- Scripture
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1Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
2My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
3I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.
4¶ Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
5Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.a
6Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.
7As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
9My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
10¶ Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
11I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
12Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.bc
13Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.d
Footnotes:
5 a6.5 overcome…: or, puffed me up
12 b6.12 Or ever…: Heb. I knew not
12 c6.12 made…: or, set me on the chariots of my willing people
13 d6.13 of…: or, of Mahanaim
21 Vindication of the Persecuted Bride (Song 6:11-7:9)
By Mike Bickle2342:39Serving OthersIdentity in ChristSNG 6:4Mike Bickle emphasizes the significance of living as the 'bride' in this age, encouraging believers to embody a bridal attitude and love towards God and others. He explains that even in times of spiritual dryness, God remains deeply invested in our hearts, and it is essential to understand His thoughts during our struggles. Bickle urges believers to serve the immature in the body of Christ, highlighting that true service stems from knowing our identity in God and recognizing the value of others. He warns against the distractions and criticisms that arise when one pursues a deeper relationship with God and serves others selflessly. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to pour into the lives of others, reflecting the heart of Jesus found in serving.
The Bride's Vindication and Partnership With the King
By Mike Bickle1844:35Partnership with GodValue of OthersSNG 6:4Mike Bickle explores the themes of the Bride's value and her partnership with the King in the Song of Solomon, emphasizing the importance of seeing the worth in others as God sees them. He highlights the Bride's journey from understanding her own value to recognizing the value of others, even those who may be immature or difficult. Bickle illustrates how serving others can lead to persecution, but ultimately, the Bride is vindicated by both the community and the King. The sermon encourages believers to engage in ministry with a heart of love and commitment, regardless of recognition or response, and to find joy in serving the Lord amidst challenges.
20 Jesus Praises Her After Her Season of Testing (Song 6:4-10)
By Mike Bickle1646:31Faithfulness in TrialsIntimacy With GodSNG 4:16SNG 6:4Mike Bickle emphasizes the transformative journey of the bride in the Song of Solomon, illustrating her prayers for both adversity and blessing as she seeks deeper intimacy with Jesus. He highlights her unwavering love for Christ during trials, showcasing her maturity and the beauty of her devotion even when faced with rejection and silence from the body of Christ. Jesus responds to her faithfulness with profound praise, affirming her worth and place in His eternal purpose, revealing that true beauty lies in loving Him for who He is, not just for His blessings. The sermon encourages believers to remain steadfast in love, understanding that their devotion moves the heart of God, especially in times of testing.
The People Shall Be [A Freewill Offering]
By A.B. Simpson0Surrender to GodConsecrationSNG 6:3JER 18:6MAT 11:28JHN 15:5ROM 12:12CO 5:17GAL 2:20EPH 2:10PHP 1:61PE 2:9A.B. Simpson emphasizes the concept of consecration as a voluntary offering of oneself to God, motivated by love and faith. He illustrates that true surrender is not a loss but a safe embrace into the arms of a loving Father, leading to an infinite inheritance. Simpson likens this surrender to clay yielding to the potter, allowing God to shape us into vessels of honor. He encourages believers to trust in God's wisdom and love, which will transform them into what they aspire to be. Ultimately, he portrays surrender as a privilege that leads to a rich and fulfilling life in Christ.
Melchizedec
By F.B. Meyer0Righteousness and PeaceThe Priesthood of ChristJDG 17:10SNG 6:5ISA 32:17MAT 6:33HEB 4:15HEB 5:5HEB 7:1HEB 7:21REV 5:6F.B. Meyer explores the significance of Melchizedec as a type of Christ, emphasizing that Melchizedec's priesthood foreshadows the eternal and superior priesthood of Jesus. He highlights that Christ, like Melchizedec, is both King and Priest, embodying righteousness and peace, and that His priesthood is divinely appointed and unchangeable. Meyer encourages believers to recognize Christ's unique role as the mediator between God and humanity, and to respond by offering their lives and resources in service to Him. The sermon calls for a deeper understanding of Christ's eternal nature and the implications of His dual role as King and Priest in the lives of believers.
Song of Solomon 6:10
By Chuck Smith0HopeThe Church's RoleSNG 6:10MAT 5:14JHN 8:12Chuck Smith explores the profound imagery in Song of Solomon 6:10, illustrating the church's role as a beacon of hope and light in a dark world. He emphasizes that just as the morning light signifies a new day, the church's message heralds hope and renewal for individuals trapped in darkness. The church, reflecting the glory of Christ, is called to shine brightly like the moon, testifying to the living presence of Jesus. Smith also highlights the importance of holiness, urging believers to measure themselves against Christ rather than others, and to embody strength and courage in spiritual warfare. Ultimately, the church is depicted as a powerful force, instilling fear in the enemies of God.
Union With Christ
By Watchman Nee0Spiritual WarfareUnion with ChristPSA 149:6SNG 6:4ISA 54:17ROM 8:371CO 15:572CO 2:14EPH 2:6PHP 4:131JN 5:4REV 19:14Watchman Nee emphasizes the profound union believers have with Christ, highlighting that while they possess heavenly beauty, they are also equipped to confront spiritual battles against the enemy. He illustrates that the Church, likened to the beauty of Tirzah and Jerusalem, is called to be both stunning and formidable, marching triumphantly like an army with banners. This duality signifies that true beauty in the eyes of God comes with the strength to challenge adversaries. The sermon encourages believers to embrace their identity as victorious warriors in Christ, impacting the heavenly realm.
Loved, to Love
By Miles J. Stanford0SNG 6:3Miles J. Stanford preaches about the profound love and blessings God has bestowed upon believers through Jesus Christ, emphasizing the intimate relationship between knowing what Jesus did for us and understanding who He is to us. He highlights the transformative power of the Cross and the Spirit's work in uniting believers with Christ in heavenly places. Stanford discusses the unquenchable satisfaction found in Jesus, the importance of maintaining a heart truly won by Him, and the continual communion believers can experience through the Word of God to prevent anything from hindering their relationship with Christ.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Introduction
The companions of the bride inquire after the bridegroom, Sol 6:1-3. A description of the bride, Sol 6:4-13.
Introduction
Historically, at Jesus Christ's crucifixion and burial, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, and others, joined with His professed disciples. By speaking of Jesus Christ, the bride does good not only to her own soul, but to others (see on Sol 1:4; Mal 3:16; Mat 5:14-16). Compare the hypocritical use of similar words (Mat 2:8).
Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 6 The discourse between the church and the daughters of Jerusalem is continued in this chapter: they inquire whither her beloved was gone, in order to seek him with her, Sol 6:1; she tells them where he was gone, and for what purpose he went thither, and what he was doing there; and claims and asserts her interest in him, Sol 6:2; Then follows a commendation of the church by Christ, who admires her beauty, and describes her by her eyes, hair, &c. Sol 6:4; and prefers her to all others; being a singular and choice one to him, and the praise of others, Sol 6:8; and next he gives an account of his going into his garden, and his design in it, and of what happened to him there, Sol 6:11. And the chapter is concluded with a charge to the Shulamite, to turn herself, that she might be looked upon; which occasions a question, to which an answer is returned, Sol 6:13.
Verse 1
6:1-3 The conversation that ends this poem indicates that it is not an actual event. The dream ends as the young women of Jerusalem ask the woman where her man has gone. The woman tells them not to concern themselves with finding him—he is back in bed with her, enjoying his garden with its spice beds and lilies, a description of sexual intimacy.
Verse 4
6:4-10 The man again describes the physical beauty of the woman. He repeats parts of the description from ch 4 almost verbatim, showing the same high regard for his wife.
6:4 Tirzah was a city-state as early as Joshua’s time; it eventually became great enough to be the capital of the northern kingdom (Josh 12:24; 1 Kgs 15:33). The town’s name means “pleasant.” • Jerusalem was the capital of David’s and Solomon’s united kingdom and after that, the most important city of Judah.
Verse 8
6:8-9 If the Song were an allegory of the Lord’s love for his people, it would provide a very weak parallel, since Solomon’s excesses in marrying do a poor job of picturing God’s love and faithfulness (see 1 Kgs 11:1-13). • sixty queens: Many of Solomon’s wives were obtained by marrying into international treaties (see 1 Kgs 11:1-3, 8). • Concubines were wives who had secondary status, lower than a wife but higher than a slave. Concubines were acquired by war, debt repayment, or purchase. • In the anthology view, the reference to queens and concubines simply means that the woman herself is more desirable than all other women.
Verse 9
6:9 sing her praises: Literally called her blessed. If the Song is a drama, the woman has left Solomon’s harem, and the singing took place in the past, when the woman was still there.
Verse 10
6:10 The poem ends as it began in 6:4: The woman’s majesty, like an army with billowing banners in full display, makes the knees knock and the heart flutter.
Verse 11
6:11 I went down: There is ambiguity over who is speaking here. The NLT presents it as the beginning of the young woman’s speech, though it could just as plausibly be a continuation of the young man’s. The trip to the walnut grove is a poetic way of expressing desire for a romantic meeting.
Verse 12
6:12 to the chariot of a noble man: Desire leads to the union of the man and the woman. There may be support here for Solomon being the husband, though this description could be a metaphor for the joys of romance (cp. 1:16-17).
Verse 13
6:13–7:9 An interaction between the young women of Jerusalem and the man introduces his last major description of the woman’s beauty and his desire to hold her (see study note on 4:1–5:1).
6:13 Return: Or turn around. • Shulam: The place is not known, though some have identified it with Shunem (1 Kgs 1:3; 2 Kgs 4:11-12). Maid of Shulam (Hebrew shulammith) might be a wordplay on the name Solomon (Hebrew shelomoh). It would then be equivalent to saying “Solomon’s maiden.” • as she moves so gracefully between two lines of dancers? The man praises the woman’s grace and beauty to everyone.