Lesson No. 21—The Churches’ Biggest Business is to Teach the Bible.

LESSON THEME:—SONG OF SOLOMON

Song 2:1-4.

• KEY WORD—”LOVE.”

• KEY VERSE—Song 2:4.

• KEY PHRASE—”GOD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH.”

Home Readings.

Do not fail to read through the whole Bible in connection with this course. This week read the Song of Solomon. The following selections are for the family altar:—

• Sunday—In joyful Communion,—Song 1:1-7.

• Monday—The Rose of Sharon,—Song 2:1-7.

• Tuesday—The visit of the beloved,—Song 2:8-17

• Wednesday-The Absence of the Beloved,—Song 3:1-5.

• Thursday—The Seeking Bride,—Song 5:6-8.

• Friday—The bridegroom praised,—Song 5:10-16

• Saturday—In praise of the bride,—Song 6:4-9.

In the East the physical charms of lovers are described minutely without any thought of vulgarity. In this book, one is on holy ground; pray for spiritual understanding!

Remember that it is made up of conversations between the bridegroom and the bride, and between the bride and her attendants. As you read keep the various speakers distinct in your mind.

NAME—This book is called the Song of Solomon because Solomon is the author and hero of it.

TIME OF WRITING—About 1000 B. C.

PURPOSE—To show in the changeless devotion of the bridegroom and the bride, the love of Jehovah for Israel, and of Christ for the church.

GREAT FACTS:—

1. Rapture.

2. Festival.

3. Separation.

4. Reunion.

Great Fact I. The Bride’s Rapture.

Song 1-3:5.

The bride is a beautiful Shulamite maiden. So called because she was the descendant of Shulam, who was a son of Dan. Shulamith, the bride, is awaiting the arrival of her lover, and, surrounded by a chorus of ladies, pours out her rapture and longing, which is responded to by her admiring companions, Song 1:1-8. The royal lover appears, and the rapturous joy of mutual delight is poured out in the banqueting house, Song 1:9-2:7, closing with a song of serene contentment, addressed by the bride to her companion, Song 2:7. In the rapture of the new-found love, the bride tells how her loved one wooed her, and how their love was mingled with the loveliness of opening spring and summer. How her heart longed for him until he was found, and when found, she was not willing to let him go, Song 3:5.

LESSON—The rapture of the bride for the bridegroom reminds us of the loving intercourse between Israel and Jehovah, and between the church and the heavenly Bridegroom. Some of the noblest religious souls have expressed their love in the fervent words of this Song of Songs,

In this parable of love we have a king seeking and wooing a bride in her humble home in the mountains. Thus the King of Kings left his glory-throne to seek and win the church for his bride. He despised not stable nor manger. He has sought the lowest and neediest, “My friend, my fair one rise up, and come away.” His love covers the multitude of our sins. He calls us “fair” and makes us fair. Then comes the rapturous utterance, “My beloved is mine and I am His,” Song 2:16. Christ is ours.

1. Because of the free gift of Himself “He loved me and gave Himself for me.”

2. He is ours if we believingly take Him to ourselves, for faith has marvellous power.

3. He is ours if we joyfully realize His life to us. Many fail right here. A child will cry even in its mother’s arms. But the arms are all the same. It is unspeakably blessed to realize all that Christ is to our souls.

Every Christian is Christ’s.

1. By creation. “It is He that hath made us,” Psalm 100.

2. By the purchase of His blood.

3. By the conquest of His spirit.

To the believing, Christ-loving soul, He is the “Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley, the chief among ten thousand.” Those who have found him and know Him with real spiritual knowledge, count other objects of human desire as nothing in comparison with Him! “What things were gain to me,” says Paul, “those I counted loss for Christ!”

Then let us again:—

1. Make a definite dedication of ourselves to Christ.

2. Be very careful not to offend Him in our conduct.

3. Prove our devotion by obedience to His commands.

4. Defend Him and His cause against all His present-day enemies.

5. Seek to extend His kingdom from shore to shore.

Great Fact II. The Wedding Festival.

Song 3:6; Song 4; Song 5:1.

We have here but a glimpse of the glad festival, but it suggests the whole. Solomon is seen surrounded by his bodyguard advancing towards Jerusalem. The daughters of Jerusalem go forth to meet him. He is crowned with the splendid crown made by his mother for the happy day. Next follows a beautiful song in which the bridegroom addressed the bride. She responds with a song of delight, in which she gives herself entirely to her husband, Song 4:16. In response to the bride’s invitation to enjoy the pleasant fruits of the garden, the bridegroom responds with great satisfaction, Song 5:1.

LESSON—It was a great thing for the poor bride from Lebanon to be brought into the court of the king whose magnificence filled the Queen of Sheba with -wonder and delight. But “eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. The day is coming when the Lord Jesus will present the church unto Himself, as a glorious bride, holy and without blemish. King Solomon went out of Jerusalem in royal pomp to meet his betrothed. When the marriage of the Lamb is come “The Lord Himself shall come to meet us,” (read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The heart of man cannot conceive of the bliss of that moment, when the heavenly bridegroom shall bring home the church. His, bride. The union of Christ and the church will be perfected forever. We shall enjoy our heritage as heirs of God and joint-, heirs of Christ. Eternity will be one blessed honeymoon.

Great Fact III. Temporary Separation.

Song 5:2-6:3.

A cloud ‘passes over the sun. The bright ness of the bridal bliss is obscured for a while. Under the figure of a dream the bride describes a brief separation of her heart from the bridegroom, her misery, her longing and searching for her beloved, and her appeal to her companions to help her. They draw from her the fullness of her love by asking questions, and ask, “Where is thy beloved gone?”

LESSON—When the sun is eclipsed it does not cease to shine, though its rays may not reach the earth. And when Christ is hidden, He remains Himself “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” However there have been times in the history of churches and of Christians, that resembled the captivity of Israel, when the Lord has seemed far from them, and they have walked in darkness. Sometimes Christ apparently deserts us because of our sins, and as plants kept from light become unhealthy, so souls deprived of light of God’s countenance lose their peace and strength. Our daily cares which we loved to cast upon the Lord, are borne upon our own shoulders with anxiety. Love of the world and the love of riches outweigh our love for Christ. We doubt our own conversions, and the realities of the blessed life Prayer affords no refreshment, and the Bible no precious promises. We become fault-finders and blame the minister and the church, when the blame of our discontentment lies only with ourselves. In the book we are studying, how the bride sought the bridegroom, as soon as the separation was felt! So we should ardently desire to be reconciled and to regain the favour we have lost!

Great Fact IV. Reunion.

Song 6:4-8:14.

There is soon a reunion between the royal bridegroom and the bride, and she, fall of satisfaction in the love of her husband, invites him to return with her to the scene Of her maiden life, for there his love would beautify all that was familiar to her. In the thought of such bliss she again happiness, her companions to witness her happiness, Song 6:4. Bride and bridegroom are now together in restful joy, exchanging remembrances and confidences, presenting a picture of ideal love.

LESSON—Man was made for companionship with his Saviour, and many beautiful expressions are used in scripture to suggest this communion.

We may delight ourselves in the Lord, Psalm 37:4. May dwell in the secret place of the Most High, Psalm 91:1. We may enter into the holiest, Hebrews 10:19. We may have the companionship of Christ,

1. In our occupations, whatever lawful ones they may be.

2. In our enjoyments which are all hallowed by His gracious presence.

3. In our sufferings, when we perhaps most need Him, and when His sympathy is especially precious.

4. In our Christian service, for how can we do His work except beneath His smile?

A mother was asked by her child, “Why is it that when you come from your room you always look so happy?” The answer was “Because I have been praying to my Saviour. I ask Him for His grace to make me happy and holy. I ask Him to assist me to keep me from committing any sin against Him, and above all, I ask Him to have mercy on your soul, to save you from the ruin of those who go down to hell.” “Oh! is that the secret?” said the child, “Then I will come into the secret place with you!” Let us renew our covenant to daily use the secret place of prayer and Bible-reading,

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide.

Oh, how precious are the lessons that I learn at Jesus’ side!

Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low,

For when Satan comes to vex me—to the secret place I go!

Questions on the Lesson.

1. Of what is this book made up?

2. Do we need spiritual understanding as we read?

3. Why is this book called Song of Solomon?

4. What is the purpose?

5. Give the key word and key verse.

6. Name the great facts.

7. Have you understood the precious verses in your Bible?

8. Why is the bride called the Shulamith?

9. How did the King of Kings seek to win His bride?

10. Show the three ways in which Christ is ours.

11. What four things ought believers to do?

12. What will happen when the marriage of the Lamb is come?

13. Why does Christ apparently desert the believer?

14. What happens when He does?

15. What ought we to do when separated from Christ?

16. Give some of the expressions of communion.

17. Give the four occasions in which we may have Christ’s companionship.

18. Why did a certain mother look happy?

19. What covenant ought we to renew?

20. Quote or read the verse of the hymn.