Today’s passage: Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1
Helpful thoughts:
- In verses 1-7, the shepherd gives his own description of the beauty of his bride and his desire to be with her “until the day breathes and the shadows flee.”
- Yes, in verse 2, the man is thrilled about the fact his love still has all her teeth! This wouldn’t have been as common then as it is in our culture today.
- In verse 8, the shepherd calls his bride away from the perils of the world and into the safety of his care.
- In verses 9-16a, the shepherd’s description of his bride moves away from the visual (Verses 1-7) to the other senses.
- Today’s passage ends with the Shulammite woman dreaming of the consummation of their relationship.
- In verse 16b, after the shepherd expressed his desire for his bride, she gives her invitation.
- In 5:1, he expresses his delight in having been with his wife.
- In 5:2, their friends, or the writer, confirms the goodness of their desire and intimacy with one another.
Questions to consider:
- What do these verses: 3:1 and 5:2 remind us about these thoughts in chapter 4? Did the events depicted in these verses actually happen? What is the Shulammite woman recounting?
- The heart in the Bible does not merely refer to someone’s feelings, but to his/her inner self as a whole (His/her thinking, wanting, choosing). What does it truly mean for this woman to have captivated the shepherd’s heart? Then, what does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart (Mark 12:30)? How would loving with all your heart be evidenced/exercised?
- If the garden metaphor in verses 9-16a illustrated the enjoyment of physical intimacy with the woman, what does it mean that she is a “garden locked” in verse 12? What would be true of the Shulammite prior to marriage according to verse 12? What would be true of her after the wedding according to verse 12? To whom is she sealed (And therefore, he as well)?