Song of Solomon

Solomon wrote 1005 songs, and this small book is presented as the finest of them all. There are many different opinions regarding this book, where some consider it unworthy of being considered divine scripture because of its mature content. There are many more who accept it as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and entirely allegorical of Christ and His bride. This latter position seems to be most acceptable, since it is hard to understand the place of a simple oriental love song in the canon of the scriptures.

We can gain insight into the heart of Jesus for His bride as we read this song. Our perspective of the church, and even our own place in it can seem far different than how He sees us, just like the Shulammite girl who saw herself as sunburnt and ugly from labor in the vineyards.

Proverbs 30-31 | Psalm 127

30 - The words of Agur. We know nothing of this man, or his ancestry, so we can only know him through his words. Agur does not think very much of his own wisdom and understanding, yet there is much to be gleaned from this chapter that he wrote. Verse 4 is prophetic if Jesus in several ways, including the declaration that God has a Son!

31 - This chapter is attributed to King Lemuel, which relate the things he learned from his wise mother. We don’t know who this man is, as scholars suggest he is Hezekiah or Solomon, and others think he was a king in Babylon during the Chaldean captivity. He is first instructed by her in wise leadership, and is cautioned against indiscretion and foolish indulgence, which every wise king needs to know and practice. She then praises the characteristics of a wise wife, and how her value far exceeds riches and wealth.

Psalm 127 - Children are a blessing from the Lord! Unless the Lord does a thing, men labor in vain…

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
- Psalm 127:1 NKJV

Proverbs 28-29

28 - There are many with great wealth who mistakenly believe they are wise, but even the poorest with understanding can see what is going on. The wealthy who became rich through oppression and theft will ultimately suffer

29 - When a wicked man rules, the people groan. When a man in power takes bribes, he serves to overthrow the kingdom. A foolish man either makes jokes or responds in rage when confronted. When the ruler believes lies, then his ministers all become wicked

Proverbs 25-27

25 - There is no true glory in seeking out ones own honor. It is a foolish thing to try and promote yourself, and everyone will laugh when you are publicly demoted. Help even your enemies, and the Lord will reward you

26 - Do not argue with a foolish person, as others may be unable to see any difference between you. There is more hope for a foolish man than someone who is wise in his own eyes. It’s a foolish thing to meddle in the affairs of others, when you have no stake in the problem or solution

27 - It is foolish to boast about what hasn’t yet been accomplished. Let others sing your praises, and not yourself. The hearts of men reflect their true character.

Proverbs 22-24

22 - A good name is to be greatly prized among all men, as our integrity and character are of far greater value than immense wealth. He who is generous will be blessed.

23 - There is much grief for those who run after sensual pleasures - much food, alcohol, drugs, ill gotten gains, and immorality. Everything seems wonderful for a time, but it quickly devolves into pain and poverty.

24 - Live with integrity and mercy, without acting in judgement of your enemies or evil doers. Do not celebrate when your enemy fails, as the Lord will see it and be displeased. Fear the Lord and let Him administer justice

Proverbs 19-21

19 - There are many plans within the hearts of men, however it is the intents of the Lord that will stand. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and those who fear Him will not be disappointed.

20 - There is no man who can honestly say that they have made themselves clean, and purified themselves from sin. Even a child is known by his deeds, and this is no different for those of all other ages.

21 - The man who only pursues pleasure and riches will suffer in poverty, but he who follows righteousness and mercy finds life.

Proverbs 16-18

16 - Commit your plans to the Lord, and they will be established. The Lord accomplishes everything for His own purpose, and the glory of His own Name.

17 - Many are the unprofitable ways of the one who is foolish, and lacks discretion. He will suffer for his bad decisions, and bring grief upon those who raised him.

18 - A fools mouth is his ruin, and is reflected in his desire to be heard, rather than to learn from others. He cannot help himself from answering, even before hearing the question. Death and life are equally within the power of the tongue, and the prudent weighs his words carefully before speaking.

Proverbs 13-15

13 - In verse 7 Solomon says that one man makes himself wealthy, yet has nothing, and another makes himself poor, but has great riches. In verse 18 he says that poverty and shame come upon the one who refuses to be corrected, but honor will come upon the one who pays attention to correction.

14 - In verse 12 he notes that there is a way that seems right to men’s minds, but it only leads to death. Those who lack fear of God draw foolish conclusions from the evidence around them.

15 - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The wise shares his knowledge, but not so with the fool.

Proverbs 10-12

10 - There is much contrast between the righteous and the wicked, between the sloth and the diligent. The Lord will not forsake the righteous, and the wicked will not stand forever. The sloth fails to work when opportunity strikes, but the diligent are faithful to work when the fields are ready.

11 - Both the righteous and the wicked will receive their appropriate rewards. God will keep His own, and will judge the unrighteous.

12 - The tongue of some people are sharp, like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The wicked tear down what belongs to others, but the righteous build up.

Proverbs 7-9

7 - The enticements of the harlot or adulteress have led to the ruin of many men!

8 - The fear of the Lord is to hate evil and pride, and the ways of the wicked. Wisdom was with God before creation, and by it great kings reign, and justice is decreed for all the people.

9 - The simple can benefit greatly by seeking after God’s wisdom. Do not correct a scoffer, who will only hate you for it, however a wise man will respond with love to correction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 4-6

4 - Like Solomon was instructed by David as a child, he instructs his son with these sayings. Seek wisdom and understanding, and stay away from the ways of the wicked and deceitful.

5 - To Solomon’s son he says run away from those who would entice you to evil, and be happy with the wife of your youth. All who waste themselves following after sinful lusts will regret it in the end.

6 - Avoid guaranteeing the loans of another person, as you will come to regret it. To avoid poverty, copy the industriousness of the ant, and banish laziness from your life. The Lord hates the pride of the wicked, who lie and hurt others. It is just stupid to sin with the spouse of another person, and nothing but pain will come from it.

Proverbs 1-3

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge, and it is from that basis that Solomon counsels his son to seek wisdom (in the fear of the Lord).  God will protect and bless those who fear and serve Him, and those who love violence and injustice will receive their just rewards.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

1 Kings 4, 10:14-29 | 2 Chronicles 1:14-17, 9:13-28 | Psalm 72

There was no king in Israel who was ever as wise and rich as Solomon.  He ruled from the Euphrates River to the border of Egypt, and kings came from all over the known world to hear his words of wisdom.  From an earthly perspective, he may have been the richest and smartest and wisest king in the history of the world.  However, even though he was mostly faithful to God, he did not have his father David’s heart after God.  There is little beyond these external glories described during his 40 year reign, and little he did for God after completing and dedicating the temple.

1 Kings 9:1-10:13 | 2 Chronicles 7:11-9:12

After the dedication of the temple, the Lord speaks to Solomon a 2nd time, and confirms His promises to David and the nation, with the proviso that when the king and the people forsake the Lord, He will judge them, and even allow the temple to be completely destroyed.  The temple was indeed destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar to the people of Judah captive into Babylon, and then rebuilt after more than 70 years of that captivity.  The temple was again completely destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans, and it has yet to be rebuilt since then, although it will be built again in the last days.

The Queen of Sheba comes to see Solomon with great gifts, and she is blown away by all of his wisdom and knowledge.  Tradition has it that Solomon allowed her to take a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, which is reportedly in existence today in Ethiopia, and guarded by priests with their lives.  Ethiopian tradition also holds that she bore a son to Solomon, named Menilek, who became king, with a line of kings all the way down to Haile Selassie in the early 1970’s.

1 Kings 8 | 2 Chronicles 5:1-7:10

After Solomon had completed all the work of building the temple, and all of the utensils and furnishings, he called all of Israel together to dedicate and consecrate that place for the worship of God’s Name.  All of the furnishings and utensils in the tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon were brought to the temple in Jerusalem, and the ark of the covenant was brought there from Zion, where David had pitched a tent for it.

Please note the emphasis on the Lord’s Name in relationship to this temple.  From the beginning, Solomon planned to build it as a place to honor the Name of God, and in various places God confirmed that He would place His Name there.  This temple is not a place where God dwelt, since not even the heavens can contain Him, but the scriptures say that He placed His Name there, so that it might be glorified, and sought by all the peoples.

Solomon and Israel take 2 weeks to consecrate and dedicate the temple in Jerusalem, and he prays a great prayer for God to hear the requests of all who appeal to His Name in that place, regardless of where they are located, or even if they are strangers from foreign countries.

The Lord hears all of the prayers of Solomon and the people, and His presence fills the temple, and fire comes down from heaven and burns up all the sacrifices presented to Him there.

1 Kings 7 | 2 Chronicles 4

Details are provided for many of the temple furnishings, the bronze pillars outside the temple, and the bronze laver for washing.  Hiram, a skilled metal worker from Lebanon (whose mother was a Hebrew), was sent to Solomon to oversee all of this work, and to teach his expertise to Solomon’s experts in Israel.

1 Kings 5-6 | 2 Chronicles 2-3

Solomon communicates with king Hiram of Lebanon his plans to build a temple to the Name of the Lord, and they agree on all that will be provided by Hiram, and all that Solomon will pay.  There is great detail in all that gets constructed, which God had previously shown to David, who not only provided for all that was needed, but even the plans for his son to use.  Construction of the temple was started in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign, and took 7 years to complete.

1 Kings 2:13-3:28 | 2 Chronicles 1:1-13

Solomon deals justice to the men who had not been faithful to his father David, and Adonijah’s continued treachery seals his own fate, and he dies.

Solomon appears before the tabernacle of Moses in Gibeon, where the alter of sacrifice was still used, and he humbled himself before God.  The Lord gives Solomon one request, and rather than ask for riches, long life, or superiority over his enemies, he asks God to give him wisdom to lead God’s people.  This request pleases God, and he grants to him wisdom greater than any man on earth, and also promises to bless him with great riches and honor among the nations of the world.

1 Kings 1:1-2:12 | 2 Samuel 23:1-7

David reigned as king in Israel for 40 years, and now the time has come for the kingdom to be passed on to his son Solomon. David’s son Adonijah makes an attempt to take the throne for himself, but when the king is made aware of his treachery, he takes steps to name Solomon king before he dies. David provides for Solomon to inherit the kingdom, and then speaks his final words to his son before dying.

Psalms 45, 47-48, 87, 110

The first four of these psalms were penned by the sons of Korah, who were commissioned by David to serve and worship before the presence of God at David’s tabernacle on mount Zion (before the temple was constructed by Solomon). These are written in praise of the King, Who is the Lord, as well as the city of God, which is Jerusalem, and called mount Zion.

Psalm 110 was penned by David, and it is uniquely prophetic of Jesus, Who God has not only established as the King Who will rule forever, but Who has also been named as God’s High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews explains this in Hebrews 8, showing that the priestly order of Melchizedek was superior to Aaron, the first high priest in Israel, and that it will be only in Jesus that the office of King and Priest are united.