This document provides an overview and interpretation of the biblical book Song of Songs. It discusses the date and authorship, noting it was likely written by Solomon in the 10th century BC. It describes the literary style as resembling Egyptian poetry and explores allegorical interpretations representing God's love for Israel/Christ's love for the church. The document summarizes several passages from Song of Songs 1-2 and examines differences in communication between men and women to provide context for potential relationship conflicts.

1. RIGHTEOUS ROMANCE
From the “Song of Songs”
“Everything you always wanted to know about
romance and marriage, but were afraid to ask!”
MAY 18, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
USA
WARNING!!!!
THIS LESSON IS RATED:
PG (Parental Guidance) 50 and above
Anyone under 50 needs written permission from your parents!
Bring your sense of humor today! Let’s have fun!
Song of Songs
• Hebrew word – ‘the best song’
• The ‘best of the best’
• Also called “Song of Solomon”
• Latin term is “Canticles” or liturgical song
Date & Authorship
• Solomon – “the early years”
– 10th Century BC
• A prolific writer –
– 600 Proverbs (Spoke over 3,000 Proverbs)
– Psalms 72 & Psalms 127
– 1,005 Songs (1 Kings 4:32)
1 Kings 4:29
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of
understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
Literary Style
• Resembles Egyptian Poetry
• Solomon was married to Pharaoh's daughter
• Alliances with Egypt
• Uses highly sensuous and suggestive imagery from nature

2. INTERPRETATION
1. Allegorical – Symbolic representation
2. Dramatic – A play or drama for actors
3. Wedding Song
4. Love Song – lyrical song about love (Ballad)
Allegorical Interpretation
1. Love between the Lord & Israel
– Always read at the beginning of Passover
1. Love between Christ and the Church
2. Love between Christ and the soul (individual)
Meaning & Message
“Enigmatic”
• Mysterious
• Obscure
Meaning & Message
1. Guide for love – physical and verbal
2. Marriage is exclusive and binding.
3. Love between man and woman is valid and beautiful.
4. Sexuality is not a sacred ritual as practiced in the pagan cultures.
– Fertility cults, religious & temple prostitutes
The Characters in ‘Song of Songs
1. Bride – The Beloved (Shulammite girl)
2. Groom – Lover (King Solomon)
3. Friends – Chorus (Women)(Daughters of Jerusalem)
Song of Songs 1:1 – 2:7
Love’s Anticipation
“Love at 1st Sight!”
Song of Songs 1:1-17
1 Solomon's Song of Songs.
She
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the young women love you!

3. 4a Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.
Friends
We rejoice and delight in you;
we will praise your love more than wine.
She
How right they are to adore you!
5 Dark am I, yet lovely,
daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother's sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I had to neglect.
7 Tell me, you whom I love,
where you graze your flock
and where you rest your sheep at midday.
Why should I be like a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your friends?
Friends
8 If you do not know, most beautiful of women,
follow the tracks of the sheep
and graze your young goats
by the tents of the shepherds.
He
9 I liken you, my darling, to a mare
among Pharaoh's chariot horses.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,
your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make you earrings of gold,
studded with silver.

4. She
12 While the king was at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En Gedi.
He
15 How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.
She
16 How handsome you are, my beloved!
Oh, how charming!
And our bed is verdant.
He
17 The beams of our house are cedars;
our rafters are firs.
Song of Songs 2:1-7
She
1 I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.
He
2 Like a lily among thorns
is my darling among the young women.
She
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

5. and let his banner over me be love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins,
refresh me with apples, for
I am faint with love.
6 His left arm is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.
7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
QUESTION???
If man and woman are so attracted to each other as described in “Song of
Songs”, how can there ever be conflict between them?
WHY CONFLICT BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN?
World’s Answer:
• Women are crazy.
• Men are stupid.
• The main reason women are crazy is because men are stupid!
WHY CONFLICT?
God made us different and differently
Genesis 2:7
7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:20
20 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man
to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's
ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman
from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
HUMOR
Why did God make man 1st?
God made man before woman so that man would have time to think of an
answer for woman’s first question!

6. Differences between men and women?
• Physical – YES!!
• Communication
• Socially
• Thinking
• Problem solving
• Love – needs and expression
• Etc., etc., etc……………………………..
References
• Bruce Christopher Seminars: “The Differences Between Men and Women”
• His Brain, Her Brain: How Divinely Designed Differences Can Strengthen
Your Marriage. Authors: Walt and Barbara Larimore (Zondervan, 2009)
Opportunity to discuss these differences in “Song of Songs”
Let’s Begin with Communication
Average number of words used daily by:
Men = 7,000 words
Women = 20,000 words
Example in “Song of Songs”
Number of verses where man speaks = 40
Number of verses where woman speaks = 67
Remember: Song of Songs was written by a man!
Differences in Communication:
Conversations
Men
• Focus on facts
• High ability to “zone out”
• Can actually not be thinking about something
Women
• Focus on feelings behind facts
• Low ability “zone out”
• Brain always in gear

7. Differences in Conversation
Men
• Wants bottom line before details
• Speak directly and use words literally
Women
• Must build story with details to get to ending (Hint: Give bottom line and
he will probably ask for details)
• Tend to speak indirectly (the problem may not really be the problem)
The “Real” Definition of Words Used by Women During Conflict
“Fine” – I am right. The argument is over. You need to be quiet.
“Go Ahead” – This is a dare, not permission. Don’t do it!
“Nothing” – The calm before the storm. This means ‘something’ and you better
be on your toes.
Note: Arguments that begin with ‘nothing’ usually end up with ‘fine’.
New Testament’s Description of Differences
Ephesians 5:33
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the
wife must respect her husband. (NIV)
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself,
and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (NKJV)
Next Sunday
Why does the Bible say for husbands to love their wives and for the wives to
respect their husbands?
Song of Songs – Part 2