Passionate Love Awaken Series

* Wealth: The Bible also recorded that Solomon’s success in wealth and prosperity, not only for himself but also for the whole nation: "26He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all other countries" (2 Chronicles 9:26-28). This is the golden-age of the Jewish nation.

* Women: Solomon is also infamous for his harem of women as the Bible recorded: "1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter-Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been." (1 Kings 11:1-4). No doubt this started out as a wised political decision to form alliance with other nations in the region. Notice the list of foreign nations in relation with the "wives of royal birth" - Solomon diplomatically became son-in-law to many other nations around Israelites to maintain peace in the region with them. But the practice was clearly rebuked by scripture. Wisdom without Godly obedience will only lead to the demise of human craftiness. This is what Solomon said to himself near the end of his life: "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." (Ecc.1:16-18)

This last failure in Solomon’s life raise an issue for us: "Can we really learn anything about Sacred Romance from a guy who didn’t do too well in his own marriage?" Of course we can; we have to. Because we are all faulty humans; and if God chose to communicate through us, he would have to draw straight lines with crooked instrument! Similarly, I need to remind to you all that I am the worse lover for any of you to learn this stuff with. Only a few weeks ago, as I was sharing about my own struggle to be a husband, Tiffany exclaimed, "Bumble, I didn’t know you are so bad!" Yes, we are all faulty humans, but God’s grace will get things straight, even through crooked lines. And so with God’s inspiration, Solomon wrote the "Song of Songs" for God to instruct His people.

{Background - The book}

The Jewish expression "Song of Songs" means "the best song" just like "Holy of Holies" means "the most holy". So, this book was considered one of the most beautiful songs which Solomon had written. God had inspired him to pen this book for the benefits of His people. That’s why this book was included in the Bible for us to study today.