Title: A Bride's Dream
Text: "My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand." (Song of Solomon 5:10) Introduction: -- Solomon's name is mentioned in 1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11-12. -- Solomon probably wrote the book while he was still young, before being torn away from God by his 700 wives. Date: Approx. 965 B.C. Characters: Soloman--king of Israel--the bridegroom. Shulamite woman (6:13)--the bride. daughter of Jerusalem--probably companions of the bride, attendants of the king's palace, OR interested spectators. Historical Setting: Solomon had a vineyard at Ba-al-ha-mon...north of Jerusalem (8:11). He leased it out to keepers...a mother with at least 2 daughters (6:13; 8:13). The Shulamite daughter was actually very beautiful ("comely"--1:6) but didn't have this confidence of herself. No one apparently had taken notice of her beauty, too. Her having been made to work hard in the vineyards left her little time to care for her personal appearance. Perhaps, the word "black" has reference to being sun-burned. One day prince-charming--Solomon (actually recognized by the Shulamite as an outsider) comes to the vineyard. He shows some interest in her. She wants to attract him, etc. etc. He makes a few promises to her...provision of jewels and gold. Then he disappears leaving her in wonderment of when he shall return. They later get married (3:6).I. The Choice Words of the Shulamite Woman Towards Solomon.
A. "BELOVED" dowd {dode} or (shortened) dod {dode} a noun beloved 34, uncle 16, love(s) 8, father's brother 2, wellbeloved 1; 61 total times used 1) beloved, love 1a) loved one, beloved 1c) love (pl. abstract) B. "WHITE" tsach {tsakh} an adjective white 1, clear 1, plainly 1, dry 1; 4 total times used 1) dazzling, glowing, clear, bright --The word does not appear to be referring to the familiar color. C. "RUDDY" 'adom {aw-dome'} an adjective red 8, ruddy 1; 9 total times used 1) red, ruddy (of man, garment) D. "CHIEFEST" dagal {daw-gal'} a verb (set up) banner 3, chiefest 1; 4 total times used 1) to look, behold 1a) looked at, conspicuous (participle) 2) to carry a banner or standard, set up banner or standard 2a) to set up standard (in battle) 2b) supplied with banners, bannered E. "TEN THOUSAND" r@babah {reb-aw-baw'} a noun ten thousand 13, million 1, many 1, multiply; 16 total times used 1) multitude, myriad, ten thousand --Appears to be an oriental expression. It is not so much a literal number.II. Context (Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3)
Chapter 5, Verse 2 "I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." --We have a dream situation. --The Shulamite woman is thinking of her lover. --Apparently the Shulamite is troubled. N.T. --> PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR V.3 "I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?" V.4 "My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him." --The words, here, are so emotional. V.5 "I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock." V.6 "I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." --The Shulamite responds...but it is too late. --Her beloved is already gone. --He can't be found even after a concentrated effort of searching. --There is NO word from him. --He has left here ALONE. V.7 "The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me." --The Shulamite is mistaken for a prostitute? --She barely survives a smiting...stones. --She is wounded. V.8 "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love." --She is presently love-sick. --She desires to be with him. --She is willing to make public her situation. --If only she could find him. V.9 "What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?" --The daughters of Jerusalem ask the question. --Why is your beloved more special than any other man? --Why is he any different? ***The wife returns praise to her husband. (See Reversed situation 4:1-15) V.10 "My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand." --Our text verse. --Her beloved is one in a million. Physical description V.11 "His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven." V.12 "His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set." V.13 "His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh." V.14 "His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires." V.15 "His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars." V.16 "His mouth is most sweet: ***yea, HE IS ALTOGETHER LOVELY.*** This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." --Her best friend was her beloved. --Your wife should be your best friend. --In reality he wasn't altogether lovely, because he was a human. He had his flaws...shortcomings. --Only in her dreams could he seem altogether...perfect. Chapter 6:1 "Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee." --The daughter of Jerusalem wish to help the Shulamite woman. --It is as if they want to see a happy ending to the relationship between the two lovers. --They want to see this altogether lovely person. --Is not this a "prophecy" of Jesus Christ in a sense? --They eventually will be disappointed with the mere-man, but NOT with God-Man if they search out and meet both of them. V.2 "My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies." V.3 "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies." --True commitment. True giving of one's self for the others sake. ***A family that praises one another stays together.***III. Application: the Lord Jesus Christ in union and communion with the believer.
Salvation is like a marriage relationship. A. Regeneration brings us into union with Christ. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. B. God wants our love to Him on a continued basis. The communion should not be broken by excuses.Conclusion:
-- Many have thought that human to human love-relationship described in the Book of the Song of Solomon could be extended to a TYPE or PICTURE of one kind or another. -- I would agree that such is legitimate for the sake of developing a true concept of love that we should have towards the "altogether lovely" Lord Jesus Christ.