Maturing in Marriage

Song of Solomon Series

Song of Songs:
A Celebration of True Love

Song of Solomon is a love song written by King Solomon describing his romance with a Shulammite shepherdess as he courts and marries her along with the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, blessings and challenges of married life. Because of the sensual nature of this book, it has most often been interpreted allegorically as a picture of God's love for Israel (cf. Hosea 2:16-20) and/or Christ's love for His bride, the church (cf. Ephesians 5:25-33). While it surely illustrates these spiritual relationships, in light of the significance of God's gift of marriage along with the sexual intimacy He intended for us to enjoy within the bonds of marriage, it is reasonable that He would dedicate an entire book of the Bible to address this sacred subject. In a culture that has perverted God's original design for love, sex, and romance, this book celebrates the wisdom and value of genuine, pure, exclusive, enduring love that is shared by a man and a woman united in holy matrimony in contrast to foolishly pursuing the cheap alternatives the world has to offer that never fully satisfy our yearnings for true love (i.e., polygamy, immorality, adultery, pornography). Ultimately, marriage was ordained by God to give us a faint glimpse of the intimate, love relationship He desires to have with each of us through His Son Jesus Christ which is the truest love of all.

Key Verses: 2:7; 2:16; 3:5; 5:1; 6:3; 7:10; 8:4; 6-7

Outline

1. COURTSHIP - True Love Awakened (1:1-3:5)

2. CONSUMMATION - True Love United (3:6-5:1)

3. CONFLICT - True Love Tested (5:2-7:10)

4. COMMITMENT - True Love Sealed (7:11-8:14)