Power Hour Lesson Summary for January 10, 2016 The Most Beautiful Bride Lesson Text: Song of Solomon 6:4-12 Background Scripture: John 10:1-11; Song of Solomon Devotional Reading: John 10:7-15 Song of Solomon 6:4-12 (NIV) 4 You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. 5 Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is missing. 7 Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. 8 Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; 9 but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her. 10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession? 11 I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. 12 Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people. TODAY S LESSON AIMS Learning Fact: To explain the word pictures describing the bride in the Song of Solomon. Biblical Principle: To emphasize the importance for a husband to express appreciation for his wife, beyond beauty. Daily Application: To help strengthen Christian marriages through God-given love. INTRODUCTION Obsession with Appearance On Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, there are offices for many physicians who specialize in cosmetic surgery. These doctors are commonly called plastic surgeons. While they do a variety of procedures for children and adults who are disfigured due to accidents or birth defects, most of their business is servicing folks who want to look
better. Lest you think this is just for women, be assured that these doctors do a brisk business in cosmetic surgery for men too. Beverly Hills and Los Angeles are not the only places you will find these practitioners. There are cosmetic surgeons in every major city in America and Canada. I recently heard of cosmetic surgeons in Istanbul who specialize in transplanting hair from the back of men s necks to their faces so that they may have fuller beards. In that culture, a full beard is considered very manly and attractive to women. These hair-transplant doctors are not lacking for business. Doubtlessly there are some who are reading or hearing this lesson who have used the services of a cosmetic surgeon, and the intent here is not to demean such folks or make them feel guilty. The point is that this phenomenon (which has been around in some form for centuries) is widespread for a reason: our desire to look good. This is not a bad thing. An appropriate level of concern for one s appearance is a sign of physical and mental health. The two extremes of obsession and total disdain with one s appearance may indicate emotional illness. The current lesson today concerns a woman who looks her best for her suitor. LESSON BACKGROUND Time: 970-960 B.C. Place: Jerusalem The given title for this book is The Song of Songs, Which is Solomon s. This is often shortened to Song of Solomon or Song of Songs. Some translations use the title Canticles, which is another way of referring to songs (or a hymn derived from the Bible). According to 1 Kings 4:32, Solomon composed 1,005 songs. The book at points can be a challenge to understand because it is poetic dialogue with various speakers and the speakers are not identified, as they would be if one were reading, say, a play by Shakespeare. We can assume that the male lead in this poetic drama is King Solomon, but it is difficult to pinpoint a time and place in that man s life where this book fits. Solomon was the third king of Israel, reigning about 970-930 B.C. His wealth and accomplishments were amazing. He was the builder of the great temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, as well as of lavish palaces and estates for his own pleasure. The Song of Solomon pictures his relationship with a singular woman, a shepherd girl (Song of Solomon 1:8). The story behind the poetry seems to be that the king has fallen in love with this shepherdess and wants to bring her to his palace as a wife. Following a cluster of five meetings in which the lovers pass through courtship, and then their wedding procession (see 3:6-5:1), the king showed that like all brides and bridegrooms, this couple brought personal frailties into their marriage, but he looked past them. Specifically in the bride s dream, her husband had gone away because she was too slow to answer his knocking and open their door (5:2-6). The bride (identified as a Shulammite, 6:13) responded by seeking help from the city watchmen. Yet, much to the woman s dismay, they beat her and stole her cloak. The young maidens of the city responded to the bride s cry for help by asking her to describe her husband, and she did so in a beautiful portrait of the man she loved (see 5:9-16). Next, the daughters of Jerusalem (her friends) asked the Shulammite where her lover, or beloved (v. 6:1) had gone. The maidens, who referred to the bride as being exceptionally beautiful, stated their desire to help her search for him. The Shulammite noted that the bridegroom was at his garden (v. 2). Another option is to regard the bride s remark as a metaphorical reference to the physical intimacy the couple enjoyed with each other. However, the Shulammite affirmed the mutual love she and her husband shared (see v. 3). Perhaps it was at this point that she awakened and, seeing the bridegroom sleeping next to her, felt reassured. Here we pick up this week s lesson.
The King s Description of His Bride: Song of Solomon 6:4-7 1. What comparisons are used by Solomon to describe his bride s physical appearance? (Song of Solomon 6:4-7) With his new bride awake and lying beside him in their bed, Solomon offered her a tribute. The first part of it repeats some of what he had already said (compare vs. 4-7 with 4:1-3). This section begins with several comparisons concerning the physical beauty of the bride. Good poetry uses vivid, figurative language drawn from the world of the writer, and these images can be difficult to understand outside the original context. Her we will unravel these references for understanding in our time. The first comparison involves a play on words involving a city named Tirzah. The king declared his dearest to be as lovely as Tirzah and pleasing as Jerusalem (two prominent cities in Israel). Expressed another way, Solomon felt as if the beauty of his new bride was as spectacular as the nation s most renowned cities. Likewise, she was as breathtaking as a phalanx of Israelite warriors entering into battle. Put differently, her allure was as awe-inspiring as a powerful army with its banners flying (see 6:4). The Solomon was captivated by her dazzling eyes, so much so that he asked her to turn away (see v. 5). To the king, his beloved s hair seemed to dance about gracefully. It was comparable to a shimmering flock of female goats rushing down from the hills of Gilead in a coordinated, flowing movement. Likewise, the Shulammite s aligned, white teeth reminded Solomon of a flock (v. 6) of freshly cleaned sheep. Not one animal was missing, and each perfectly matched with another. Furthermore, the temples of the woman s head include her cheeks, though behind a veil (v. 7), this bride s gleamed through the cover like the split halves of pomegranates. The latter was a fruit prized in ancient times for its glossy, red color and juicy, sweet taste. What Do You Think? What are appropriate ways to praise one s spouse s physical appearance? The Bride s Incomparable Beauty: Song of Solomon 6:8-9 2. How does Solomon compare his bride s beauty? (Song of Solomon 6:8-9) In Solomon s estimation, not even 60 queens (Song of Sol. 6:8; his primary wives) or 80 concubines (his secondary wives) or innumerable young women (female attendants in his royal court) outshone his new bride in terms of her beauty. It is certainly possible that Solomon was here comparing his bride to the other women in his harem. Regrettably, he would eventually have as many as 1,000 wives and concubines. We are rightly troubled by this seemingly casual and even prideful reference to the multitude of wives that Solomon experiences in his lifetime. Two things should be noted, however. Many of these wives are received as part of political alliances. When a king in the ancient world makes a pact with another king, a daughter might be given in marriage to seal the deal (example: 1 Kings 3:1). These other kings have many wives too, so there is no lack of daughters available for this purpose (compare 2 Chronicles 11:21). While this seems strange to us, it is a normal part of statecraft in Solomon s day (but see warnings in Exodus 34:15, 16; Deuteronomy 7:1-4). That leads us to the second issue of note: despite his great wisdom, Solomon s collection of wives ultimately proves to be unwise for the king. The religious demands of these non-israelite women cause him to stumble spiritually (see 1 Kings 11:1-10; Nehemiah 13:26). His desire for many wives is motivated by lust for both power and pleasure (see Ecclesiastes 2:8), and both motivations cause Solomon to lose the favor of the Lord. Even so, in his eyes his darling was flawless and distinctive. It was as if she was the sole girl and best-loved child in her family. Even the young women of the kingdom complimented the king s beloved. Similarly, all of the other wives and concubines in Solomon s court lauded the Shulammite for her singular poise and elegance (see Song of Sol. 6:9).
The Chorus of Praise: Song of Solomon 6:10 3. How do others respond to the bride s beauty? (Song of Solomon 6:10) The speaking now appears to shift from Solomon to a chorus, members (or friends) of which ask rhetorical questions that highlight the woman s beauty. Apparently Solomon was not the only person to extol the Shulammite s beauty. To them she was as majestic as the early morning dawn (Song of Sol. 6:10) and as luminous as the moon. Likewise, the king s bride was as radiant; as the stars parading like an army with its unfurled banners through the nighttime sky. Without question, she was the sole focus and center of Solomon s attention. What Do You Think? What analogies would you suggest for describing inner qualities rather than physical beauty? The King s Anticipation: Song of Solomon 6:11-12 4. What is described as happening in the grove (garden) of nuts? Who is speaking (Solomon or the Shulamite)? (Song of Solomon 6:11-12) Sometime after the friends added their praise, Solomon told in his song how he left his house to check on his harvest of walnuts, grapes, and pomegranates (Song of Sol. 6:11). The orchard was situated in a nearby valley. It remains unclear, though, whether this was a physical location (such as the Valley of Jezreel) or a metaphorical reference to the deep love existing between the king and his bride. In either case, Israel s monarch suddenly visualized himself sitting in one of his royal chariots (v. 12) among his people. What does the preceding reference mean? To be candid, interpreters remain unsure. Indeed, specialists agree that this passage constitutes one of the most difficult portions in the entire poem to translate. Some suggest that these verses be interpreted as intimate imagery. Others suggest that the spokesperson was not the husband, but the wife. In that case, the Shulamite is speaking here and explains to Solomon how the first meeting came about. It was not by design that her life became intertwined with the royal cortege. She had gone to the valley to gather fruit and herbs for her family. On her way to the valley, her progress was interrupted by an encounter with the royal cortege. Before she was aware of what was happening, she had been abducted, and placed on the chariots of the great prince who is among my people, i.e., Solomon. Thus, she explains how she came to be the subject of praise before the ladies of the court. Regardless of which rendition is preferred, the friends of the Shulammite bride called on her to return to their midst so that they might enjoy seeing her beauty once more (see v. 13). 5. Does Solomon s exalted description of his bride s beauty carry any spiritual truths for us? There is an important difference between human marriage and Christ s union with the church. Whereas the bride in the Song of Solomon is perfect in beauty and the husband is flawed, it is the opposite with Christ and His church. He is perfect, and the church is flawed. Only His love and imputed righteousness make the spiritual union possible. But just as the husband in the Song could find no fault in his bride, so Christ finds none in His church. He anticipates the day when He can present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Eph. 5:27). Surely we should praise Him for His grace! POINTS TO PONDER 1. Man looks on the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart (Song of Solomon 6:4-10; 1 Samuel 16:7). 2. The relationship between a husband and wife should be carefully tended like a well-cultivated garden (Song of Solomon 6:11-12).
CONCLUSION Inner and Outer Beauty The woman who is the object of the king s affections in today s lesson was a stunning beauty, to be sure. But what was it about her that drew his attentions so dramatically and in such an obsessively focused way? Surely there were other women of great physical beauty among his household of wives and concubines! Yet none seems to have excited his passions like this one. It is probably accurate to say that there is more here than meets the eye. Many indications in this book strongly hint that this woman was as lovely in character as she was in physical attributes. She was not a sophisticated courtesan, a product of the royal court and the big city. She was a simple country girl, innocent and pure, and was not overwhelmed by the attentions of the king. While God had blessed her with physical attractiveness that turned the head of the king, she had not cheapened this with pettiness, arrogance, or pride. The book does not describe her spiritually, but a secure relationship with God would have contributed to her attractiveness. A bride on her wedding day had made herself beautiful for her groom. Even a woman who is unattractive by worldly standards glows with joy and happiness on her wedding day. It is due to more than an expensive dress, the work of a hair stylist, or the craft of a makeup artist. She is truly beautiful because she is committing herself to her beloved and he to her. May we who are married remember that day. Perhaps the years have not been kind to us when it comes to physical beauty. Try as we might to delay the effects of aging, those effects are relentless and universal. Even the world s greatest cosmetic surgeons can do only so much, and sometimes their work even distorts the handsomeness of an older person. Yet a bright smile, gentle eyes, soft speech, loving words, and a humble spirit are ultimately more attractive than any other features of beauty, no matter what our culture tells us. PRAYER Dear heavenly Father and God of both men and women, You created us to be in relationship with one another. Many times, these relationships are hard, they are strained, and they are even broken. Give us the wisdom and the grace to speak words of kindness and encouragement to one another. Rather than demean and criticize, let us find ways to build up one another. May we appreciate the inner beauty of character. We pray this in the name of Jesus our beautiful Savior. Amen. THOUGHT TO REMEMBER Praise and celebrate strong marriages. ANTICIPATING THE NEXT LESSON Next week's lesson is An Unfaithful Bride, and explains the story of the Prophet Hosea s unusual family and how this represented the relationship between the Lord and Israel. Study Hosea 1-3.