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Song of Solomon Wikipedia
Song of Solomon is a 1977 novel by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning American author Toni Morrison. It follows the life of Macon "Milkman" Dead III, an African-American male living in Michigan, from birth to adulthood.
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why did toni morrison choose the title song of solomon? I thought was a book in the bible, but I don't know it all that well... any help appreciated!
Why did the Shulimite need to tell the King in Song 1:5-6 of being "black but comely?"
It is already answered for us in verse six. The Shulimite's blackened skin was due to an exposure injury to the sun, 1:6, "Look not upon me; because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me." Her mother's other children, her sibblings were angry with her and made her "keeper of the vineyards." Sadly, she informs the King, her love, that she has nothing to offer him from the fruits of her own vineyard, "for mine own vineyard have I not kept." The blackened skin condition was not an allusion to her race, but rather to a deliberate injury of sun exposure. Moreover, her living in a sinful world, with sinful sibblings (for whatever reasons it was that their anger arose); and that, the Shulimite pleads that Solomon considers her "comeliness" (beauty or suitablity).The King does inspect her beauty. In the Song of Songs we will read 1:8, "O thou fairest among women;" 1:15-16, "Behold, thou art fair, My beloved..thou hast doves eyes," 4:6, cf. 2:10; 2:13; 4:1; 5:9; 6:1; 6:4; 6:10. The Shulimite, Song 1:5-6, excuses her blackened skin injury, but informs the King of her "suitableness" to His "great desire" in finding HIS BEAUTY IN HER. In Psalm 45:9-11 the King's daughters are address and verse 11 informs us that the King (God) greatly desires "thy beauty: for He is the Lord,and worship thou Him." Five chapters later in the Psalms, Psalms 50:1-2, the LORD further instructs us about "His Beauty" program, when He says, "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, GOD HATH SHINED." It is not her physical beauty in focus here, but rather, the true beauty that only God can give to any soul, injured by the fall; but made SUITABLE BY GOD'S GRACE ALONE! This is not a remaking of her, with her own failing qualities; but rather a "new creature." She is no longer to be off on her own; separated from Him; and by her self vunerable and helpless. A loner! The Shulimite is being offered A LOVE FAR GREATER, AND ONLY DESIRED BY THE KING! To this she continues to repeat in saying, both in her heart, and in her mine, "Draw ME" "Draw ME" "Draw ME."
Further, it is instructive to make a listing of the pronouns of this book. The things weighing upon the heart of the Shulimite is the 1) FIRST kiss from Him (God's Choice) 1:4; 2) her continued desire and cry, "Draw ME!", (her great desire to come to Him; to know Him and to grow further in Him) 1:4; and 3) the King has brought me into His Chambers, (where His mercy seat is found) 1:4. In comparison, the followers of the Shulimite are attentively listening to her actual experience with Him and return a reply, 1) we will run after thee, 1:4; 2) we will be glad and rejoice in thee, 1:4 and 3) tell us, Shulimite, where does the King walk and appear that we might seek Him with thee, 6:1. The testimony of His "good name" is proven, without ever failing, by the Shulimite. She is an actual testimonial by experience to His Name and her follower are witnesses. His Name is faithful and true altogether; and His word is yea and amen!
What is meant in Song 1:4, Draw me, we will run after Thee?
I believe God uses the "love relationship" between a man and a woman to illustrate how the two may grow further in depthness. By so doing, "oneness" and "happiness" is achieve. The bonds grow stronger, and, when tended to, are carefully not allowed to be broken. The art of "growing in love" is a lost art in today's society. The Song of Solomon, as far as what is actually given for us literally in the Scriptures, has only two interpretations. 1) The love relationship between King Solomon and the Shulimite bride/wife, and 2) allegorically, of God's love shown at the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ sacrifice, our "mercy seat."I am captivated by God's mercy seat! The wrath of God against sinners was fully paid by His Son's death, and resurrection. He who know no sin became sin for us 2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Hebrews 2:9.
Song verse two "Let Him kiss me." He does the kissing first, not her. We did not choose the Lord, but He sought us first. Romans 5:8 "But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." John 6:44 "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up the last day." In any human love relationship, the great desire for a woman to be drawn to a man is more than physical. His "good name" is of number one importance. Is what he says reliable? Is the content plausable and to her liking? Does he do what he says he will do? Does he follow through with his promises? To all who would sensibly approach another in any relationship, these questions that address one's name should carefully be regarded. Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment..." In Ecclesiastes 10:1, 11-14, "a fool" is discribed with his untrustworthy words. Being drawn by the right man, with the right words, and the right performance of his words is what is known as being "a man of your word," and causes trusting loving relationships.
Also in verse two "...Your love is better than wine." There are two chambers that can be interpreted in verse four, "...the king has brought me to his chambers...", 1) King Solomons special bed chambers, 1 Kings 1:15; and 2) the inner chambers of the temple of God, His "mercy seat," 1 Chronicles 28:11. It is interesting the follow phrase in verse four, "...we will be glad and rejoice in THEE..." Psalm 118:24 speaks of the special one and only day that GOD HAD IN MIND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, the Day that Christ died on the cross. Earthly made wines gladen the heart, Psalm 104:15; but at God's mercy seat, there is eternal gladness found in Him and rejoicing of the heart.
The first question asked the King by the Shulimite is revealing, verse seven, "Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest thy flock to rest at noon? Her appetite! That which the Shulimite hungers for is addressed first. (The story continues further in her journey of "growing in love.") And the answer is in verse four, asked by HER, "DRAW ME!" It is not until we take the initiative to draw closer to God beyond the physical enjoyments to a deeper level of commitment that God's Love become more rich. His grace is more meaningful and true in our own lives!
