The Song of Songs Abbreviated Commentary

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1 The Song of Songs Commentary By Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope December 2016 The Song of Songs Abbreviated Commentary

2 I HER SITUATION - (1:1-6) A: Proleptic Postscript In these opening lines it is as though we are reading the postscript, or the end of the story. The past is treated as already present (prolepsis). She speaks of completed love that is available to her now. But it is not. For, as we see beginning in verse five, we brought to the beginning of the story, which describes how love must grow, and that mature love has its time. Warnings (or speed bumps) in the chapters to follow caution us to not awaken or stir up love until it is ready. And thus we shall see how their love grows in stages, even as the Christian life and love for God also grows in stages from awareness to seeking and purification, to mature love for God. In the dialogue of the lovers, her love grows and deepens. The woman here ( W ) represents the Church, the Bride of Christ, and thereby every Christian. The man ( M ) here represents Christ, the Groom. Off stage there is also a chorus of the daughters of Jerusalem ( D ) who at times supply details and ask questions on our behalf. W a Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine 1, better than the fragrance of your perfumes. Your name is a flowing perfume therefore young women love you. Draw me after you! Let us run! The king has brought me to his bedchambers 2. Let us exult and rejoice in you; let us celebrate your love: it is beyond wine! Rightly do they love you! B: Problematic Position Her condition is lowly because, though from a wealthy family (for they own vineyards), she is consigned to work in the vineyards. He past sins are not disclosed, but she does admit that she has not cared properly for the vineyard of her own soul. Thus, she represents us all, sinners in need of God s mercy, those who have not loved well, in need of one who loves us to perfect our love. We too have been consigned to work outside of paradise, and labor in the vineyards by the sweat of our brow. Yet still, despite her lowly estate, the woman is beautiful and so are we. We are not utterly depraved. We still have the dignity of being created in the image of God and He still desires us. W I am black and beautiful, Daughters of Jerusalem Like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not stare at me because I am so black, because the sun has burned me. The sons of my mother were angry with me; they charged me with the care of the vineyards: my own vineyard I did not take care of. 1 Wine here represents on of earth s great pleasures. But the greater pleasure is to know the vintner who is the Lord. 2 Here is described mature, intimate and consummated marital love. This is why there is a proleptic character to these verses, for, in verse we step back in time and observe the stages that lead here. She is not a sub-saharan African. She is identified elsewhere as a Shulamite (a region in Israel). Her skin is darkened from working in the hot sun. This detail is more about class than race and references her punishment. In Israel the lower or working classes often had darker skin due to working in the open, rather than indoors.

3 II HER SEEKING Somewhere in our depths the voice and presence of God sounds. So also is He revealed in creation, and many too have heard his voice in scripture. In her neediness the woman sends up inquiry: Where do you stay? And so do we. And the Lord replies, Come and see. The kingly shepherd (the Lord) speaks to her in tender terms calling her beautiful, desirable and as a gentle mare. Whatever her sins, she is beautiful and desirable to the kingly shepherd. She too, whatever her struggles is drawn to the kingly shepherd (the Lord). And thus, there is a desire in every human heart for what is good, true and beautiful. We are wired for this, and it is another way of saying that we are wired to know and love God. Tragically we often confuse the creature as the answer, rather than the creator. And thus, love must be purified. Here in these lines we see the initial attraction that teaches us that God has written his name on our heart. A: Inquiry W Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you shepherd, where you give rest at midday? Why should I be like one wandering after the flocks of your companions? B: Invitation: M 8 If you do not know, most beautiful among women, Follow the tracks of the flock and pasture your lambs near the shepherds tents. and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 8 2: He brought me to the banquet hall and his glance at me signaled love. Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. E: Initial Warning: I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the field, Do not awaken, or stir up love until it is ready. END OF SONG 1 C: Intensification: M To a mare 6 among Pharaoh s chariotry I compare you, my friend: Your cheeks lovely in pendants, your neck in jewels. W My lover is to me a cluster of henna from the vineyards of En-gedi. M 1 How beautiful you are, my friend, how beautiful! your eyes are doves! W 16 How beautiful you are, my lover handsome indeed! In his shadow I delight to sit, Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, What are you seeking? And they said to him, Rabbi, where are you staying? He said to them, Come and you will see. (Jn 1:8-) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. (Psalm 2:1-2) 6 Mare a young female horse, strong and sleek, yet gentle and vivacious. Psalm 6: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 Psalm : How sweet O Lord are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 2: The Lord has prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foe. These were sweet cakes of compressed raises, being a compressed form of a cake. They were eaten as a delicacy. In this context they seem to indicate both delight and energy, since she needs them a remedy from fainting. The Hebrew Word shaba means to put someone under oath. Here it serves as a kind of warning. Gazelles and does flee quickly if disturbed. So does love before its time. Chastity and courtship are essential in this regard. So too, by extension our relationship with God must grow in stages and not be permitted to be disturbed by unholy or presumptuous things.

4 III HER SENSING - A: Signs and Wonders - W 8 The sound of my lover! here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. See! He is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, 1 peering through the lattices. My lover speaks and says to me: M Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land. 1 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff as they made their rounds in the city: Him whom my soul loves have you seen him? C: Simple (childlike but immature) Worship Hardly had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother s house, to the chamber of her who conceived me. 1 I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the field, Do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready. END OF SONG 2 B: Sighs and Wanderings: Let me see your face, 1 let me hear your voice, W : 1 On my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves 1 I sought him but I did not find him. 2 Let me rise then and go about the city, through the streets and squares; Let me seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him but I did not find him. The watchmen found me, 16 Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your coming Christ with righteous deeds (1 Advent collect) 1 An image for Eucharistic Adoration. 1 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:22-2) 1 On my bed, O Lord, I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night (Ps 6:6) 16 In the ancient world of agrarian societies, large watchtowers were placed overlooking the fields. There, in the weeks the crops were ripening toward harvest, men would stand watch, guarding the fields from animals or from thieves who would make off with the crops. With the community s basic food stores at stake, the watchman s role was critical to the townspeople. Cities too had watchmen who patrolled in the watchtowers of the Walls and also inside as constables. 1 Jesus said to Magdalene, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (Jn 20:1)

5 IV HER STRUGGLING Love and our spiritual lives must be purified. The desert is a common image for the purifications necessary. But God does not simply drive us into the desert; he meets us there and speaks tenderly to us. That she needs purification is indicated in her desire to push love ahead of where it is. Thus each song has ended warning us not to stir love before its time. Love will blossom fully, but for now, she must let it have its stages. So too us with God. 1 A garden fountain, a well of living water, A: A Location Extolled: streams flowing from Lebanon. D 6 Who is this coming up from the desert, 18 like columns of smoke Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all kinds of exotic powders? See! it is the litter of Solomon; sixty valiant men surround it, Daughters of Jerusalem, go out and look upon King Solomon B: A Love Expressed: : You are beautiful in every way, my friend, there is no flaw in you! 8 With me from Lebanon, my bride! With me from Lebanon, come! You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; you have ravished my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one bead of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride, How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfumes than any spice! Your lips drip honey, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. C. A Love that is Pure M A garden enclosed, my sister, my bride, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed! 18 Therefore, says the Lord, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her..and in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me My Husband, and no longer will you call me My Baal. and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. (Hosea 2:1ff) D. Yet A Love that is Premature W Let my lover come to his garden and eat its fruits of choicest yield. M : 1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh with my spices, W 2 I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. The sound of my lover knocking! Open to me, my sister, my friend, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is wet with dew, my hair, with the moisture of the night. I have taken off my robe, am I then to put it on? I have bathed my feet, am I then to soil them? My lover put his hand in through the opening: my innermost being trembled because of him. I rose to open for my lover, 6 I opened for my lover but my lover had turned and gone! At his leaving, my soul sank. I sought him, but I did not find him; I called out after him, but he did not answer me. The watchmen found me, as they made their rounds in the city; They beat me, they wounded me, they tore off my mantle, the watchmen of the walls. 8 I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my lover What shall you tell him? that I am sick with love. END OF SONG

6 V. HER STRENGTHENING Having been purified and helped, her love now grows more mature. Her description of him is less physical and more biblically allegorical. She also calls him friend for the first time, not merely lover and indicates a willingness to be taught. And so too for us who would see our love for God grow from the mere gift and consolations he offers to something deeper and richer. A love of God for his own sake not merely his benefits. In indicating that she belongs to her lover there is an indication of betrothal. D How does your lover differ from any other lover, most beautiful among women? How does your lover differ from any other, that you adjure us so? W My lover is radiant and ruddy; 1 outstanding among thousands. His head is gold, pure gold, 20 His eyes are like doves 21 1 His cheeks are like beds of spices 22 1 His arms are rods of gold 2 adorned with gems; Such is my lover, and such my friend, 2 Daughters of Jerusalem! W To the walnut grove I went down, to see the young growth of the valley; To see if the vines were in bloom, if the pomegranates had blossomed. Before I knew it, my desire had made me the blessed one of the prince s people. : I belong to my lover, his yearning is for me. Fruits both fresh and dried, my lover, have I kept in store for you. 8:1 If I met you out of doors, I would kiss you and none would despise me. 2 I would lead you, bring you to my mother s house, where you would teach me. 8: I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! END OF SONG 1 He is the light of the World 20 His law is more precious than gold 21 His insights are wisdom and peace 22 His face shines upon us 2 The works of his hands area rich treasure and more precious tan jewels 2 Marriage is a kind of specialized friendship that is deeper and outlasts physical attraction. Thus her insights now broaden from mere lover to friend as well. Love is maturing

7 VI. HER SEALING And here comes the wedding. Love is mature now and the Wedding is ready. The intimacy for which she has longed is now here. So too for us. One day we will attain to the intimate union for which our soul longs. For its fruit one would have to pay Wedding procession a thousand silver pieces. 2 D? Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning upon her lover? M Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; 2 there your mother conceived you; there she who bore you conceived. Wedding Songs (Vows) W 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, 26 as a seal upon your arm; 2 For Love is strong as Death 28, longing is fierce as Sheol. Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor rivers sweep it away. Were one to offer all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly despised. 2 Whither the Brothers and what the Price? W 8 We have a little sister; she has no breasts as yet. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build upon her a silver turret; But if she is a door, 0 we will board her up with cedar planks. D I am a wall, 1 and my breasts are like towers. I became in his eyes as one who brings peace. Wedding Dowry M? Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he gave over the vineyard to caretakers. 2 Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. (Jn 1:8) 26 When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Eph 1:1) 2 Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God. (Rev :) 28 Till death do us part 2 For Richer or poorer 0 Promiscuity? Or a high price? 1 Love is mature, The Groom s Arrival M 1 You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice let me hear it! W 1 Swiftly, my lover, be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices. Finis THE PROLGUE REITERATED (1:1-) W a Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine 6, better than the fragrance of your perfumes. Your name is a flowing perfume therefore young women love you. Draw me after you! Let us run! The king has brought me to his bedchambers. Let us exult and rejoice in you; let us celebrate your love: it is beyond wine! 2 The high price of the Bride! You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-1) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (Jn :) But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. (Matt 2:6) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one who hears say, Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev 21, 22) 6 Wine here represents on of earth s great pleasures. But the greater pleasure is to know the vintner who is the Lord. Here is described mature, intimate and consummated marital love. This is why there is a proleptic character to these verses, for, in verse we step back in time and observe the stages that lead here.

Lesson 23. Song of Solomon part 1. Chapters 1 3:5

Lesson 23. Song of Solomon part 1. Chapters 1 3:5 Lesson 23 Song of Solomon part 1 Chapters 1 3:5 1. Whose song is this? (S of S 1:1) 2. Write Ephesians 5:17 here. God put this book into the Bible. He inspired its writing. Let s see what we can do to