To continue our study of King Solomon we move to the Song of Solomon chapter one. This book is one of sexuality, pure and simple. Jehovah made us as sexual beings. Why shouldn’t there be a book in the Bible that exalts sex? Don’t believe that this is a poem of love. It is about lust. Eros, that is translated as love is the focus. It should be translated as lust. Agape is the true word for Godly love.
She is completely willing to succumb to the King’s desires. We do not know who the woman is in these verses. She may be one of his wives, concubines, or some other young lady with whom the King was infatuated. As all lovers do, they are looking for a rendezvous, where they can be alone.
The two romantics have nothing but compliments for each other. Those around them encourage their amorous feelings. The metaphors used here are often interesting. Think about the description of her eyes as doves. I don’t think I would use that as a pick-up line.
We often describe a woman as a flower. In Song of Solomon 2, she describes herself as a lily of the valley or rose of Sharon. He responds that she is a Lilly among thorns. To describe the young King, she refers to him as an apple tree in the forest. This is like the Lilly among the thorns. Both are viewed as special by their lover.
A good piece of advice is given by the woman. Do not awaken your lust until you are ready. It is spring and in the spring all the animals want to reproduce. Shouldn’t humans fall to the same desires? The short answer from her is, no. He does not listen but encourages her to run away with him.
Our heroine wakes and goes into the streets in Song of Solomon 3. She searches and asks for the one she desires and returns home with him. Then she reminds young women to be careful about allowing their sexual desires to take over their thoughts at too early an age.
She then sings the praises of the King as he approaches in his carriage. The phrase, “he is wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding.” Note she says, “his wedding,” not our wedding. That means she was one of the seven hundred, three hundred, or just another lover of the King.
We return to descriptive phrases in Song of Solomon 4. Eyes like doves, hair-like goats, teeth like a flock of sheep, lips like a scarlet ribbon, a neck like a tower, and breasts like twin fawns may not make sense to the modern mind, but he calls her “altogether beautiful.”
He is smitten. She has stolen his heart. Her perfume and her body have enchanted him. He calls her a garden fountain and she replies to the wind to blow the fragrance of her garden to her lover. She asks him to come into her garden and taste her fruits.
We continue in Song of Solomon 5 with the garden and the friends encourage them to eat and drink together. Let your mind guide you as to what that could mean.
She awakes to find him gone. She searches for him but cannot locate her desired one. How is your beloved better than others? Is he radiant, ruddy, or outstanding? Now he has doves for eyes. Most importantly, he is her friend, not just her beloved.
Once again, our lovers are separated in Song of Solomon chapter 6. We read those descriptive phrases about the flocks of goats and sheep and pomegranates. This had to be early in Solomon’s life because he speaks of sixty queens and only eighty concubines and calls her one of a kind. Here she is referred to as a Shulamite while the King searches for her.
Would you like some more metaphors from the King? Song of Solomon 7 tells us her legs are like jewels in an artist’s hands, her naval like a rounded goblet, her neck like an ivory tower, hair like a tapestry, and stature like a palm. I’m not sure that a waist like a mound of wheat should be a compliment. The sensuality of breasts like clusters of grapes, breath like apples, and a mouth like wine is unmistakable.
She accepts these praises and suggests another rendezvous in the country. Their passions will be kindled again in a place they can be alone.
Repetition in poetry to emphasize important thoughts is used again in Song of Solomon 8. The last chapter of this book repeats the lines “His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”
Love is compared to death and jealousy to the grave. Love or sexual desire cannot be quenched. Young girls are still married to older men in many of the Arabic lands as is mentioned in verse 9. We end the love story with them together in the same ecstasy that began this book.
©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger
As fathers, we want our children to learn from our mistakes. In Proverbs 4, King Solomon encourages his sons to follow his advice. He learned from his father and the process continues. He recounts the advantages of wisdom and understanding.
A proverb is a wise saying and as we begin in Proverbs 1, we see that Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel is our author or editor. The purpose of this book is to gain wisdom and insight and receive instruction in prudent behavior. We can all learn something from this book, no matter our age or intelligence level.
Charles (Chuck) Kensinger 