TABLE OF CONTENTS(Due to the size of the studies, the sections are in separate files.)

Introductory Section: Preface And Study FormatIntroduction To The Song Of Songs

Supplemental Study I.1: A Biographical Profile Of SolomonSection One: Song Of Songs 1

Supplemental Study 1.1: The NameSection Two: Song Of Songs 2

Supplemental Study 2.1: The Symbolism Of SeasonsSection Three: Song Of Songs 3

Supplemental Study 3.1: The Wedding SongSection Four: Song Of Songs 4

Supplemental Study 4.1: Spiritual Analogies Of The PomegranateSupplemental Study 4.2: The Gardens of GodSupplemental Study 4.3: Spiritual Mountain Climbing

Section Five: Song Of Songs 5Supplemental Study 5.1: Responding To The Bridegroom’s CallSupplemental Study 5.2: Friendship With God

Section Six: Song Of Songs 6Supplemental Study 6.1: Spiritual Eyesight

Section Seven: Song Of Songs 7Supplemental Study 7.1: The Spiritual Symbolism Of Palms Supplemental Study 7.2: A Place Called There

Section Eight: Song Of Songs 8Supplemental Study 8.1: The Spirit-Led WildernessSupplemental Study 8.2: The Spiritual Significance Of Walls And Gates

EpilogueSection Nine: Appendices:

A.1 Songs and Singing In ScriptureA.2 Commands Of The BridegroomA.3 Composite DescriptionsA.4 Creatures in the SongA.5 Geographic LocationsA.6 Marriage RelationshipsA.7 Questions In The SongA.8 Senses In The SongA.9 The Church As The Bride Of ChristA.10 The Spiritual Significance Of SpicesA.11 Vegetation In The SongA.12 Versions Of The Song

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PREFACE

In January of each year, I always pray about what to study in my personal devotions during the coming months. Several years ago, I was directed to the Song Of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs. Since I am a speed reader, I thought “That should take only a few minutes to read and about a week if I study it very slowly. What will I focus on during the rest of the year?” Little did I know that the immense spiritual riches of this little book would occupy me not only for that entire year, but that I would return again for a second year of study of these eight chapters. This manual is a result of those years of study.

I believe it is no coincidence that the final edit of these notes was underway when the world-wide pandemic of Covid19 struck in 2020. A lock-down with the Bridegroom, a setting apart from the world is the appeal of the Song of Solomon. To come into His presence, in the secret place, and sit at His banqueting table.

Before you begin however, I want you to know that it is not an exhaustive study. I have only just begun to mine the unsearchable riches of these chapters. That is why this manual is written in editable format so that as you study you can add your own spiritual discoveries.

You need not agree with every comment in this study. The purpose is for you to open your heart to experience intimacy with your Beloved Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not to learn about Him, but to come to know Him. May the Song of Songs become your song. May you feel cherished, challenged, and consumed by Him. May you develop a theology that emphasizes worship instead of works, relationship instead of ritual, and devotion instead of duty.

Patricia HulseyHarvestime International Network

My son, if you receive my words,And treasure my commands within you,So that you incline your ear to wisdom,And apply your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for discernment,And lift up your voice for understanding,

If you seek her as silver,And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,And find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

(Proverbs 2:1-6, NKJV)

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STUDY FORMAT

-Study the Introduction to this manual carefully, as it presents foundational concepts which are vital to understanding the Song of Songs.

-This manual consists of eight studies, corresponding to the eight chapters in the Song Of Songs. It is a verse-by-verse study of these chapters.

-To receive maximum benefit, take time to read each scripture used in the study and look up the additional references in your Bible.

-At the beginning of each study, there is an overview summarizing the content of that chapter.

-The study for each chapter is formatted as follows:-Capital bold-faced 14 point type font identifying the speaker in the passage. -Verses numbered and provided in 14 point bold-faced type.-Portions of each verse in the passage in bold-faced italics 12 point font.-Commentary following each portion in standard 12 point font.

Here is an example from chapter 2 verses 1-2:

THE BRIDE1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (1) I am the rose of Sharon…

Commentary follows.…and the lily of the valleys. Commentary follows.

THE BRIDEGROOM 2 Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.(2) Like a lily among thorns…

Commentary follows. (2) ..so is my love among the daughters.

Commentary follows.

-Each study concludes with “Praying The Song Of Songs” so you can pray the chapter.

-Study questions are provided for each chapter.

-Supplemental Studies are included for each chapter.

-The Appendix at the conclusion of the manual provides additional studies applicable to the

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Song of Songs.

“A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-

age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions, and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar.

The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in

religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit….

We don’t need to have our doctrine straightened out; we’re as orthodox as the Pharisees of old. But this longing for God that brings spiritual torrents and whirlwinds of seeking…

this is almost gone from our midst.” A.W. Tozer

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INTRODUCTION TO THE SONG OF SONGS

The Song of Solomon is sometimes called “canticles” which is Latin for a “series of songs.” The full name is “The Song of Songs which is Solomon’s.” “Song of Songs” means “the best song.”

AUTHOR: SOS 1:1 clearly identifies Solomon as the author. See the biographical profile of Solomon in Supplemental Study I-1.

TO WHOM: Israel and all believers (1 Corinthians 10:4; Romans 15:4).

PURPOSE: To show the relationship between Jesus and His people--Israel, the Church, and individual believers. The purpose is to inspire meditation on, a passion for, and intimacy with our Bridegroom Jesus Christ. The first commandment is to love God and the Song of Songs restores that commandment to first place by confirming that being a lover of God is to be your primary occupation. Jesus prayed that the fervent love with which God loved Him would also be in you (John 17:26). He called the church at Ephesus, who were faithful in works, back to their first love (Revelation 2:4). Note that this church had “left” their first love. They had not “lost” it. If you have lost something you may not find it again. If you leave it, you can return to it. Through the pages of the Song of Songs, you will be called back to your first love to experience the presence of God and the passionate love He has for you.

KEY VERSE: I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. (SOS 7:10)

LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The divine model of love between a man and his wife is the pattern for relationship between the Bridegroom and born-again believers who are His Bride.

MAIN CHARACTERS: The main characters are the Shulamite Bride; the Bridegroom who is spoken of as "the Beloved"; and the daughters of Jerusalem. It is helpful to identify each speaker in the margins of your Bible. Here is an example:

B BrideBG BridegroomDOJ Daughters of Jerusalem

WHO THE CHARACTERS REPRESENT:

The Beloved Bridegroom: Solomon, the Beloved Bridegroom, is a type of King Jesus, yet not a perfect type because Solomon committed sins while Christ was sinless. See Supplementary Study I-1 for a biographical profile of Solomon.

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The Shulamite Bride: The Bride is symbolic of all believers--both male and female--for there is no male or female in Christ (Romans 7:1-4; Galatians 3:28). The Shulamite Bride in this Song represents believers who desire an intimate relationship with their Bridegroom. The name “Shulamite” is probably derived from the Bride’s place of origin, Shunem, located a short distance north of Jezreel near the plain of Megiddo. Her name means “daughter of peace.”

The Daughters Of Jerusalem: The daughters of Jerusalem are clearly not the Bride, yet they are not far removed from her. They know where the Bridegroom makes His flock rest at noon; they observe the Bridegroom as He comes up from the wilderness; they are asked by the Bride for help in finding her Beloved; and they are awed by her description of His beauty. But they are never completely occupied with passionately pursuing the Bridegroom. He is not their "all in all" as He is to the Bride. They represent those who, if not saved are very near to being so or, if saved, are more concerned about the things of this world than the things of God.

Lesser Characters: The brothers represent other believers and the mother of the Bride represents the church. The watchmen fall into two different categories: Godly servants who point the Bride to the Bridegroom and ungodly servants who wound the Bride.

LEVELS OF INTERPRETATION: The Song has four levels of interpretation:

-Literal: It is an example of the relationship which should exist between a man and his wife.-Dispensational/historical: It is an example of God's relationship with Israel.-Corporate: It is an example of the relationship between Christ and the Church. -Personal: It is an example of the relationship between Christ and the individual believer.

It is not necessary to take a dogmatic view as to which way the Song should be interpreted, as all of these levels of interpretation are valid. For purposes of this study however, we will view the book from perspective 4: The relationship between Christ and the individual believer.

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING:

-The Song is a series of stanzas or songs of various lengths.

-The Song is an allegory, a story in which people, things, and events have symbolic meanings representing spiritual truths. Because the book is deeply symbolic, we will carefully examine the meaning behind passages and words, asking God for revelation as we proceed. Jesus said:

I will speak to you in allegories. I will reveal secrets that have been concealed since before the foundation of the world. (Matthew 13:35, TPT)

-Events in the Old Testament are types that reflect greater spiritual truths. All that is written in the Old Testament is for our spiritual benefit (Hebrews 10:1; Romans 15:4).

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-The Song is written almost entirely from the first person point of view. As you study, observe closely who is speaking. For example, “Let Him kiss me” would obviously be the Bride speaking.

-The book is written within the context of an oriental culture, so some words have different meanings and may seem strange to the western mind. For example, the bowels were considered to be the seat of emotions rather than the heart.

-All scripture is inspired by God:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Song of Songs is a treasure mine of profitable Scripture.

-Jesus Christ is the focus of all Scripture. The request in John 12:20 is: “We would like to see Jesus.” Let that be your prayer as you study the Song of Songs. He is the key to understanding the Song, as well as the entire Word of God:

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)

-The Song is a spiritual revelation and, as such, must be received with your spirit rather than carnal reasoning:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

-This is a revelation that can only be understood with a redeemed mind:

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3)

-Men find it hard to identify as the “Bride of Christ”, yet this term applies to them just as women are included as “the sons of God”.

-The Scriptures use the analogy of the marriage relationship to describe the relationship between Christ and individual believers and Christ and the Church:

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Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great and sacred mystery—meant to be a vivid example of Christ and his church. (Ephesians 5:32, TPT)

Other verses that describe this relationship are Isaiah 62:5; Ephesians 5:25-32; and 2 Corinthians 11:2. In the Bible, carnal believers are referred to as “harlots.” The apostate church is called the

“great harlot” and the book of Proverbs is a contrast between the “strange” and “virtuous” woman.

-Through the Song of Songs the opportunity is extended to believers to develop a deeper relationship with God and to renew their first love (Revelation 2:4). The goal is not knowing about Him, but knowing Him. As Oswald Chambers said, “Begin to know Him now and finish never.” A.W. Tozer notes:

“For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.” A.W. Tozer

The Song of Songs does not provide a list of steps to take to reach increasing levels of intimacy. Its appeal is to develop a passionate relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. The book is a call to return to your first love for Christ, to experience spiritual intimacy instead of frenetic activity, and to focus on worship instead of works. Oswald Chambers rightly noted that “The greatest competition of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.”

-There is a divine progression in the Bride’s relationship to the Bridegroom:

First level: The ruling thought is “My Beloved is mine and I am His” (2:16). We consider Christ to be ours alone and view the relationship chiefly for our pleasure.

Second level: “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine” (6:3). A deeper mutual love relationship is developed.

Third level: “I am my Beloved’s and His desire is toward me” (7:10). The word “mine” is dropped. The focus of the relationship is all about Him and His desires.

-A word of caution: As you progress in this journey, you may find yourself hesitant to leave the place of intimate communion with your Bridegroom and return to the harvest fields of the world. This is the problem encountered by the Bride in SOS chapter 5 where she wants to remain in seclusion with Him rather than respond when He calls her to go with Him to the reap the spiritual harvest. Oswald Chamber wisely notes:

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“The Old Testament city of Bethel is a symbol of communion with God. Ai is the symbol of the world. Abraham pitched his tent between the two. The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.”

We must “pitch our spiritual tents” where we will have intimate communion with our Beloved Lord, but we must also be available to go with Him to the world. Mountain-top experiences, such as the transfiguration of Jesus, are provided to prepare us to return to the valleys of this world to minister alongside our Beloved Bridegroom (Matthew 17).

-To discover the riches of this book you must take time to study it one verse and even one word at a time. You must meditate on its truths. For guidelines, study “Biblical Meditation” available free at http://www.harvestime.org

OUTLINE: This book is written in dialogue (conversational) format. The characters and the order in which they speak may vary in different commentaries and versions of the Bible. For purposes of this study they are as follows:

CHARACTER REFERENCEIntroduction 1:1Bride (Shulamite) 1:2-6Bride (Shulamite) to Bridegroom (Beloved) 1:7Bridegroom (Beloved) 1:8-10Daughters Of Jerusalem 1:11Bride (Shulamite) 1:12-14Bridegroom (Beloved) 1:15Bride (Shulamite) 1:16-17Bride (Shulamite) 2:1Bridegroom (Beloved) 2:2Bride (Shulamite) 2:3Bride (Shulamite) to Daughters of Jerusalem 2:4-7Bride (Shulamite) 2:8-16Bride (Shulamite) to the Beloved 2:17Bride (Shulamite) 3:1-11Bridegroom (Beloved) 4:1-15Bride (Shulamite) 4:16Bridegroom (Beloved) 5:1Bride (Shulamite) 5:2-8Daughters of Jerusalem 5:9Bride (Shulamite) 5:10-16Daughters of Jerusalem 6:1Bride (Shulamite) 6:2-3Bridegroom (Beloved) 6:4-9Daughters of Jerusalem 6:10Bride (Shulamite) 6:11-12

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Daughters of Jerusalem 6:13aBride (Shulamite) 6:13bBridegroom (Beloved) 7:1-9Bride (Shulamite) 7:10-13Bride (Shulamite) 8:1-2Bride (Shulamite) to Daughters of Jerusalem 8:3-4Daughters of Jerusalem 8:5a to the word "Beloved"Bridegroom (Beloved) 8:5b from the word "I"Bride (Shulamite) 8:6-7Bride's Brothers 8:8-9Bride (Shulamite) 8:10-12Bridegroom 8:13Bride (Beloved) 8:14

SECTION DIVISIONS:

Section 1: 1:2-2:7: Unsatisfied longings of the Bride which can only be met by an intimate relationship with the Bridegroom of her soul.

Section 2: 2:8-3:5: The Bride is lured back into the world and finds that her Beloved cannot follow her there. She seeks Him, her search is successful, and communion is restored.

Section 3: 3:6-5:1: Unbroken communion.

Section 4: 5:2-6:10: The Bride refuses to respond to the Bridegroom’s call to service and He withdraws. Then she relents, seeks Him, finds Him, and communion is restored.

Section 5: 6:11-8:4: This section describes the mutual satisfaction and delight of the Bride and Bridegroom in each other and the recognition of her position and beauty by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Section 6: 8:5-14: The Bride is seen leaning upon her Bridegroom, asking that He bind her yet more firmly to Him. She pledges to occupy herself in His vineyard until He comes to call her away from earthly service to live with Him forever.

THE REVELATION OF THE SONG: The Babylonian Talmud, a sacred book of the Jewish people, states that “No day in the history of the world is so precious as the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel; for all the other Scriptures are holy, but the Song of Songs is the holiest of all.” It is said that on the day when this song was revealed, the Shekinah of God’s Glory descended to the earth “… So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:11, NKJV).

QUESTIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION:

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1. Who wrote the book?2. To whom is the book written?3. What is the purpose of the book?4. What is the key verse?5. What is the life and ministry principle of this book?6. List the main characters and who they represent spiritually.7. List four different levels of interpretation of the Song. Which interpretation is used in

this study? 8. Summarize the keys to understanding the Song.9. Summarize the section divisions of the book.10. Using 1 Kings 8:11, describe what occurred when this song was first sung.

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SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY I-1SOLOMON: A BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24). He was the King of Israel (1 Kings 1:32-37). His name means “prince of peace.” His name, "My Beloved," appears 33 times in the Song of Songs--one time for each of the years that Jesus spent on earth. In this book, Solomon is a type of Christ, although Jesus Christ is greater because He did not fail as Solomon did (Matthew 6:29 and 12:42).

HIS NAME:

The name "Solomon" is related to the Hebrew "shalom" meaning "peace." Shalom means the kind of peace that results from being in harmony with God and with one's fellow man. Shalom implies wholeness. According to Samuel, Solomon's other name was "Jedidiah, "Beloved of Yahweh." (2 Samuel 12:24-25).

HIS BIRTH: After David's adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, King David married Bathsheba. The child of their adulterous union died, but later on a son was born to them who would inherit the throne. They named him Solomon.

HIS INAUGURATION AND REIGN:

Solomon's accession to the throne, his prayer to God for wisdom, his great wealth, his building of the temple, his prayer of dedication for the temple and God's response, his successes and his failures--are recorded in 1 Kings 1-11 and 3:5-15; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1-9; and Ecclesiastes 2:4-6.

Solomon was an author and composer of over 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:29-34); an architect and administrator (1 Kings 4 and 6); a scientist, writer, and musician (1 Kings 4:29-34); and a diplomat and businessman (1 Kings 4-5). A record of his achievements is found in 1 Kings 6,1,38; 7:1; and Ecclesiastes 2:4-6.

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God gave Solomon:-Riches and fame: 1 Kings 4:20-27; 10:14-22.-Wisdom and knowledge: 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 9:1-8, 22-23.-Discernment and strength: 1 Kings 4:29-34.-Skill: 1 Kings 10:23-24.

GOD’S APPEARANCES TO SOLOMON:

1 Kings 3:5-14:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 "Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." (NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:7-12:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 8 Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and havemade me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this

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great people of yours?" 11 God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (NIV)

1 Kings 9:1-9:1 When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, 2 the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 The Lord said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 4 "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your fatherwhen I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' 6 "But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 9 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.'" (NIV)

1 Kings 11:9-13:9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

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13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." (NIV)

The remainder of 1 Kings 11 records how Solomon was plagued by adversaries, internal rebellion, and frustration because of his compromises and sins.

HIS LATER YEARS:

Although Solomon contributed many positive things, his later years were characterized by spiritual decline and an extended time when he was not walking with God:

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. (1 Kings 11:4)

How could a passionate lover of God and the wisest man who ever lived end up in idolatry? Solomon’s decline started with compromises. His decline was due to:

-Union with unbelievers: 1 Kings 8:11-Unaccountable actions: 1 Kings 9:19-Uncontrolled desires: 1 Kings 9:1,10; 2 Chronicles 8:6-Unwise alliances: 1 Kings 3:1-Unresolved conflicts: 1 Kings 9:10-14-Unrestrained preoccupation with sex: 1 Kings 11:1-8-Unholy involvement with idolatry: 1 Kings 11:4-8

See Deuteronomy 17:14-17 for warnings to kings, all of which Solomon violated.

Towards the end of his life, Solomon apparently returned to close fellowship with God as reflected by the advice given in his declining years in 1 Kings 11:40-43 and Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7.

THE WRITINGS OF SOLOMON:

Solomon wrote the majority of the book of Proverbs. The Book of Kings says that Solomon also wrote 1005 songs. Of all his songs, only the Song of Songs survives. Most commentators consider the Song of Songs to have been written early in his life. Ecclesiastes seems to have been written later to recall how he searched for meaning in life apart from God. His conclusion

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is that life only makes sense when God is at the center of all we undertake.

WHY WOULD GOD USE SOLOMON TO WRITE THIS SONG?

Solomon was called to be a lover of God in the Spirit, but later in life he turned to the lusts of the flesh. Why would God choose someone who turned away from the Lord so dramatically during a portion of his life to write a portrait of intimacy between Christ and His Bride?

A key truth to be drawn from Solomon’s life is that no matter how much you love God or how deep your level of intimacy with Him, compromise can lead to spiritual decline. This is why the Apostle Paul said: "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27). One of Satan’s main tactics is to draw you away from your passionate pursuit of God.

Another important lesson is that no matter how far you stray from the Lord or how many times you fall, forgiveness and restoration are available if you repent and return to the Lord: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8).

To demonstrate His unending grace, God gave the inspiration to write this most beautiful book to one who experienced great moral failure. We must learn to distinguish the value of a work from the character of the man God uses to perform it.

STUDY QUESTIONS ON THE BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE OF SOLOMON

1. What does the name Solomon mean?2. Who were Solomon's parents and what were the circumstances of his birth?3. Summarize the events of Solomon's inauguration and his reign as king.4. Study the references that record God’s appearances to Solomon.

-What things are unique to the Chronicles account? -What things are unique to the Kings account?-What things are similar in both accounts?

5. Summarize the causes of Solomon’s spiritual decline.6. What were the major writings of Solomon?7. Why would God use a man like Solomon to write this Song?8. What are some important lessons that may be learned from Solomon’s spiritual decline?

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