A Vineyard and the Palace (Week 2 A.I.T.I.)

I love teaching the lesson for this week because one of my favorite parts of this study is sharing the erotic love story and God’s gift of sex for marriage behind Song of Solomon in Scripture.

So many women that participate in An Invitation to Intimacy have never heard about the love story between Solomon and his bride, often because they’ve never read it or found it difficult to understand the meaning behind the poetry of  this book.

In an effort to make Solomon and Shulamith’s love story understood, I’ve written my own interpretation of what I believe may have occurred between this husband and wife. While much of my story comes from my imagination, there is definitely scriptural evidence for the events that take place and some of the conversations that occur during their courtship and marriage.

Just before I begin to read their love story, I wait for the lady who wins the door prize to open her gift while the rest of the students enjoy watching her and sharing their thoughts about what she got. As they settle down, I simply begin reading–no introduction to what I’m reading or what the story is about.

I always make sure to use a lot of expression as I pull the students into the story.

Finally, after I’m finished reading (and it takes me about 17 minutes to read “A Vineyard and the Palace“), I pause for a few moments and wait for their responses. Then we participate in a time of  sharing various thoughts they were thinking while I was reading.

If you would like a copy of this love story which can be separate from what is in the Leader’s Guide, it is available for purchase, along with other resources in the Colored Graphics for An Invitation to Intimacy. You may also purchase this document by going to the button at the top of this page that says, “Leader” and dropping down to “Leader Resources.”

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