|
| |
|
COLLECTIONS
Commentaries, Word
Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SONG OF SOLOMON 7
COMMENTARY NOTES |
This is a work in progress - please use "as is"
or as they say in business "Caveat Emptor"! |
Solomon...
Song 7:1 "How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O
prince's daughter! The curves of your hips are like jewels, The work of the
hands of an artist.
2 "Your navel is like a round goblet Which never lacks mixed wine; Your
belly is like a heap of wheat Fenced about with lilies.
3 "Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle.
4 "Your neck is like a tower of ivory, Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon
By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, Which
faces toward Damascus.
5 "Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your head are
like purple threads; The king is captivated by your tresses.
6 "How beautiful and how delightful you are, My love, with all your charms!
7 "Your stature is like a palm tree, And your breasts are like its clusters.
8 "I said, 'I will climb the palm tree, I will take hold of its fruit
stalks.' Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, And the
fragrance of your breath like apples,
9 And your mouth like the best wine! ""
Shulammite...
9b It goes down smoothly for my
beloved, Flowing gently through the lips of those who fall asleep.
10 "I am my beloved's, And his desire is for me. |
| Clearly
Solomon is taking great pleasure in his beloved, which raises the question
of the appropriateness of viewing someone other than one's marital partner
to "re-kindle" the fires in one's marital relation. And before you say "The
answer is obvious", let me tell you an experience I had some 25 years ago as
a brand new "baby" Christian. I was attending a well known and highly
respected non-denominational Bible church where the elder (very well
respected in the church) who interviewed me for membership (questions
regarding the authenticity of my born again experience at age 39 - see
My Testimony of God's Amazing Grace)
related to me how he and his wife frequently viewed pornographic movies as a
means to "stimulate" their relationship! I was taken aback to say the least,
and that is why I included the following comments (you will need to click
the link for the full article).
Jeff Olson addresses this query asking...
Is it right and beneficial for a husband
and wife to view pornographic videos? We live in a sexually charged culture
where some would have us believe that it is acceptable and appropriate for a
husband and wife to view pornographic videos. Most in this camp contend that
couples watching tapes of other couples having sex can re-ignite dwindling
passion and "spice up" a dull sex life.
Although some "training videos" may contain some practical information about
the physical realities of sex, they cross a moral line by communicating that
information with demonstrations of couples engaged in sexual activities. The
strong sexual imagery in the Bible's Song of Solomon illustrates
God's intention for a husband and wife to take great pleasure in viewing and
touching each other's bodies. Outside of marriage, however, such behavior is
wrong. And it is wrong to view such an intimate act under the pretense of
"sex education." (Read the entire article
Answers to Tough Questions)
TODAY IN THE WORD - The popular television show Sex and the City
portrayed the glamorous love life of single women living in New York. One of
the stars, Kim Cattrall, noted that the images in the program are
unrealistic. “It’s much more fun being single on Sex and the City than it is
in real life,” she observed.
Scientific research supports Cattrall.
Recent studies show that married people enjoy sex more than sexually active
singles, and that they even have sex more frequently. The media image of the
carefree sex life of the swinging single is a myth. This should come as no
surprise to Christians. The Bible teaches that the marriage relationship is
the only appropriate context for sexual expression.
In today’s passage, Solomon praises the physical beauty of his bride. His
imagery describes her from her feet to her head (in that order). Solomon
speaks so frankly that his words have embarrassed people throughout history.
In order to avoid this sexual imagery, the church has often tried to
interpret this passage in purely spiritual terms. If we did not already know
that this was inspired Scripture, we might wonder if this passage truly
belonged in the Bible.
The emphasis in these verses is proof that the physical dimension of the
marriage relationship is important. The New Testament confirms this when it
commands husbands and wives not to withhold sex from one another (1 Cor.
7:3–5).
Nevertheless, it is equally important to recognize that although sex is
important in the marriage relationship, it is not our most important need.
Henri Nouwen has written, “Your body needs to be held and to hold, to be
touched and to touch. None of these needs is to be despised, denied, or
repressed. But you have to keep searching for your body’s deeper need, the
need for genuine love.”
Sexual desire is part of our human nature. So is the capacity to enjoy
physical beauty. They are also a stewardship entrusted to us by God. Read
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 5:28–30. Why do you think He uses such strong
language? According to 1 Thessa-lonians 4:3–9, what are some of the
consequences of not controlling our bodies? What does it mean for you to
control your body in a way that is holy and honorable today? Ask God to
produce the spiritual fruit of self-control in your life today.
|
Shulammite...
Song 7:11 "Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country, Let us spend
the night in the villages.
12 "Let us rise early and go to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine
has budded And its blossoms have opened, And whether the pomegranates have
bloomed. There I will give you my love.
13 "The mandrakes have given forth fragrance; And over our doors are all
choice fruits, Both new and old, Which I have saved up for you, my beloved. |
| TODAY
IN THE WORD - In a Christianity Today article entitled, “Losing Our
Promiscuity,” author Paula Rinehart quoted a woman in her twenties with a
history of sexual promiscuity. “I wish I hadn’t given so much of myself,”
she lamented. “I feel that some of my experiences thinned my soul, and such
an effect takes time to undo.”
One of the many tragic side effects of a promiscuous lifestyle is that it
can lead to sexual boredom in the marriage relationship. Ironically, the
notion that marriage makes sex boring is one of the myths used to justify a
promiscuous lifestyle. In a healthy marriage the opposite is true. As the
relationship deepens, so does the couple’s enjoyment of the physical
dimension of their marriage.
Today’s passage continues the Song of Solomon’s celebration of sexual love
within the context of marriage. The bride promises to give her love to her
groom. She declares, “At our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that
I have stored up for you, my lover” (v. 13). This beautiful image depicts
sexual love as something rare that has been saved for the bride’s husband
alone. It is a cherished treasure, hidden away until the proper time.
The bride’s imagery also suggests that those in a healthy marriage should
expect the pleasures of physical intimacy to increase rather than decrease
with time. She promises to give her husband choice delicacies “both new and
old.” If marriage leads to sexual boredom, it is not the institution but the
nature of the couple’s relationship that is flawed.
Sexual pleasure should never be squandered. God did not intend for us to
share this gift with many. Instead, like Solomon’s bride, it is something to
be protected until it can be offered as a gift to the one for whom it was
originally intended.
Scripture warns us to flee sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18) and that immoral
behavior is inconsistent with the profession of godliness (Eph. 5:3).
Thankfully, God also promises forgiveness and cleansing to those who confess
their sin–no matter what it may be (1 John 1:9). We cannot undo past
decisions, but we can be made new through Jesus Christ. If you have
succumbed to sexual temptation, embrace the forgiveness found in Christ and
ask the Holy Spirit to give you renewed strength to glorify God through your
body. |
|
DOWNLOAD
InstaVerse
for free. It is an easy to install and simple to use
Bible Verse pop up tool that allows you to read cross references
in context and in
the Version you prefer. Only the KJV is free with this
download but you can also download a free copy of
Bible Explorer
which in turn offers
free Bibles
that work with
InstaVerse,
including the excellent, literal translation, the English Standard
Version (ESV). Other popular versions are available for
purchase. When you hold the mouse pointer over a Scripture reference
anywhere on the Web (as well as offline in Word for Windows, email,
etc) the passage pops up immediately.
InstaVerse
can be disabled if the popups become distractive. This
utility really does work and makes it easy to read the actual passage
in context and not just the chapter and verse reference.
|
|
