A Teaching Outline for the Book of Song of Solomon

From the very beginning, God said that it was “not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). He then instituted the very first marriage by creating Eve to be Adam’s wife. Unfortunately, that picture-perfect marriage existed only for a short time. Once sin entered the world, this relationship—and all others to follow—would be characterized by difficulty and strife (cf. Gen. 3:16). Thankfully, it was God’s kind intention to provide not only the forgiveness man needs for his sin, but also a plan to help his relationships thrive in the godliness for which they were designed. When it comes to marriage, this plan is wonderfully expressed in the Song of Solomon. Of the 1,005 songs that King Solomon composed (cf. 1 Kin. 4:32), this was the “song of songs”—the best of the best—describing his first marriage. The three major sections to this book poetically portray the meeting, marrying, and maturing of Solomon and his bride (“the Shulammite,” cf. Song 6:13), which corresponds well to the “leave, cleave, and weave” paradigm of marriage that God established long ago (cf. Gen. 2:24).

As the relationship between Solomon and the Shulammite began, they both looked forward to being together. In fact, she couldn’t wait for him to kiss her, draw her to himself, and bring her into his chambers (cf. Song 1:2-4). Although she felt insecure about her tanned skin (as it implied that she was a poor farmhand who worked out in the sun), he assured her that she was like a “mare among the chariots of Pharaoh”—the one female that all males wish they could be with. It was no wonder that while he was away, the perfume around her neck reminded her of him, as she similarly considered him to be a “cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi”—the one oasis in a “desert” of ordinary men. The singular devotion they looked forward to is a reminder that authentic companionship comes only by way of God’s good gift of marriage.

Their mutual admiration was so significant, in fact, that they spent time trading compliments and reassuring one another of their desirability (cf. Song. 2:1-2). Though she felt like a “lily of the valleys” (just one ordinary woman among many), he made it clear that she was more like a “lily among the thorns” (an extraordinary woman among regulars). And in her eyes, he was far from one of the common “trees of the forest,” but was “an apple tree,” bearing precious fruit beyond what others could. With so much emotion wrapped up in their engagement, it’s no surprise that the song warns its hearers not to “arouse or awaken love until [it] pleases” (Song 2:7). Like any other gift from God, when relationships are managed appropriately, they can yield profound happiness. But when misused, they can lead to profound heartache. A godly relationship must be established according to God’s ways, in God’s timing, and for God’s glory.

In preparation for their marriage, the couple continued meeting to get to know one another better. Thus, when springtime arrived, so did Solomon. Bounding into her hometown like a gazelle, he looked forward to spending time walking, talking, and enjoying nature together with her (cf. Song 2:8-10). They compared the reemergence of plant life all around them to the blossoming of their own relationship together. While walking past actual “vines in blossom” (Song 2:13), the Shulammite asked him to catch the “little foxes” that could cause problems in “their vineyards” (Song 2:15)—meaning she wanted to address minor problems between them prior to marriage before they could become bigger problems within marriage. And in fact, that kind of intentionality is precisely what sets the biblical pattern of courtship apart from the casual approach of dating. Even between two believers, “little foxes” (which also includes doctrinal differences) ought to be caught well in advance of the wedding day.

With much of that discussion still on her mind, the Shulammite’s dreams reflected her feelings: “On my bed night after night I sought him but did not find him” (Song 3:1). As is often the case during sleep, our brains have a way of subconsciously seeking conclusions to unresolved issues that happened in our waking hours. In this case, the Shulammite dreamed of herself running through the city, asking the watchmen if they had seen Solomon. Finally finding him, she gripped him tightly and brought him to her childhood home—thus confirming in her own mind just how committed to him she truly was going to be (cf. Song 3:4). She was intent on overcoming any “little fox” that could ruin their relationship. And so it is that the dream concluded with another warning not to “arouse or awaken love until [it] pleases” (Song. 3:5). Since God’s gift of marriage provides a kind of relational security unparalleled by any other relationship (based on the sober vows of each party), those unwilling to provide the latter aren’t ready to enjoy the former.

After completing the preparations, the time of the wedding finally arrived. The Shulammite approached from her hometown in a wedding procession, riding on Solomon’s royal couch, enveloped by fragrant spices and powders, and surrounded by armed guards (cf. Song 3:6-8). The grandeur of the event reached its peak when Solomon met her while wearing his stately apparel, including a crown made by his own mother, Bathsheba. The public nature of the celebration reminds us that a wedding is indeed a lifelong promise witnessed by both God and man (cf. Mal. 2:14). A couple being joined together in marriage is certainly more than a legal process—but not less. Conversely, cohabitation is nothing more than Satan’s cheap counterfeit (cf. John 4:16-18).

Having officially become man and wife, they spent their first night together consummating the marriage. Just as Adam and Eve “were both naked and were not ashamed” (Gen. 2:25), so too did this couple enjoy intimate vulnerability with one another. Describing her from the head down, Solomon expressed his sheer delight in his new wife’s beauty (cf. Song 4:1, 7, 10). And she reciprocated: referring to herself as a garden, she invited him to enjoy her “choice fruits” just as a gardener would enjoy the multifaceted, multi-sensory benefits of his harvest (cf. Song 16-5:1). According to God’s grand design, the joy of intimacy, paired with the freedom from guilt, made for an unparalleled experience for the couple. Today, God’s gracious provision for those who “burn with passion” is still marriage, such that they can overcome temptation and glorify God in their bodies (cf. 1 Cor. 6:20, 7:9).

Of course, no marriage this side of heaven is perfect—and Solomon’s was no different. Thus, the maturing process in their relationship began right away, and apparently involved some form of disagreement. Though the content of the argument was unstated, the effect was clearly shown in yet another dream the Shulammite had. While she slept, her “heart was awake,” indicating the emotional turmoil she experienced even in deep slumber (cf. Song 5:2). In this dream, she refused to let Solomon be near her (reflecting their real-life disharmony), and when she finally changed her mind, she couldn’t find him. But, determined to consider his positive qualities rather than dwell on any negatives, she resolved to let nothing interrupt her love for him (cf. Song 5:10-16). Indeed, genuine love “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8) and “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Cor. 13:5).

Sometime after waking, she found him and embraced him, at which point he restated his love for her (cf. Song 6:1-10). Still having doubts, though, she contemplated what life would be like without him, wondering what he ever saw in her in the first place (cf. Song 6:11-12). Just as the twins Jacob and Esau had reconciled with each other centuries prior at Mahanaim (a Hebrew word meaning “double camp,” cf. Gen. 32:2), she wondered why Solomon would even want to reconcile with her (cf. Song 6:13). In response, he spent time once again describing how delightful she was in his eyes, at which point their reconciliation was complete. The life of a believer involves forgiving others just as God in Christ has forgiven us, and marriage is a premier relationship to give and receive that forgiveness (cf. Eph. 4:32).

The song ends by describing the couple’s springtime vacation, signifying that at least one year had elapsed (cf. Song 7:11-12). They reminisced on their past devotion to one another: the time he spent pursuing her (cf. Song 8:5), and the time she spent remaining chaste for him (cf. Song 8:8-12). They also contemplated their present devotion to one another: her ongoing affection for him (cf. Song 8:6-7), and his ongoing desire for her (cf. Song 8:13-14). And as their relationship continued to mature, they continued pursuing a love that had no end (cf. Song 8:6a), no equal (cf. Song 8:6b), no rival (cf. Song 8:7a), and no price (cf. Song 8:7b).

In a world in which Satan works overtime to undermine and destroy human sexuality and relationships, the Song of Solomon stands as a bulwark to show us a better way. But as Proverbs 31:10 asks, “An excellent wife, who can find?” Fittingly, Proverbs 19:14 gives us the answer: “A prudent wife is from the Lord.” Indeed, in marriage, God provides a lifelong helper (cf. Gen. 2:18), an authentic love (cf. Gen. 2:25), a family legacy (cf. Psa. 78:4), a co-laborer in ministry (cf. Acts 18:26), a source of discernment (cf. Prov. 27:17), romantic satisfaction (cf. Prov. 5:18-19), motivation for prayer (cf. 1 Pet. 3:7), financial stability (cf. 1 Tim. 5:11-12), and victory over temptation (cf. 1 Cor. 7:9)! What a God we serve! It’s no wonder that 1 Peter 3:7 refers to marriage as “the grace of life.” Although the Song of Solomon is not an allegorical tale of Christ and the Church, it certainly embodies aspects of Christ’s redemptive love—just as any godly marriage does (cf. Eph. 5:25, Isa. 62:5, Rev. 19:9). As you teach through this book, may you not only exalt the grace of God found in the gift of marriage, but also the gracious God who created marriage. The following outline is offered to help.

Meeting: Individual Anticipation (Song of Solomon 1:1-14)

Her Desire for Him (Song 1:1-4)

Her Doubt about Herself (Song 1:5-6)

His Directions for Her (Song 1:7-8)

His Delight in Her (Song 1:9-11)

Her Delight in Him (Song 1:12-14)

Meeting: Mutual Admiration (Song of Solomon 1:15-2:7)

His Compliment to Her (Song 1:15)

Her Compliment to Him (Song 1:16-17)

Her Criticism of Herself (Song 2:1)

His Correction of Her (Song 2:2)

Her Commitment to Him (Song 2:3-7)

Meeting: Joyous Visitation (Song of Solomon 2:8-17)

Her Surprise at His Arrival (Song 2:8-9)

His Summons for Her Attention (Song 2:10-14)

Her Seeking for His Assurance (Song 2:15)

Her Security in His Answer (Song 2:16-17)

Meeting: Subconscious Confirmation (Song of Solomon 3:1-5)

Her Concern to be with Him (Song 3:1-3)

Her Commitment to be with Him (Song 3:4-5)

Marrying: Corporate Celebration (Song of Solomon 3:6-11)

Her Procession to Him (Song 3:6-7)

Her Protection by Him (Song 3:8)

His Prestige with Her (Song 3:9-11)

Marrying: Private Consummation (Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1)

Her Beauty Expressed by Him (Song 4:1-6)

Her Beauty Embraced by Him (Song 4:7-9)

Her Beauty Emphasized by Him (Song 4:10-15)

Her Beauty Enjoyed by Him (Song 4:16-5:1)

Maturing: Subconscious Altercation (Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3)

Her Rejection of Him (Song 5:2-3)

Her Regret without Him (Song 5:4-8)

Her Reminiscence of Him (Song 5:9-16)

Her Recommitment to Him (Song 6:1-3)

Maturing: Genuine Reconciliation (Song of Solomon 6:4-7:10)

His Love toward Her Restated (Song 6:4-10)

His Love toward Her Reassessed (Song 6:11-13)

His Love toward Her Reaffirmed (Song 7:1-9a)

His Love toward Her Reestablished (Song 7:9b-10)

Maturing: Ongoing Appreciation (Song of Solomon 7:11-8:4)

Her Invitation to Him (Song 7:11-13)

Her Interest in Him (Song 8:1-4)

Maturing: Lifelong Adoration (Song of Solomon 8:5-14)

His Past Devotion to Her (Song 8:5)

Her Present Devotion to Him (Song 8:6-7)

Her Past Devotion to Him (Song 8:8-12)

His Present Devotion to Her (Song 8:13-14)