Song 3:1-5; 8:6-7, More on Love from Solomon

There are a few references to “love” in Ecclesiastes.  Consider “love” from the Preacher, the Son of David, King in Jerusalem (1:1). 

·       3:8: There is a time to love and a time to hate. 

·       5:10ab: He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.  We must evaluate our “loves,” ultimately by their connection to the loving of God with all our heart, etc.

·       9:1: People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them.  Solomon is searching out the work of God.  What Solomon saw was that there was not that much difference in terms of life experience of those who are good and those who are wicked.  Can’t determine God’s view of you by the things (love or hatred) you have experienced.  Everyone experiences these things.

·       9:6: When a person dies, their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.

·       9:9: One of Solomon’s conclusive statements … Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.

That final “love” in Ecclesiastes leads us to the Song of Solomon where you would expect there to be many references to love.

·       1:3,4,7: Speaking of her beloved, she says the virgins love you, rightly do they (the daughters of Jerusalem) love you, and you are the one I love.  If you see Christ in this love story this is a good start: many love the Beloved, Christ, including His bride to be (the Shulamite).

·       2:4,5,7: The Shulamite says to the Daughters of Jerusalem: his banner over me was love; I am lovesick; and do not awaken love until it pleases.

·       3:1,2,3,4,5: By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. Thus, I will seek the one I love.  And to the watchmen: Have you seen the one I love?  Then, scarcely had I passed by them when I found the one I love.  I held him and would not let him go.  Then again, do not awaken love.

·       3:10: Solomon arrives on the palanquin whose interior is paved with love.

·       5:8: After the difficult situation, she again is seeking her Beloved and tells the daughters of Jerusalem, if they see him, to tell him I am lovesick.

·       7:6; 8:4: The Beloved says to her, How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights! Then again, do not awaken love.

·       8:6,7ab: For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.  A magnificent description of marital love!