Song of Solomon

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 1:12 [/]

"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." Mk 14:5

[:"blue"] Shulamita now speaks. As her King sits at His table or goes about His duties (in heaven), she sends forth a beautiful fragrance to Him. Spikenard is traditionally considered to calm the nerves and promote awareness and strengthen the mind. Mary used this to annoint Jesus and thus showed her love to Him. Shulamita here also shows her love. [/]

"the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD." Lev. 1:9

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1

[:"blue"] There was a sacrifice that sent off a sweet fragence unto the Lord. In the New Testement, believers are encouraged to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.1:13-17 [/]

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." Matt. 2:11

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" ibid 3:16

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. " Ps 23:2

"I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon" 1 Kings 5:5, 6

[:"blue"]Shulamita expresses her love toward her King. He is as a bundle of myrrh, one of the gifts given to Christ at His birth. His eyes are like those of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Their bed is green, like the pastures of the good Shepherd and His house is made of cedar, like the temple built by Solomon.

Shulamita's response to her King is what each sinner's response to Christ should be. She is drawn by His love and focuses on His blessings. Thus was the apostolic church. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

Act Two

[:"blue"] The Bridegroom speaks, [/]

[:"red"] I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. [/]

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." Isa. 35:1

"I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon." Hos. 14:5

[:"blue"] Christ is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley. It was in Sharon where David fed his flocks (1 Chrn. 29:27) which was one of the most fetile valleys of the area. Both the rose and lily are known for their fragrance. The lily, however has added symbolism. It is also white which represents righteousness (Rev. 19:8). The lily is also known to be fruitful. One root can put ofrth as many as 50 bulbs. The lily is the tallest flower and yet hangs its head. Christ is the most High but yet does not glory in Himself.

The reference to "daughters" could be a reference to other churches. This church is Christlike, a lily among thorns or a true church among false or a faithful church among unfaithful. Perhaps a reference to the Pergamos church.[/]

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." Rev. 2:12, 13

[Dr. Shane]

[:"blue"] Shulamita responds to her Groom. [/]

[:"red"] As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 2:3 [/]

"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings" Ps. 17:8

[:"blue"] As we focus on Christ we make Him the apple of our eyes. We are than transformed. We find delight in His shadow, under His wings. [/]

"Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God." Isa 58:2

"let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." Titus 3:14

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Gal. 5:22, 23

[:"blue"] The fruit of the Groom is no different than that of His Spirit. As Shulamita focuses on her King and rests in His love she sees how sweet His fruit is. It is no different for each believer today. As we draw near to Him, we appreciate more what He is and find rest in doing His will. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] He hath brought me to the house of wine, And his banner over me is love. (DBY)

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. (KJV) 2:4

[/]

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Ps. 23:5, 6

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matt. 26:27, 28

[:"blue"] What the King James Version translates as banqueting house is literally translated, house of wine. Wine represents the blood of Christ which was shed for the forgiveness of sins. [/]

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" De. 33:27

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 Jn 4:8

[:"blue"] In the previous verse we saw Shulamita "under His shadow", now she says His banner over her is love. We see the same symbolism here as in the Lord's supper. The bride is taken into the banqueting house and shown the love of her King. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of [with] love. 2:5 [/]

"And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Rev. 12:13, 14

[:"blue"] Flagons are something pressed together like raisens. The RSV says, "Sustain me" instead of "Stay me". This may be understood as spiritual food which the church needed during its time of persecution.[/]

[:"red"] His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. 2:6 [/]

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isa 41:10

[:"blue"] Here we see a compassionate King that will not leeave His bride in distress even during times of trouble. [/]

[Jeannieb43]

Please give us the references to these quotations you've used, Shane. Who is the Biblical scholar? It must have taken many months to work all this out.

[not saying I disagree; it's just helpful to know the source]

[Dr. Shane]

This is from my original post <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Many of you are familiar with Marian G. Berry's "Prophetic" Song of Solomon. The General Conference was going to have her write a Sabbath School lesson on the study until she departed from sound doctrine and started some splinter groups. Nonetheless, when I spoke with a brother at the biblical research department at the GC a few years back, he told me they have no problem with her original study on the prophetic Song of Solomon.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

[Dr. Shane]

[:"blue"] Shulamita continues to speak, [/]

[:"red"] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 2:7 [/]

"Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words." Gen. 49:21

"The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve" Ps 29:9

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbtreads/attachments/193275-hind.jpg[/]

hind = deer

[:"blue"] The prophecy of Naphtali uses the word hind to represent goodly words which can be understood as God's Word. Read in that way, Shulamita charges the daughters of Jerusalem by using the Word of God. [/]

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" Titus 2:13

[:"blue"]Shulamita says, "stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please." The Bride lovingly waits for her King to return. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 2:8 [/]

[:"blue"] The voice of God is the Bible and it spread throughout the world when the reformers like Wycliff and Luther began translating it into other languages. [/]

[:"red"] My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. 2:9 [/]

[:"blue"] Understanding a roe or hart as being God's Word, here we see it hidden behind a wall and showing itself through the lattice. During the Dark Ages the Bible was kept away from the people and they were only able to hear it through the clergy. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.2:10-13 [/]

[:"blue"]"Rise up" the Bridegroom says. This implies action (Matt. 9:6) So was the call of the Protestant Reformation. "The flowers appear" possibly a reference to the "Rose of Sharon" and the "Lily of the valley". "The voice of the turtle<img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/DOVE.gif" alt="" /> is heard in our land" Propperly translated (strongs #8449), the dove represents the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16) and thus this scene can be understood as a great spiritual awakening that occurs once the winter or Dark Ages is over.

The fig tree is that which did not produce fruit (Matt. 21:21) when Shulamita was black. The Vine is that which is needed to produce fruit (John 15:1)[/]

"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." Matt. 9:6

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him" Matt. 3:16

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done" Matt. 21:21

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." John 15:1

[Guest]

I wonder if Song 2:10-13 is related to Isa.60:1?

Quote:

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Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

---

[Dr. Shane]

[:"blue"] The Bridegroom speaks, now calling the Bride a dove thus showing her likeness of Him."

[:"red"] O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 2:14 [/]

[:"black"]

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Ps. 91:1

"[The woman's child] was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Rev. 12:5, 6 [/]

[:"blue"] NKJV translates the passage "secret places of the cliff." NIV translates it "in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside."

During the Dark Ages, and even into the Reformation, the faithful had to hide, sometimes literally in the mountains. [/]

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbtreads/attachments/193605-walden-barbs.jpg[/]

[Jeannieb43]

I recognized those pictures, even before reading the caption. I've been to Torre Pelice, in Northern Italy (where French is the lingua franca ) where the Waldenses hid in the mountains to avoid persecution. They had sewn pages of Bibles (which were forbidden at the time) into the hems of their garments and distributed them secretly to be read by the people.

Their lives were protected by God; at one time while a group of Waldenses were hiding in a large mountain cave, the soldiers were about to close in on them. Just then a heavy fog rolled in and obliterated the entrance to their cave, sparing their lives.

I had the good fortune to travel there with a group of Adventists, most of them delegates to the 1975 General Conference session in Vienna. We had a two-week bus tour of Europe just after the Session ended. When we arrived in Torre Pelice, on a weekday, and were given special entree into the old wooden church in that small town where the Waldenses used to gather, it was such a moving experience to walk where they had walked, centuries before. We all spontaneously broke into song, "Faith of Our Fathers," as we stood in reverence in that place.

[Dr. Shane]

[:"blue"] Now the bride speaks again... [/]

[:"red"] Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 2:15 [/]

"O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts." Ezk. 13:4

[:"blue"] Here the foxes (or true reformers) are contrast to the "little foxes". The Reformation resulted in many teaching the truth and a great spiritual awakening in Europe and later in America.

Jesus is the Vine (John 15:1). However there were many that became determined to "spoil the vines". "At the Council of Trent (ending in 1563) a number of administrative policies were defined, but church doctrines were basically unchanged. The Jesuit order had been approved by the pope in 1540. Its members vowed unquestioning obedience in carrying out the orders of the established church. In 1622 the inquisition was revived." [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. 2:16 [/]

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5

[:"blue"]Professing to believe in Christ means giving ourselves to Him. Here we see this shown in a relationship. The relatioonship between two lovers is the closest human relationship that resembles what Christ desires to have with fallen humanity. [/]

"Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?" Song of Solomon 1:7

[:"blue"] Earlier Shulamita had asked to be told where her King feedest. Now she knows. He feeds among the lilies - which represent Christ or the true faith.

While a commitment to Christ is significant, we cannot stop there. The Christian walk is progressive and we must continue to seek out truth. We must seek the pastures when our Shephard feeds His flock. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. 2:17 [/]

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" 2 Ptr 1:19

"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Rev. 13:5

[:"blue"] The day break would not come until 1798 when the 1,260 day-year prophecy was complete. [/]

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." Ps. 42:1

[:"blue"] A hart in the mountains can be understood as describing the early reformers still not free from presecution but finding more and more light as their "soul" longeth for Truth. [/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 3:1 [/]

[:"blue"] Here Shulamita looks back to the past. During the Dark Ages, the Scripture was not available to the people. They could only hear it through the priests and then, often times, not in their native language. [/]

[:"red"] I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 3:2 [/]

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10

[:"blue"] Now the language switches to the present. Shulamita, or the church (some may say remnant) searches for the Truth but the Truth is not found. She is responding to the call of 2:10[/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 3:3 [/]

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness" Ps. 48:1

"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me." Ez. 3:17

[:"blue"] The "city" can be understood as represnting God's people. During the Reformation, earnest seekers of truth searched among professed believers but the "watchmen" were of little help. Truth was to be found in the treasures of the Scripture. [/]

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbtreads/attachments/194368-watchmen2.jpg[/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 3:4 [/]

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbtreads/attachments/194535-couple_egypt.jpg[/]

[:"blue"] Shulamita leaves the watchmen behind. They cannot help her. The established churches did not hold the truth for the time. [/]

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Jn 5:39

[:"blue"] By searching the Scriptures, the bride finds her King. In the Word of God she finds He who she loves. [/]

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." Jer. 15:16

[:"blue"] Just as Isaac did with his bride, now Shulamita does with her King. [/]

"And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." Gen. 24:67

[:"blue"] Here we see the first act of sexual intercourse in the book of Song of Solomon. This can be understood as the church reuniting with Christ after the Dark Ages had passed. The church and Christ are once again of[/] "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph 4:5)

[:"blue"] It is also noteworthy that Shulamita would not let go of her King until they became one. Much like Jacob, who when wrestling with the Lord said, [/] "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Gen. 32:29

[Guest]

Quote:

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Shane said:

[:"blue"] Here we see the first act of sexual intercourse in the book of Song of Solomon. This can be understood as the church reuniting with Christ after the Dark Ages had passed. The church and Christ are once again of[/] "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph 4:5)

---

I think this is quite a "stretch" to try and equate this with the Church "reuniting with Christ." There is no solid Biblical evidence to support this.

[Dr. Shane]

[:"blue"] The prophetic interpretation of the Song of Songs is unconventional by anyone’s standards. There is no solid Biblical evidence to interpret it prophetically. Biblical scholars have, for generations, seen the symbolism of Christ and the church in this poetic book of the Bible. The prophetic view of the entire book is an exercise to see if by viewing the entire book prophetically we can learn more about our Lord and the relationship He desires to have with fallen humanity.

God Bless[/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] 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 3:5 [/]

[:"blue"] This is repeated from chapter 2 verse 7. Only then the bride was near the beginning of the 2300 day/year prophecy and now she is near the end of it.

The charge goes out to the "daughters of Jerusalem". Since a woman in prophecy is understood as a church, these daughters are various churches. As 1844 approached, members of various churches become interested in the study of prophecy.

[/]

"I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord." Gen. 49:18

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Ps. 27:14

"Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield." ibid 33:20

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way" ibid 37:7

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." ibid 40:1

"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." ibid 130:6

[]http://www.clubadventist.com/ubbtreads/attachments/194640-2300years.jpg[/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 3:6 [/]

[:"blue"] In the original language both the pronoan and verb used here are feminine. This seems to refer to the "bed" of the next verse, which is also feminine. [/]

[:"red"] Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. 3:7 [/]

[:"blue"] The word used for bed here can also be translated as couch or sofa. It is noteworthy that the Kind is not on the bed or couch but rather there are "threescore valiant men". These 60 men can be understood as a small group that comes before the King.[/]

[Dr. Shane]

[:"red"] They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. 3:8 [/]

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" Eph. 6:17

[:"blue"] These 60 men all hold swords, which are symbolic of the Word of God. So these people which precede the coming of the King are well armed with the Word of God. [/]

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." Jn 9:4

[:"blue"] The night here may be a reference to the end of probation, the period just before the second coming. [/]