Note to the Teacher

The key phrase in this scripture for this lesson concerns love. The icebreaker invites youth to get silly about love. The discussion encourages students to discuss what they know about the Song of Solomon. The activity helps youth understand the ways that God exemplified love through Solomon’s poetry and encourages youth to consider a rewrite of the poetry. Times are based on a fifty-five-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Baby, If You Love Me, You’ll Smile (15 minutes)

In this game, there will be one person who is “it. That person’s goal is to go around the room, saying, “Baby, if you love me, you’ll smile.” The person who is asked the question must respond, “Baby, I love you, but I just can’t smile” without smiling or laughing. The person asking the question can do (almost!) anything to make the opponent laugh but cannot touch them or use offensive language.

Modification Option:

Consider breaking into teams of ten or fewer if your group is large.

Read Scripture (5 minutes)

Today's scripture reading involves the idea of “the time of singing has come.” Read Song of Solomon 2:8-13.

Discussion (15 minutes)

What do you already know about the book Song of Solomon?
- The Song of Solomon is a parabolic poem. (If you are unsure what that is, try this link.)
- It may be one of the most neglected books of the Bible simply because of its “spicy” content. While English has only one word for love, the original languages of the Bible have many, each with its own connotations.
- In Jewish culture, it is taught that the Song of Solomon gives an example of devotion and satisfaction in a relationship.
- It is also believed that the text shows the love of God for Israel.
- Solomon wrote more than one thousand “songs,” but this is the only one that made it into the Bible, so there must be a reason.
What was the weirdest description you heard in the scripture? What made it weird for you?
What metaphors or similes about God’s love for people can you think of from other parts of scripture?
We know that Solomon wrote songs. If Solomon wrote this song in your lifetime, what genre of music do you think he would have used? Why?
How does what we read from the Song of Solomon compare to the lyrics or titles of modern songs?
What is something you read that felt like it might have two meanings?

Activity and Discussion (20 minutes)

Take this lesson to the next level by involving students' imaginations as they consider the biblical idea of love. Curate a list of love song lyrics from popular love songs and worship songs. If you need links to current popular worship songs, check out Discipleship Ministries CCLI Top 100+ project! Read the lyrics out loud and invite students to guess which lyrics are pop songs and which are worship songs.

Points for discussion:

What difference do you notice in worship lyrics versus pop lyrics about love?
What kind of love do most pop love songs seem to cover? How is it different or similar to what you understand about God’s love for people?
What difference do you notice between our love songs today and the love song that Solomon wrote?
Take a second to re-read the scripture. Substitute the word “Israel” for “beloved.” How does this change reframe the way you approach the scripture?
How would you rewrite the passage today?

TOTAL TIME: 55 minutes