In what ways does the allegory of the Song of Solomon being a story of Christ’s love for the church work well? In what ways does it miss aspects of the text?
Compare the “loose woman” of Proverbs 7 with the “capable wife” of Proverbs 31. Do they share anything in common, or are they utter opposites?
In the Numbers 5 teaching about adultery, what are the differences in power between the husband and the wife?
Application Questions:
Which metaphor from the first two chapters of the Song of Solomon catches your attention? What about it do you find attractive (or repellent)?
How, if at all, do these biblical passages affect our understanding of men’s desire vs. women’s desire?
What do you think about the idea of natural consequences for bad deeds? Are we automatically punished when we do something wrong, or does the punishment need to come from an agent like God? Or is there a third option?