Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
CLASS SEVENTEEN: Poem VI: The Beauty of Love
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen to Song of Solomon 7:10 – 8:14
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. Shulamith’s Invitation to Solomon (7:10-13)
a. (vs. 10) Note the progression of this statement when compared to 2:16 and 6:3.
b. (vv. 11-13) Here Shulamith invites Solomon to “enjoy spring.” Earlier, in 2:10-14, Solomon invited Shulamith to “enjoy spring.” His request concluded with a desire to hear her voice, and in 7:12-13 hers concludes with a request to make love. This book ends on the same notes: Solomon’s request to hear her voice (8:13), and Shulamith’s request to make love (8:14).
IV. Shulamith Declares Her Love through Public & Private Affection (8:1-4)
a. In her culture it would be inappropriate for Shulamite to gives public kisses of affection to her husband, but not her father or brother. She wishes to show the world her love for Solomon.
i. Recall that “Sister” and “Brother” were terms of endearment in Egyptian love songs and Sumerian love poetry. As Solomon did in 4:9-12, here Shulamith implies a bond as close as Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:23).
b. (vs. 2a) The couple now move inside. In the Hebrew there is a word play with “I would… kiss you” and “I would give you…to drink.” They would have been identical having the same consonants. It could be taken as, “I would let you kiss from…”
c. (vs. 2b) The literal translation is more dramatic. It reads, “…from the wine – the spiced wine – from the sweet wine of my pomegranate.” The repetition of “from” reinforces the idea of drinking from a container, such as the navel in 7:2.
i. Remember from previous lessons that Pomegranates are symbols of lovemaking and fertility and in the Hebrew, the word is not “navel.”
d. (vs. 3) This refrain is repeated from 2:6 and is a transition to the next section.
e. (vs. 4) A repeated request. How are circumstances different than in 2:7 & 3:5?
V. The Young Women of Jerusalem Pose a Question (8:5a)
a. A phrase similar to 3:6 at the wedding procession. Here they walk together.
i. Again, it offers several allusions: Israel coming out of the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt; Adam and Eve emerging from the wilderness after their disobedience; and Christ coming for His bride, the church.
VI. Shulamith Describes the Strength of Their Love (8:5b-7)
a. How is she a “seal” on Solomon’s arm?
b. Explain the metaphor, “love is as strong as death.”
c. What does the last part of verse 7 mean?
VII. Shulamith’s Brothers Describe their Role (8:8-9)
a. What does it mean that “she has no breasts?”
b. How would she be a wall? How would she be a door?
c. What is their responsibility?
VIII. Shulamith Describes How She Met Solomon (8:10-12)
a. (vs. 10a) How was she a wall?
b. (vs. 10b) This is an allusion to Ruth and Boaz. (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13)
c. (vv. 11-12) What does she mean by “I have my own vineyard?”
IX. Solomon Speaks and Shulamith Responds (8:13-14)
a. Solomon’s request to hear her voice and Shulamith’s request to make love.
X. Application
a. God is the author and source of true love. (1 John 4:7-8)
b. Marital love is deepened by choosing to improve yourself rather than focusing on your spouse’s shortcomings. (Philippians 2:3-4)
XI. Final Comments, Questions. Close in Prayer
Have a nice summer. Lord willing, our weekly Bible Study Classes will resume in September 2024. We will have some Dinner & Movie Nights over the summer in the church Sanctuary like last year.
Watch for announcements.
