Today's passage: Song of Solomon 6:4-7:13
Helpful thoughts:
- The dreams are over. Now the two simply speak to each other as they long for their wedding day.
- You might notice, some of the words the shepherd speaks to his fiancé are the same as what was said in her dream (e.g. 4:1-2). He's making her dreams come true!
- In contrast to Solomon, the shepherd sees right through all the queens, concubines and virgins around…he only has eyes for his beloved (Verses 8-9).
- The Shulammite knows her shepherd loves only her and she desires only him (Verses 9-10).
- She invites him to go out toward their wedding day, where she says, “I will give you my love” (End of verse 12).
Questions to consider:
- How highly does the shepherd view his bride-to-be? How does verse 10 and the beginning of verse 5 frame his view of her (His inability to look away…the way he is overcome when they make eye-contact)?
- What does the respect and awe he has for her make her think of him? What does she call him in the end of verse 12? Men often want respect from their brides…what kinds of genuine/sincere actions of a man will elicit respect from his wife?
- How does the shepherd protect the honor of the Shulammite in verse 13? Once the description of her beauty caught the attention of others, what did the shepherd desire to protect her from? For whom is her beauty to be reserved (As well as his handsomeness)?