Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Poetry Thursday, and we’ll begin reading the Song of Solomon with Chapters 1 and 2. Before beginning the reading, I’ll have an introduction to the book for you. I’m calling today’s episode “The Couple.”  

Comments on Song of Solomon 1-2

Introduction to the Song of Solomon

Whether this book is to be taken literally, spiritually or allegorically has been debated over the years. Because of the nature of the content, some commentators, preachers and teachers have avoided it altogether. But even in Victorian England, Charles Spurgeon preached nearly 60 sermons on it. 

Some believe that this is a book that portrays only the love relationship between God and His people. 

Others believe that it is what it appears to be…a book showing romantic and sensual love between a man and a woman. We see snapshots of their courtship and their marriage.

I tend to believe that this book is intended to show how a loving and pure marriage relationship between a man and a woman is blessed by, and a gift of, the God who created man and woman. And at the same time, I believe that it is intended to show the intensity of how strong God wants our relationship to be with Him. G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “There are those who treat this Book as a song of human love. There are those who consider its only value is that of its mystical suggestiveness. Personally, I believe that both values are here.” 

God created the institution of marriage, and He created the act of physical love, to be shared by a husband and a wife. There is nothing shameful about it within the confines of marriage. It is the enemy who perverts it, as he does with every other thing that God created.

One important thing to note as we read through this book, is that procreation is not mentioned even once. And this should tell us that physical love is not intended solely for that purpose. It is to be enjoyed as a time of bonding and pleasure.

In some translations, this book is called the Song of Solomon. In others it is called the Song of Songs. And still others call it the Latin word for the word “songs”…Canticles. 

Solomon, the son of David, is the writer of the book. According to 1 Kings 4:32 he wrote 1,005 songs. This book is called “Song of Songs” because it is considered the greatest.

While there are other interpretations, my belief is that there are three main players to be found as we read.

First, there is the young maiden, or bride, often called “The Shulamite”. She was from a small farming village called Shunem. Then there is the young man, called “The Beloved”, who is Solomon. Lastly there is the chorus, or “the Daughters of Jerusalem”. A few other characters show up, but are not major players.

Thoughts on Song of Solomon 2

In verse five, the Shulamite says, “Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.”

Lovesick. Such an interesting word. But for anyone who has been head over heels in love, it’s also accurate. Sickness can cause a variety of symptoms not unlike the initial thrill of “falling in love.” On can feel weak, dizzy, or suffer a loss of appetite, butterflies in the stomach. But while it is definitely no fun to be ill, lovesickness is, for most, one of the great joys of life. 

Of course, scientists have studied the phenomenon of lovesickness, and they have found that there is a chemical called phenethylamine that washes over the brain when we fall in love. When this happens we have a feeling of exhilaration and being on top of the world. We might even lose our appetite. Thankfully, this admittedly wonderful feeling doesn’t last, or I think we would never get any real work done! Of course, there is a big spike in the beginning of a relationship, but it declines after four or five years. Not so amazingly, divorce rates jump during the 4-5 year mark, worldwide. 

However, the people who bail during this time miss something else that happens in the brain. A very special something. Around the four year mark in a relationship, different brain pathways with different chemicals begin to form. And these produce feelings of very deep contentment and even gratitude. One of the chemicals in this process is oxytocin, the chemical that helps create the bonding of mother and infant. 

So there are two phases. The first, thrilling phase is the “attraction” phase. The second, more fulfilled and content phase is the “attachment” phase. 

Now here is what I consider to be one of God’s greatest gifts to married couples. And I think it is a special perk that He gives us for being faithful to our spouses. As a relationship progresses through the attachment phase, the attraction phase switches on again, and many couples experience the thrill of falling in love again many times in their marriage.

The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I will celebrate 33 years of marriage this coming New Years Eve, and I can happily attest to the accuracy of what I just told you. We are both older than we have ever been, but I have fallen in love with her over and over again during our married life. 

Yes, we have had difficulties along the way, but the commitment to never give up pays enormous dividends. Struggling through, no matter what, is worth it. 

If you’re struggling in your marriage, hang in there. Make it work if at all possible,. If you need counseling, find one who is committed to following Jesus. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-2 NKJV

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Transcript

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
There’s that number again.

INTRO S12E337 – 0:09
Coming to you from Riverside, California, where the most successful film in box office history when adjusted for inflation, “Gone With the Wind” had its world debut in 1939 at the Fox Theater, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today is Poetry Thursday, and we’ll begin reading the Song of Solomon with chapters 1 and 2. Before the reading, I’ll have an introduction for you. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Couple”. The show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e337, if you’d like to make a comment on today’s episode. And my email address – temporarily – is st**************@***il.com. Let’s begin.

INTRO TO SONG OF SOLOMON – 0:59
Whether Song of Solomon is meant to be taken literally, spiritually, or allegorically has been debated over the years. Because of the nature of the content, some commentators, preachers and teachers have avoided it altogether. But even in Victorian England, Charles Spurgeon preached 59 sermons on it.

Some believe that this is a book that portrays only the love relationship between God and His people.

Others believe that it is what it appears to be a book showing romantic and sensual love between a man and a woman. We read snapshots of their courtship and their marriage in this book.

I tend to believe that this book is intended to show how a loving and pure marriage relationship between a man and a woman is blessed by, and a gift of, the God who created man and woman. And at the same time, I believe that it’s intended to show the intensity of a strong relationship that God wants to have with us. G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “There are those who treat this book as a song of human love. There are those who consider its only value is that of its mystical suggestiveness.” Personally, I believe that both values are here. So I’m in good company,

God created the institution of marriage, and he created the act of physical love to be shared by a husband and a wife. There’s nothing shameful about it within the confines of marriage. It is the enemy Satan, who perverts it, as he does with every other thing that God created.

One important thing to note, as we read through the book is that procreation is not mentioned even once. And this should tell us that physical love is not intended solely for that purpose. It’s to be enjoyed as a time of bonding and pleasure between a husband and a wife.

In some translations, this book is called The Song of Solomon. In others, it’s called the Song of Songs, and still others call it Canticles, the Latin word for songs.

Solomon, the son of David is the writer of the book, and according to 1 Kings 4:32, he wrote 1005 songs. This book is called Song of Songs because it is considered the greatest.

While there are other interpretations, my belief is that there are three main players to be found as we read.

First there is the young maiden or bride often called the Shulamite. She was from a small farming village called Shunem. And then there’s the young man called the Beloved, who is Solomon. Lastly, there is the chorus or the daughters of Jerusalem. A few other characters show up but they are not major players.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1 (NKJV) – 3:39
Song of Solomon, chapter 1.

(1) The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

The Shulamite
(2) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine.
(3) Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
(4) Draw me away!

The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will run after you.

The Shulamite
The king has brought me into his chambers.

The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will remember your love more than wine.

The Shulamite
Rightly do they love you.
(5) I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
(6) Do not look upon me, because I am dark,
Because the sun has tanned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me the keeper of the vineyards,
But my own vineyard I have not kept.

(To Her Beloved)
(7) Tell me, O you whom I love,
Where you feed your flock,
Where you make it rest at noon.
For why should I be as one who veils herself
By the flocks of your companions?

The Beloved
(8) If you do not know, O fairest among women,
Follow in the footsteps of the flock,
And feed your little goats
Beside the shepherds’ tents.
(9) I have compared you, my love,
To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.
(10) Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with chains of gold.

The Daughters of Jerusalem
(11) We will make you ornaments of gold
With studs of silver.

The Shulamite
(12) While the king is at his table,
My spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
(13) A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me,
That lies all night between my breasts.
(14) My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms
In the vineyards of En Gedi.

The Beloved
(15) Behold, you are fair, my love!
Behold, you are fair!
You have dove’s eyes.

The Shulamite
(16) Behold, you are handsome, my beloved!
Yes, pleasant!
Also our bed is green.
(17) The beams of our houses are cedar,
And our rafters of fir.

SONG OF SOLOMON 2 (NKJV) – 5:54
Song of Solomon, chapter 2.

(1) I am the rose of Sharon,
And the lily of the valleys.

The Beloved
(2) Like a lily among thorns,
So is my love among the daughters.

The Shulamite
(3) Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods,
So is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down in his shade with great delight,
And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem
(4) He brought me to the banqueting house,
And his banner over me was love.
(5) Sustain me with cakes of raisins,
Refresh me with apples,
For I am lovesick.
(6) His left hand is under my head,
And his right hand embraces me.
(7) I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
Do not stir up nor awaken love
Until it pleases.

The Shulamite
(8) The voice of my beloved!
Behold, he comes
Leaping upon the mountains,
Skipping upon the hills.
(9) My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Behold, he stands behind our wall;
He is looking through the windows,
Gazing through the lattice.
(10) My beloved spoke, and said to me:
“Rise up, my love, my fair one,
And come away.
(11) For lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
(12) The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come,
And the voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land.
(13) The fig tree puts forth her green figs,
And the vines with the tender grapes
Give a good smell.
Rise up, my love, my fair one,
And come away!
(14) “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
In the secret places of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
And your face is lovely.”

Her Brothers
(15) Catch us the foxes,
The little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes.

The Shulamite
(16) My beloved is mine, and I am his.
He feeds his flock among the lilies.

(To Her Beloved)
(17) Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away,
Turn, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle
Or a young stag
Upon the mountains of Bether.

COMMENTS – 8:13
In verse 5 of chapter 2, the Shulamite says, “Sustain me with cakes of raisins. Refresh me with apples for I am love sick.”

Lovesick, such an interesting word, isn’t it. But for anyone who’s been head over heels in love, it’s also accurate. Sickness can cause a variety of symptoms not unlike the initial thrill of falling in love. One can feel weak, dizzy, or suffer loss of appetite. There’s butterflies in the stomach. But while it definitely is no fun to be ill, love sickness is for the most part, one of the great joys of life.

Of course, scientists have studied the phenomenon of love sickness. And they found that there’s a chemical called phenethylamine that washes over the brain when we fall in love. And when this happens, we have a feeling of exhilaration, and being on top of the world. We might even lose our appetite. And thankfully, this admittedly wonderful feeling doesn’t last forever, or I think we would never get any real work done. Of course, there’s a big spike in this chemical in the beginning of a relationship, but it declines after four or five years. And really not so amazingly divorce rates jump during the four to five year mark, worldwide.

But listen, the people who bail at this four to five year mark miss something else that happens in the brain. It’s a very special something around the four year mark in a relationship. Different brain pathways with different chemicals begin to form and these produce feelings of very deep contentment and even gratitude. One of the chemicals in this process is oxytocin, the chemical that helps create the bonding of mother and infant.

So relationships have at least two phases. The first thrilling phase is the attraction phase. And the second more fulfilled and content phase is the attachment phase.

Now, here’s what I consider to be one of God’s greatest gifts to married couples. And I think it’s a special perk that he gives us for being faithful to our spouses. As a relationship progresses through the attachment phase, this second phase I was telling you about, the attraction phase – the first phase – switches on again, and many couples experience the thrill of falling in love again many times in their marriage.

The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I are going to celebrate 33 years of marriage this coming New Year’s Eve. There is that number again. And I can happily attest to the accuracy of what I just told you. But we are both older than we’ve ever been. But I have fallen in love with LeeAnn over and over and over again during our married life.

Yes, we’ve had difficulties along the way. But the commitment to never give up pays enormous dividends. Struggling through no matter what, is worth it.

So if you’re struggling in your marriage, hang in there. Make it work, if at all possible. If you need counseling, find a counselor who is committed to following Jesus.

What do you think? You have a comment, let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e337. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you’ll find a box there where you can put your thoughts. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday, and we’ll begin the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. We’ll read chapters 1 through 6.

Boost.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 11:48
On this date in church history, August 4, 1792, Edward Irving was born. He was a Scottish theologian and religious leader. He acquired fame as a preacher, but in 1832, he was condemned as a heretic and compelled to resign from his church because of his acceptance of Pentecostal phenomena.

CLOSING PRAYER – 12:16
Let’s pray. Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us and for calling us to a deeper and abiding relationship with you. You’re not some distant, nebulous, impersonal, supreme, something somewhere out there. You’re a very personal God who knows us, who loves us, who deeply cares about us. And we can’t help but respond to you in love. Once we begin to understand this about you. We adore you, Lord, we praise you, and we worship you.

I pray God that you’d bless the Lifespring family today and open their hearts to you like never before. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E337 – 13:09
Here’s your reminder to please give some thought and prayer to the question of what you think I should do in terms of podcasting once this season is over. And then email your thoughts to me at st**************@***il.com with the words “THE NEXT STEP” in the subject line. Please don’t wait till the end of the month. I don’t want to have to spend hours and hours and hours going through on the last couple of days. So as you think about it, please do send that email.

Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e337. Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. Thank you for inviting me into your life today. And if this show has meant something to you this year, if you would be so kind as to go to lifespringmedia.com/support and send a gift. I would appreciate it. I would thank you and I think God will bless you.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Glad to have you on board.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise