Lesson 5: Quests of the Heart

by | Jan 4, 2026 | Old Testament Studies

INTRODUCTION: This week we are through with background and finally at the point where I want to be: studying the text of the Song of Songs. So open your Bibles to the Song of Solomon!

I. Smothered with Kisses

A. Read 1:2. This is Shulamith speaking here. Does it seem that Solomon is present? Would you be talking to me and refer to me as “him” or “his?”

      1. Yet she says, “your love” later in v. 1. Why?
        (A possible explanation is that she is imagining what she will say, or rehearsing what she will say, when Solomon comes.)

B. When you were dating your spouse, did you daydream about being with him or her and about that person?

C. Would that be a good idea now?

D. Is there a relationship between what you think and how you act? (Luke 6:45) (A good place to start to strengthen the marriage relationship is to think positive thoughts about your spouse.)

E. So what are the thoughts that Shulamith has about Solomon? (She says she wants to be kissed with the kisses of his mouth. The NEB translates this, “Smother me with your kisses.”)

F. Is this putting the thoughts into action?

      1. Is this second step necessary for a solid marriage?
      2. Is it helpful?

G. Our lesson and one of my commentaries says that the word translated “love” means “love-making.” So, “Smother me with your kisses; I want to engage in lovemaking with you.” (Or, to satisfy Kelly, sex.)

      1. Is this the right approach to a strong marriage?

H. The woman leads here (and in v. 4). Do you attach any significance to that (other than you have to exercise initiative if there are 59 other wives—6:6)?

I. What does it mean when it says that your love is more delightful than wine? How does wine delight? (Gives you an attitude adjustment.) (If debate: Gen. 9:24)

J. Is Shulamith reluctant to enter into the physical side of love with Solomon? (No. She is anxious. This is better for the mind than wine.)

K. Read v. 3. What are real men supposed to wear? (She likes his smell.)

      1. Do you think we are talking about smell when she says that his name is like perfume poured out? (The Hebrew word “shem” can mean “your essence” or “your reputation.” It could mean that she likes the way he is and the way he acts.)
      2. When you think about marriage, how important is this side of it? What if your spouse acts in an irritating way? (It is important to like the whole person.)

L. What is this about “the maidens love you?”

      1. Is Shulamith talking about the competition here?
      2. Consider the possibility that she is speaking about her peers—her friends:
      3. Does the attitude of your friends towards your spouse make any difference in your attitude towards your spouse?
      4. Can you affect their attitude by what you say about your spouse?
      5. Let’s assume that you always criticize your spouse to your friends. They then develop a negative attitude towards your spouse which they share with you. Will this strengthen the marriage?
      6. Should we be careful about what we say concerning our spouse even to our friends?

M. Read v. 4. Although Shulamith says that the maidens love Solomon, what does she say here about her personal relationship with the king? (She wants to be alone with him.)

      1. Is this essential to a marriage: time spent alone with your spouse?
      2. How anxious is she to be alone with him? (She wants to run/hurry.)

II. A Swarthy Girl

A. Read vv. 5–6. The topic changes here. It may be that in vv. 2–3 Shulamith was daydreaming, and in v. 4 was actually going away with Solomon. Perhaps it is all daydreaming on her part.

      1. If so, her daydreaming turns a corner. Who is she now thinking about? (Herself. Before she was thinking about Solomon. Now she is thinking about herself.)

B. To whom is she speaking? (The daughters of Jerusalem)

C. How does she view herself? (She says that she is lovely, but she also points out weaknesses.)

      1. Some things never change: it is interesting to me that after thousands of years, women still are quick to notice their own real or imagined imperfections.
      2. Assume she is saying, “Who am I to deserve such an attractive and admirable man?” Does that kind of attitude help a marriage? (I think so if both spouses have that attitude: that they are lucky to have the other. Consider how things are if you say that you are much better than your spouse. Then add to that criticism of your spouse that is echoed by your friends. This is a formula for disaster.)
      3. Is her statement about being dark a reference to her race? (No. A reference to being out in the sun.)
      4. Would “the daughters of Jerusalem” be in the sun? (No. These are city girls.)
        a. So is it bad to have been in the sun? (First, it seems to be a sign of being a country girl and doing outdoors work. She has a farmer’s tan.)
      5. What does this mean when she compares her skin to tent fabric? (Tent fabric was rough. It was made of goat hair. Ex. 26:7)

D. Let’s look more carefully at the last part of v. 6. What kind of home life did she have?

      1. Her father is not mentioned here or anywhere else in the Song.
      2. Why did she have to attend the vineyards? (Her brothers were angry.)
      3. Who do you think would normally attend the vineyard? (The brothers)

E. How do you think her home life could have affected her relationship with Solomon? (She wants to be with him because her home life is not congenial.)

III. Proposing an Encounter

A. Read vv. 7 & 8. This is still Shulamith speaking. To whom is she speaking now? (Solomon)

B. What does she ask him? Why? (She wants to know where he will be with the flocks.)

C. What do you think she means when she wants to know where he rests his flock at midday? (The idea is being alone (with the sheep) out in the field, and you normally would take a nap at midday.)

D. What is meant when she asks if he wants her to be like a veiled woman besides the flocks of his shepherd friends? (Humor/teasing: if she doesn’t get directions to where he is going to be, she will be traipsing from flock to flock looking for him.)

E. What might the other shepherds think of this woman who is visiting all of the flocks? (If you look at the story of Tamar in Gen. 38, you find that she covers her face with a veil and sits by the road. That makes Isaac think (v. 15) that she is a prostitute.)

F. How does he respond to her question?

      1. What importance do you see in the fact that he calls her the most beautiful of all women? (She has just gotten through expressing her doubts about her beauty, and Solomon reassures her of her beauty.)
      2. This is probably somewhat humorous when he says to follow his tracks—but doing it with a bunch of goats would avoid the appearance that she is a prostitute.

IV. Next Week: Song 1:9–2:7

Copr. 2019, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc. (TM), unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.