“HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IS THE MOST ENJOYABLE, PLEASANT AND INTERESTING TOPIC, WORLDWIDE, THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR AND KNOW ABOUT? THE ANSWER IN ONE WORD IS  – LOVE!”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this wonderful word and topic that I’m sure will win your heart of attention and interest today. Stay tuned…

…There is no subject of commentary that will delight and unite more people than to talk about love. It’s such a beautiful word isn’t it? Well I’ve got news for you. This word and its very essence come from a supernatural and unearthly source. Yes, it is extraterrestrial in origin because the originator of “love,” is the Creator God Himself. Indeed, God infused into His highest creation, mankind, this attribute of God’s very character and essence. So today, I want to explore the Bible and find out how extensively God has spoken on this subject. The answer is, He has devoted an entire book of the Bible, to this grand and glorious topic. So today, we shall look at what is called in the Old Testament the Song of Solomon, or in today’s vernacular – the book of Love. So don’t go away, you might learn something useful for your life and living and how to enjoy this most blessed aspect of human experience…

…Today we are going to explore an Old Testament Book called, the “Song of Solomon,” or the book of Love. I’ve found few commentators and pastors ever open this book for their talks, and frankly I understand why. Within its pages are some of the most intimate subjects and talk ever written in the holy pages of God’s Word. However, I’ll try to be brief, yet concise and helpful as we explore God’s Word and His Book of Love today. So let’s begin.

First of all, as we look at the Song of Solomon, we easily discover it has suffered rather weak and poor interpretations over the centuries. Especially by those who spiritualize the Bible, that is use the “allegorical” method of interpretation, claiming that this particular book has no actual historical basis; but rather, that it depicts God’s love for Israel and or the Lord Jesus Christ’s love for His church.

This has even been carried over into popular traditional hymnology. We have hymns that depict Christ as the “Rose of Sharon” and He is “the lily of the valleys.” Nothing at all in Scripture can be found to support this whimsical approach to studying the Bible and drawing conclusions for life and living.

However, a more rewarding approach to studying this book of love, or as it is known, “Solomon’s Song,” is to literally accept it as written, and interpret it in the normal grammatical and historical sense, however accepting that since it is in the form of poetry there will be the frequent use of symbolic imagery to depict reality.

Now to search out the context of this biblical writing of King Solomon, we discover it is a love story Solomon wrote of his early life and days as a young king, and his discovery of love.

So here is a precious love story. It involves three characters: a young and very attractive maiden, forced to work by her family (1:5–6; 2:15 ); her beloved, probably a young Shepherd in her hometown who had won her heart, (1:7); and of course, King Solomon. It appears that while Solomon was on one of his trips exploring his kingdom, Solomon meets this young woman and as a king, he takes her to his palace and harem. There she pines away for her beloved Shepherd back home (1:1–2:7). Then in chapters 2:8–3:5, she talks about her Shepherd lover and even dreams about him. Solomon visits her (3:6–4:16) attempting to win her love, but she’s not interested, because she can’t forget her beloved back home. Solomon continues to try and woo her, but she is resistant (6:4–8:3). Why? Because she’s not impressed with the Solomon’s wealth or wooing. Finally, Solomon gives up and true love wins out. She is set free, and like a bird flees to her beloved young shepherd suitor back home (8:4–14) where she is restored to her family and friends again.

Incidentally, this literal interpretation puts Solomon in a very poor light to show even early on, he was a “womanizer” and when it came to marital matters, and certainly it is not wrong to see him as a type of the secular world, that cheapens and abuses what God calls true love.

Yet on the other hand, God places this story and book in His Bible and therefore it contains lessons of great help and encouragement in the area and of subject of love.

“The Song of Solomon,” as a whole, actually brings glory and grace to true and pure love which biblically is to be confined to marriage between a man and a woman. You see, in the beginning, God made both male and female and it was God who “invented” sexual attraction and relationships. God intended the love of a man and wife to be a lasting and beautiful experience, as Solomon describes in this book, but it also shows that sin can destroy this beautiful relationship and gift. In Solomon’s other book, called “the Book of Proverbs,” Solomon warns against sexual sins; but in “the Song of Solomon,” he displays the intimate beauty and joy married love along can bring to all who embrace it in the purity it was intended. Having said all that, let’s take a simplified outline to get a bird’s eye view of this Book of Love. We see it can easily be divided into three sections.

I. The Events Preceding the Wedding (1:1–3:5)

II. The Events Accompanying the Wedding (3:6–5:1)

III. The Events Following the Wedding (5:2–8:14)

Mind you this wedding is “not” Solomon’s, rather this attractive young Israeli woman who finally is set free to meet her Shepherd-lover and be united with him in marriage. Solomon recounts the events that led up to it the intimate love talk that naturally is involved, and the consummation of this love in the act of a monogamous, lifelong marriage relationship. That is God’s plan. So what can we learn from this book of Love? Well, here’s my evaluation.

I. SEXUAL ATTRACTION, INTIMATE TALK AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT NECESSARILY SINFUL

We have all too many in the church who have attempted to make such attraction and preliminary dating and courting relationships as something sinful. Indeed, the Bible does not approve of today’s casual and promiscuous sexual relationships, but God does not ban or condemn the feelings that lead up to it. God does tell us to control it, and keep it in reserve for the permitted time of its pleasure and purpose. What time and place is this? It is within the confines of a monogamous marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime. This is a far cry from today’s animalistic attractions and relationships shown in movies, TV and Romance novels of the day. It’s sad how our young people are being fed a bunch of lies that sexual relationships are to be experienced as the urge comes upon you. Like an animal, they teach one is to secure this gratification wherever and whenever the urge arises. This is not God’s intended purpose or way, and can never give the deep long lasting joy and satisfaction sexual relationships were intended to bring us.

Solomon’s Song tells of this courtship relationships and the love this young woman had for her Shepherd-lover and how she waited for him to come and carry her off to be his wife. While she waited she longed for the martial bliss of intimacy and dreamed of it often. Friend, that is not wrong or sinful in itself, unless one tries to bring self-gratification from it. But this tells us how important it is to reserve one’s body for marriage and not indulge in sexual relationships before it. Young people need to be taught this through abstinence programs, which are best, presented, within the confines of the family and church to young people today.  So, here is some more advice, adapted from this “Book of Love,” to dating couples.

II. USE COURTSHIP AND DATING TO DISCOVER MUTUAL SINFULNESS AND COMPATIBILITY

Yes, remember both suitors are fallen sinners and need to know each others strengths and weaknesses, any selfishness, and needs before marriage takes place. The advice given by Solomon and this young woman should be heeded by those preparing for marriage. Be sure to understand the importance to know and accept our intended spouse as he or she is and accept as wrong thinking any hidden plans to change that person. Furthermore, take time to identify and resolve potential problems in your future marriage, and face them honestly and candidly with the truth -- you both may not be compatible for each other and maybe should not marry. Now a third thing we can learn from this book of love which I encourage you to read in a modern translation is,

III. BEGIN MARRIED LIFE WITH THE GOAL TO CONTINUOUSLY CULTIVATE, APPRECIATE AND RESPECT YOUR SPOUSE – Many times when people get married the respect and attention they gave each other in dating days is forgotten. Solomon’s writings reflect the importance of maintaining a continuous love relationship between each other. Why? Well, love is like a flower, it needs constant attention of fair-weather, sunshine, watering, and cultivation to bring forth the finest blooms. My wife and I have just celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary and guess what -- our love for each other is as strong and perhaps much stronger than when we first dated and later married. How’s that possible? Well first of all, it is by the grace of God in our lives, but also it is because we worked at it relentlessly all these years and will never stop till death do us part. We go out on dates often; we surprise each others with simple love gifts; we talk intimately between us, expressing our love for each other; we compliment each other’s sexual attractiveness; and we practice it regularly. In other words we do not allow love to grow cold between us, and it never does! O yes, we are both sinners, and at times we become selfish, neglectful, and self-centered to the hurt of the other, but we do not allow time to separate us, for we confess our sins to God and each other quickly when they are made known to each of us. In this “Song of Solomon,” he further talks of the marriage ceremony and days of relationship that follow. What happens in the lives of these lovers?  Well, tension arises in the marriage as does in all between two sinners, but that tension melts as the husband and wife make up (Song 5:9–8:4).

Maybe I’m talking to someone who has a strained marriage. Regardless of who is at fault, if you truly love your spouse you’ll make up even at your own cost because true love is greater than any hurt one can experience at the hands of the other. Thus, in Solomon’s Book of love we discover, in Song of Solomon 6:3, the wife declares: “I am my beloved’s, and he is mine.”

He responds and begins to positively praise her beauty and charm (6:4–10). Again they are renewing their love for each other following some tension. Are you big enough to do that too, following tension in your marriage and home? So remember, throughout your marriage extol your spouse’s virtues above those of others. Set aside regular, periodic times, to be away with your spouse, to refresh and renew the romance in your marriage. Well there is still more to learn

for we can say,

IV. REALIZE THAT ALL MARRIAGES WILL EXPERIENCE HIGHS AND LOWS OF LOVE

There is no marriage that runs on eternal sunshine, nor camps on mountain tops. There are always the valleys and there is also the rain. Yet just as in life “all sunshine and no rain makes a desert,” so in marriage too. Now let me ask you -- do you want to experience lasting love in your marriage? Then here are two suggested ways to accomplish it.

1.    SPEAK OFTEN BETWEEN YOU WITH WORDS OF LOVE (4:1–11). Solomon recounts the words of tender love expressed between the husband and wife, which need to be said often to one another.

2.    LIVE YOUR LIFE TO PLEASE YOUR SPOUSE ( 4:12 –16). A garden, a spring, and fountain are not useful unless cultivated and kept. So open your life to each other, serving one another to bring the beauty of your garden of love together. Failure to do this often deadens love in a marriage.

Well, these are but a few of some biblical views and ways of love between a man and a woman that God approves of. So read the book yourself, then apply these concepts and you will be adequately rewarded. Now admittedly, some commentators allegorize the “Song of Solomon” and make this a love story between God and His people Israel or between Jesus Christ and His Church. Indeed applications do abound in this concerning it, but it is not the main interpretation.

Rather it is best to accept the literal meaning and view this “Song of Songs” as a poem written in celebration of married love, with God’s approved biblical view of sex.

While throughout Solomon’s writing there is intimacy, biblical restraint is also notable. The Bible never suggests the anti-biblical puritan attitude toward sexuality some of the past espoused. Instead, the sexual nature of human beings is affirmed here in the Bible, and the care with which sexual matters are spoken of, affirms the mystery of and special nature of the sexual relationship. Scripture, of course, forbids sex out of marriage, both adultery and premarital. It also forbids self-gratification and prostitution. Moreover, many passages in the Law of Moses, (Lev. 18), even define sexual limits. Larry Richards, a biblical scholar beautifully comments on this issue when he wrote:

“When it comes to marriage, the biblical message is one of freedom rather than restriction. No passage in Old or New Testaments regulates sexual practices within marriage. Instead the Bible affirms the joys and values of human sexuality. To question the rightness of sex in marriage, Paul teaches, is to follow “things taught by demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). It’s clear from the Creation story that God is pro sex, for He is the One who created them “male and female” (Gen. 1:27)… Indeed, in the context of the biblical affirmation of sexual life, the “Song of Songs” takes on a unique role. As a love poem it is designed to help us sense the joy, and join in the celebration of that which is essentially good. Delicately, and sensitively, we are invited in the Song of Songs to sense the nature of a pure sensuality: a sensuality that releases the believer to fully enjoy the gift of sex within the context of marital commitment. [1]

If anyone wants to know about love and how you can experience it to the fullest God intended, go to the Bible. It is a most practical book for this, as is the Book of Life called the Song of Solomon.

However, I cannot leave you without telling you about the greatest love story ever told. It’s not between a man and a woman, but between the Creator God and His creation. The Bible, all sixty-six books, is really “God’s Love letter,” written to a fallen race of beings, who are the estranged children of God, separate from their loving Father God because of the infidelity and spiritual adultery called sin.

The “Good News” within the pages of Scripture tells of God’s love for us. We read of God’s love for fallen sinners in,

Jer 31:3 (NIV)  The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Exo 34:6-7 (NIV)  "… The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin...”

1 Chr 16:34 (NIV)  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Why even in the New Testament God the Son, Jesus Christ looked over Jerusalem and said with a heart of love,

Mat 23:37 -39 (NIV)  "O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

So, the main message of the Bible then is that we, God’s children by creation, have gone astray and disobeyed God’s laws for life and living in His universe; The penalty for our sins is eternal death to be fully experienced following physical death; Yet, God in His love found a way to rescue his beloved (sinners) by sending God the Son to earth to die for our sin penalty, and take our place. Having paid for our sins, God can now set free in eternity those who were once condemned. Even now in life God will restore and renew His love relationship with us when we confess our sins, accept God’s judgment for them, and believe God’s love letter that tells Jesus died for us, freeing us from sin’s penalty and allowing us to have a right love relationship with Jesus Christ for all eternity.

Friend, are you in a right relationship With God the Son, Jesus Christ? You know church attendance and ritual cannot restore this, nor can one’s own good works. Only faith is the key to heaven found in Jesus Christ alone, and accepting him as your Lord God and Savior from sin will make anyone right with God now and forever. So, to insure this love relationship, why not right now, ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior from your sins, and surrender your heart to Him, just as in a marriage vow, and ask Jesus to come live in you? For all who do, this marriage vow of eternity will bring the greatest intimacy and blessing of love one can ever experience and best of all  -- it will last forever and be unbreakable. May God make it so in your life with God the Son Jesus Christ, and also in your home and heart with your beloved spouse or suitor. Amen.