1st Week of Song of Songs Study: Intro.

Every Saturday, I will be posting a section from a book I have written.  It is a study on Song of Songs or Song of Solomon.  In order to get your feet wet, I have included this intro to the book itself.  Be sure to check my blog every Saturday for the newest posts.

 Photo from http://pixabay.com, words added.

Or….

            "Song of songs, the most slandered, unread, tabooed, misunderstood book in the bible".   

  The latter seems more fitting when it comes to it’s popularity.  This is a book that most people read once in their lives and then ignore it.  Mostly because of some stumbling blocks that hinder them from seeing it's true beauty:

Block #1: Many people think that this book is scandalous and sexual 

  I admit, it does have those parts, but the vast majority of it is very relational.

 

Block #2: This book was written by Solomon.
  The fact that it was written by Solomon makes it no less a part of Gods Word and (despite it’s fanciful way of writing), it should be respected just as any other book in the Bible.
  Just as the Psalms were written by many authors, this too has an author.   Its construction greatly resembles the many opera’s that our modern composers have written and it has a similar feel as the Psalms.

Block #3: this book is only for married people or people who are dating. 
  Many have even said that you should not read Song of Songs if you are single.  I say this is wrong!  Every book in the Bible has something to offer in every part of your life and that is still the same in this book, whether you are single or not single.

  Then what is this book about?  Like I said before it is about a relationship.  Not just a relationship between husband and wife, nor just the relationship between a man and a woman, but about the relationship between God and His bride.

  “Who is this bride?”  asks all, “Is it the church?”   Indeed, God does say that his church is his bride, but what is the church made of?  All of God’s people; both men and women.  This book is about the relationship between God and His people.  

  However, I’d like to make a subtle flip, this book is also about the relationship between His people and God.  Notice the difference?  It’s a subtle change, but an essential one. God cares, not only about reaching out to you, but creating in you a desire to reach out to Him.  

  Michelangelo’s picture of God reaching out to Adam is a bit one sided if you don’t see that Adam is reaching back.  This has been the case ever sense the beginning of time, but God is the one Who reaches first to create this relationship not man.  Christ reached first when He died on the cross for our sins and God is the one Who creates in you a desire to reach for Him. 

 Warning!!  Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that God needed something from us when He reached for us.  There are two different types of reaching in this relationship:

1st God's:  He reaches for us not in a needy way, but in a loving way. 

  God does not need anything from us, He is perfectly whole without us, but He still reaches for us, and the reason for that is love. He loves His people so much that He reached first.  It’s amazing to think that our Lord would do that and continues to do that for us.  This has been His intent ever since we fell.

2nd Us: We reach out of our need, but through that need, He grows a love to need Him. 

  We need God and require His help at all times, but God does not want us to reach for Him just because we need His help.  He wants us to love reaching for Him.  Indeed, we reach out of our need, but it is more of a trusting need.  It’s a spread your hands wide before Him, loving need.

         

  This book is a beautiful book because it exhibits this relationship vividly, which is why it so sad that many avoid it.

 God put this book here to show us how passionately and tenderly He loves us.

   I hope that through these writings you will see a few of the many facets of Song of songs that you have never seen before.  I say a few because I do not know everything and do not claim to know everything that this book holds.  These writings are only what God has brought forth to my mind to see.

  My desire is to open the door of your heart to meditating on Song of Songs.  So many of us read so quickly through Gods word that we never give it time to sink.  It takes a great deal of thought and prayer to study the bible.   Slow down and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truths of Gods word.

           

   If I were to pick one of my favorite books of the Bible, I would pick this one.  God has used this book to open my eyes to our relationship and His character, and I pray that it will do the same for you.

  I look forward to going through Song of Songs with you.  If you have any questions or thoughts, please write them in the comments below.  I respond to every comment.  Also, be sure to check back next Saturday for a new post on Song of Songs! God bless

 

 Want to read more? Click here! (Enter the Characters and Song of Songs 1:2)