not long ago, our church sponsored a Purity Conference for young ladies. What a beautiful way to ingrain in our young girls the need for a pure lifestyle and stress that "true love waits" on their perfect groom and for the proper time. (Thank you to all the ladies that put this conference together and the girls that participated.)

Does the Song of Solomon have anything to say about God and spiritual matters? Some commentaries see these chapters as a picture of God relating to Israel as His Bride, where others see a picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church. Jesus is our heavenly Bridegroom. Christ loved the church and gave His life for it. We can picture Christ, as our Bridegroom - on the day of our salvation and the day of our wedding banquet in heaven when He returns to bring His Bride home.

Song of Solomon also points beyond human love to the great Author of love. God is love the Bible says, and He brought love into being and put that emotion into our hearts. Because He first loved us, with God working in our lives, we will then know how to love others.

As a woman that has been married to a wonderful husband for almost 47 years, what "words of wisdom" can I offer? I think the first word that comes to my mind, as mentioned above, is commitment. Decide that through thick and thin, you will make it together. Has my marriage been perfect? Certainly not. Like every couple, we've had our ups and downs - children, teenagers, job losses, moves about the country, in-laws, money concerns, illness, but through it all we were determined to "keep love alive" and stay together. At a marriage seminar several years ago, we ended up being the couple in attendance that were married the longest. When

asked what our "secret" was, I laughed and said, "He traveled a lot!" He did, but we have never lost that special touch. We have tried to never go to bed at night angry with each other (even if we had to stay up late to settle our differences); and we have tried to never take each other for granted. My marriage consists of three partners - God, my sweetie, and me - all walking together on this beautiful journey called life. And I am eternally grateful.