Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Song of Solomon1:1-2:7

Study 1 From the Book of Song of Solomon is:  Song of Solomon1:1-2:7

      1-     Much of this passage consists of conversation. The analysis provides one answer to the problems of how many characters are speaking and where the break occurs.  What do you think is the basic situation?

       2-     Can we learn anything from the different imagery used by the man (1:15-17; 2:2) and the woman to express their love and longing for one another? Does this suggest anything of the different qualities, or needs, of each?

Notes

        1-   1:12-14. Women wore small bags of myrrh suspended from the neck under their dress. To the girl, her beloved was as the costliest perfume.

       2-     2:1. The girl describes herself as an ordinary wild flower of the meadow

       3-     2:3. The apple tree affords both shade and fruit.

       4-     2:4. ‘The banqueting house’: literally ‘house of wine’, signifying ‘a place of delight’.

       5-     2:7. A difficult verse. It seems to mean that love should awake or come to life of itself or in its own time, not by artificial stimulation and not before the beloved one is pleased to respond. Gazelles or hinds are noted for their timidity.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to the Book of Song of Solomon

Study 0 From the Book of Song of Solomon is:  Song of Solomon 

The song of Solomon is unique not only for its exquisite literary charm, but also for its rich appreciation of human love and the beauty of nature, and its deep insight into the human heart. It has also appealed to Christians as a picture of the love of Christ for His church, and gives to them words in which to utter their hearts’ devotion to Him.

             It is uncertain who wrote it. The phrase ‘which is Solomon’s in 1:1 may equally mean ‘which is for Solomon’ (as in the title of Ps. 72) or ‘which is about Solomon’; and there is no other clue to its authorship.

            According to the earlier and more traditional interpretation, there are two main characters—Solomon and his bride. Many commentaries of great devotional beauty and insight have made this interpretation familiar, in which the bride is regarded as a ‘type’ of the church, and Solomon of Christ.

            Others, however, discern in the background of the story another figure, that of a shepherd, who is the girl’s true lover. It is he whom she calls ‘my beloved’.  A girl from the village of Shulem, she had gone one day to visit her garden, when she fell in unexpectedly with some of Solomon’s retinue, who took her captive to the palace (6:11-13). There the king visits her, and struck by her great beauty seeks to win her for himself. But she has a shepherd lover to whom her heart is pledged, and to whom she remain faithful. Three times the king visits her, wooing her with growing ardour, until at last, finding all his efforts of no avail, he sets her free.  At the close of the book she is seen leaning on the arm of her beloved, returning to her village home, where she is received by her family and friends, as the shepherd lover’s acknowledged bride. In this view, much of the book consists of reveries in which the girl communes in thought with her beloved, and of incidents and dreams connected with him, which with artless simplicity she tells to the ladies of the court.

            With these different interpretations to choose from, we must obviously form our own view from a study of the book itself. If we take the Song as it stands it is clear that we must look at it first of all as a poem, or collection of poems, about human love between man and woman. The study questions are therefore designed primarily to discover the meaning of the Son of Solomon at this level.

Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:14

Study 7 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:14

With this lesson we end the book of Ecclesiastes. Tomorrow, we will start the book of Song of Solomon.

       1-     In the Preacher’s counsel to youth, (a) in what is youth to rejoice, (b) to what all-important fact must heed be given, and (c) who is to be remembered? What is the reason for this counsel?

        2-     Contrast the joyful hope of the Christian with the picture of death and old age given here. Cf. 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Pet.1:3-5.

       3-     In summing up man’s duty, what place is given to God? How, in consequence, ought we to live?

Notes

        1-     11:10 ‘Vanity’ has here the meaning of ‘transitory’ or passing’.

        2-     12:2. Old age, is here compared to winter weather, when storm succeeds storm.

        3-     12:3-6. A series of pictures of the failure of man’s various bodily faculties in old age, such as strength of limb, number of teeth, keenness of sight, etc. ‘When old age fears a height, and even a walk has its terrors, when his hair is almond white, and he drags his limbs along, as the spirit flags and fades’ (verse 5, Moffat)

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Ecclesiastes 10:8 – 11:8

Study 6 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 10:8 – 11:8

1-    List the spheres in which the practical wisdom of 10:8-20 apply, and deduce any general principles for your practical guidance.

2-    11: 1-8. Since the future cannot be known, what advice does the writer give regarding and appropriate attitude in life? Cf. 9:10.

Note. 11:1-2. ‘Trust your goods far and wide at sea, till you get good returns after a while. Take shares in several ventures; you never know what will go wrong in this world’ (Moffatt)

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Ecclesiastes 9:1 – 10:7

Study 5 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes

1-    Why, from a Christian standpoint, is the view of life contained in 9:1-10 untenable? Cf. Lk. 23:39-43; and note how and why one of the criminals rebuked the other and found hope for himself.

2-    What do 9:11, 12, teach regarding a man’s attitude to natural talents? In what way is the value of wisdom shown in 9:13 -10:4

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Ecclesiastes 7 and 8

Study 4 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 7 and 8

The preacher has declared several times that man’s best course in this present world is to enjoy the portion in life which God has given him, and the fruit of his labour. In these later chapters, while still holding to this view, he inquires more closely into the king of quality of life which men should lead.

  1-    In the practical wisdom of chapter 7, what emerges as the guide principle for life?  

2-    Though the future is hidden from man’s what course of action is advocated in 8:1-7: How is the problem of death approached in 8:8-17?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Ecclesiastes 4:9 – 6:12

Study 3 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 4:9 – 6:12

        1-    What are the blessings of friendship described in 4:9-12? How does this apply in the spiritual life? See, e., g., Mt. 18:19, 20; Lk. 10:1

         2-    What does 5:1-7 teach concerning worship, in respect to (a) the right attitude of spirit, (b) words spoken in God’s presence, and (c) the importance of fulfilling vows?

         3-    What is the teaching of 5:8-6:12 regarding money and the evils it brings?

Notes

             1    -    5:1 ‘Guard your steps’: i.,e., ‘Newer enter God’s house carelessly’.

             2-    5:3 As cares and labours cause a man to dream, so do many words in worship give rise to folly.

             3-    5:20 ‘Then he will never brood over the fewness of his days’

             4-    6:10, 11 ‘Whatever happens has been determined long ago, and what man is has been ordained of old; he cannot argue with One mightier than himself’ The meaning is that much talking against God’s dealings is profitless.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 4:8

 Study 2 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – 4:8

1-     What, according to 3:1-15, is the best attitude to life? How does the Preacher illustrate his conviction? Cf. Mt. 10:29, 30. To what practical conclusion does he come?

2-     In 3:16 – 4:8, what four instances are given of the futility of life, and what reflections do they arouse in the writers’ mind?

Note. 3:1. ‘Season… time’: the two words express two thoughts, (a) that everything happens at an appointed time; and (b) that the time is appropriate in relation to the working out of God’s purpose.

 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Ecclesiastes 1 and 2

Study 1 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is: Ecclesiastes 1 and 2

1-    In what ways does 1:1-11 show the monotony of life? Why is such pessimism unchristian?

2-    How did the writer discover that neither the pursuit of wisdom (1:12-18) nor the enjoyment of pleasure (2: 1-11) can satisfy man’s heart?

3-    Though wisdom is better than folly (2:13, 14a), what three facts rob even wisdom of its power to satisfy (2:14b, 17, 18 and 23, 24-26)?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — The Book of Ecclesiastes

Study 0 From the Book of Ecclesiastes is:  The Introduction of the Book of Ecclesiastes

This book speaks through the mouth of Solomon, but does not in any way build on his authority. In the earlier part, the writer describes human life as seen by a shrewd observer, who disputes the arguments of those who find a satisfactory aim in life either in intellectual labour, or in the gathering of riches, or in pleasures, or even in the attainment of an ethical ideal, seeing that death terminates all, and comes to all alike.

Man cannot by searching find oat the deep things of God (3:11) but must bow before His sovereignty (3”14). Whatever appearances may indicate, God judges righteously, though judgment may be long delayed (8:12, 13).

The recurring phrase ‘under the sun’ may be regarded as indicating the purely human standpoint adopted by the writer in the earlier chapters, and as roughly equivalent to ‘in the world as man sees it’. It is salutary for the Christian to contrast the vanity and meaningless of this world, its business and pleasures, as set forth in Ecclesiastes, with our glorious heritage in Christ as set forth in the New Testament.

The book is the record of a spiritual pilgrimage, reaching its culmination in chapter 12 (cf. 12:13, 14 with Rom. 2:16. In Ecclesiastes, perhaps more than in any other book of the Old Testament, the standpoint of the writer should be borne in mind, and particularly the fact that he saw nothing for man beyond death save judgment. His attention is concentrated upon this life, for ‘our Saviour Christ. Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to fight through the gospel’ (2 Tim. 1:10) had not yet appeared.