The literal purpose of the book has often been twisted by those not prepared to read frank and intimate expressions of love Asceticism and lust—two perversions of the holiness of marriage—are slain by the message of this book If the reader is licentiously excited when he reads the Song of Solomon, he is out of tune with its purpose The book’s literal message is perverted only by those who not see the purity and true beauty of all of God’s creative acts III SURVEY Keep in mind that the purpose of survey study is to view the book in a general way, and thus discover its main theme and related subjects A A FIRST READING Because the parts of the dialogue of these poems are not identi ed in the Bible text as to who is speaking, it is important to mark your Bible, showing who the speakers are, if your Bible does not already show this in its headings.12 The speakers shown below begin each new part at the verses cited Mark these in your Bible.13 The Shulamite woman: 1:2, 4a, 5, 12, 16; 2:3; 4:16; 5:2, 10; 6:2; 7:96; 8:10, 14 Solomon: 1:8, 15; 2:2; 4:1; 5:1a; 6:4, 136; 8:56, 13 Daughters of Jerusalem: 1:46, 11; 3:6; 5:9; 6:1, 13a; 8:5a; Read through the Song of Solomon in one sitting, aloud if possible What are your rst impressions? What one word clearly expresses the main subject of this book? B SURVEY CHART Read through the book a second time, and observe other things which you did not see in the first reading The Song of Solomon is di cult to outline in detail because a progressing plot is not detectable, except in a general way Chart 77 will help you see the main parts of this book, on which you may base your later studies Note on the chart that Canticles has a title verse (1:1), but no formal conclusion, such as we are accustomed to nd in a Bible book Read 1:1; then read the last few verses of chapter Observe the six main segments shown on the chart, beginning at 1:2 Mark these major divisions in your Bible Study the outline shown directly under the main base line (beginning with “Bride muses”) The heading “The wedding” is based partly on 3:116: “the day of his wedding.” Read 3:6-11 Scan the Bible text of the whole book again, segment by segment, and see if this outline represents the contents of each The top of the survey chart divides the Song of Solomon into three main parts What are they? What outline on the chart divides the book into two main parts? Note the progression from quest to conquest, involving bride and groom Read the verses in your Bible (In fact, underline the verses in your Bible as strong verses.) Try constructing outlines of your own to represent the contents of this book IV UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS The Song of Solomon is unique among the books of the Bible in many ways Some of these are described below ... the contents of each The top of the survey chart divides the Song of Solomon into three main parts What are they? What outline on the chart divides the book into two main parts? Note the progression... The heading ? ?The wedding” is based partly on 3:116: ? ?the day of his wedding.” Read 3:6-11 Scan the Bible text of the whole book again, segment by segment, and see if this outline represents the. .. 1:1; then read the last few verses of chapter Observe the six main segments shown on the chart, beginning at 1:2 Mark these major divisions in your Bible Study the outline shown directly under the