Song of Solomon 1

Study Guide 52: Song of Songs CELEBRATION OF LOVE Overview This unusual Bible book makes no theological statement. It unveils no fresh revelations. It makes no mention of the divine Law, or the Lawgiver. And it seems to have little or nothing to say about our personal relationship with the Lord. The first verse of the book identifies Solomon as its author. While some have challenged this, there is no doubt that this book held a place in the Hebrew canon of Scripture long before the Christian era, and most likely dates from the Solomonic era of 970-930 b.c.The greatest debate over the book focuses on how it should be interpreted. Is this simply a great lyric love poem? Or is it intended to tell us something about God? If it does not speak of God, then why would it be included in the Scriptures? Perhaps because of the uncertain nature of the book’ s message and perhaps because of its intimate portrayal of human love, the Song of Songs is seldom taught in our classes or churches. The NIV translation adopts the view that Song is a love poem. It identifies the probable speakers, and the chorus of friends who speak as background for the dialogue between lover and beloved. Using this version makes it easy to follow the flow of the poem, and to grasp its structure.

Commentary The Word Bible Handbook (Richards, Word Inc.) contains a succinct description of the various historical approaches taken to interpret this difficult Old Testament book. That description is repeated here by permission of the publisher. Among the approaches suggested for interpreting the Song, three have gained strong support historically. (1) Allegorical. Many Jewish rabbis saw the Song as an allegory of God’ s relationship with Israel. Early Christian interpreters took the same approach, but applied it to the relationship between the church and Christ. With this approach a phrase like “ black but comely” in Son_1:5 [KJV] was taken to mean black with sin, but made beautiful by conversion. A phrase like “ between my breasts” in Son_1:13 was seen as a reference to the Old and the New Testaments. The primary problem with such interpretation, that there is no objective way to check interpretive flights of fancy for literal meanings, are deemed to be irrelevant. Some versions of the Bible in English reflect the allegorical approach to this book in chapter headings, as: Chap. 1-3, The mutual love of Christ and the church; Son_4:1-16, The graces of the church; Son_5:1-16, Christ’ s love to us; Chap. 6-7, The church professes her faith and desire; Son_8:1-14, The church’ s love to Christ. (2) Typical. In the twelfth century a.d. a tradition began which held Song to be what it seems, a love poem, but with typical meaning, meant to help us understand the relationship of Christ and the church. This view is held by many today. But there is no indication in Song of Songs or other passages of Scripture to suggest a type is intended. (3) Literal. Those who see Song of Songs as a celebration of love as God intended it to be experienced by a man and woman, have held different views about the book’ s structure. To some it seems just a collection of love poems. To others it tells a unified story. The great scholar Franz Delitzsch suggested it is a drama, telling the story of King Solomon falling in love with a girl from one of Israel’ s northern villages. He meets her while traveling incognito, returns to the capital, and later returns in splendor to carry her back to Jerusalem. This dramatic view is reflected in the NIV, which marks out the alternating speeches of the beloved (the bride) and lover (Solomon), and infrequent refrains spoken or sung by a chorus of her friends. The structure fits the Hebrew text, and the determination of who is speaking is made by the gender (male, female) of the Hebrew pronouns. Because of its poetic and dramatic nature, it is not possible to outline Song of Songs effectively. However the following generally accepted structure helps fit together the story told in the book.

Son_1:1-17Son_2:7The bride longs for her bridegroom. They meet and praise each other. 2:8-3:11As their love grows, the bride praises the groom, using figures in nature. 4:1-5:1The lover comes and praises the bride. 5:2-6:3The lover has gone away and the bride expresses her longing for him. 6:4-8:14The lover returns, the marriage is consummated (7:1-8:4), and the happiness of the couple celebrated.The third view was held in the early church, and is still held by many today. For many reasons, this seems to be the best for us to accept as well.

Biblical View of Sex If we accept the third view, that Song of Songs is in fact a poem written in celebration of married love, we are invited to look more closely at the biblical view of sex. It is striking to note first of all that the Bible does not trivialize sex. In other cultures in the area and era of the Bible, little sexual restraint was shown. Graphic language and many specific terms for sex organs and activities fill the religious and secular poetry of nearby pagan lands. In contrast, the Bible speaks circumspectly about sex. No specific terms are found in the Bible for sex organs. Euphemisms such as “ to know” and “ to lie down” are used to describe intercourse. While this biblical restraint is notable, it does not suggest a puritan attitude toward sexuality. Instead the sexual nature of human beings is affirmed in the Bible, and the care with which sexual matters are spoken of affirms the mystery of and special nature of the sexual relationship. By restraint the Scriptures guard the mystery and sanctity of intimate experience; an experience that is sacramental in nature and not to be treated as mere animal function, as in ancient paganism and modern-day “ adult” publications. Scripture, of course, forbids sex out of marriage, both adultery and premarital. It also forbids prostitution. A number of passages in the Law, but particularly Leviticus 18:1-30, define sexual limits. Yet when it comes to marriage, the biblical message is one of freedom rather than restriction. No passage in Old or New Testaments regulates sexual practices within marriage. Instead the Bible affirms the joys and values of human sexuality. To question the rightness of sex in marriage, Paul teaches, is to follow “ things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). It’ s clear from the Creation story that God is pro sex, for He is the One who created them “ male and female” (Genesis 1:27). At times Christians have adopted an ascetic, negative view of sex. Even in Bible times some felt that marriages should be “ spiritual,” and that normal sexual relations between Christian husband and wife should be abandoned. Paul dealt with this question in 1 Corinthians when he wrote: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to the husband. The wife’ s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’ s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5In the account of the original Creation, God created Eve from Adam’ s rib, shaping her, like Adam, in God’ s own image to be a suitable companion for Adam. The two, man and woman, are capable of experiencing a unique oneness, that meets the deepest inner needs of each, and that oneness is both sealed and symbolized by sexual intercourse. For that reason, Paul was unwilling to have husbands and wives deny each other the celebration of oneness that is married sex. It’ s clear from Paul’ s New Testament writings that he believed there are reasons for men and women to remain unmarried. He himself had chosen this course. But Paul was not antisex. For those whom God leads to unite with another, sex is sacramental, designed by God not only for pleasure but also to express the intimacy of the bond that exists between husband and wife. In the context of the biblical affirmation of sex, the Song of Songs takes on a special role. As a love poem it is designed to help us sense the joy, and join in the celebration of that which is essentially good. Delicately, and sensitively, we are invited in the Song of Songs to sense the nature of a pure sensuality: a sensuality that releases the believer to fully enjoy the gift of sex within the context of marital commitment.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through the Song of Songs, sensing its power as a love story and love poem.

Explore

1. Read Song aloud as a dramatic poem, using the NIV text. A woman should read the role of the beloved, a man the role of lover. The group can read the “ friends” verses in unison as a chorus. Such a reading will give your group a unique feel for this poem in celebration of married love.
2. Or give a minilecture on the ways in which Song of Songs has been interpreted historically. To demonstrate the problem with an allegorical interpretation, divide into teams of three persons. Each team is to look at Son_5:1-7, and develop detailed suggestions about what the thoughts and action in their sections really mean. After 5 to 10 minutes, have teams share their ideas with the group. Then discuss the similarities and differences between the teams’ ideas. What do they suggest about allegorical interpretations?

Expand

1. Ask your group members to write brief paragraphs summing up a “ biblical view of married sex.” Then, without reading the paragraphs, take a poll. How many of your group members think that the Bible has a generally positive view of sex in marriage? How many think that the Bible takes a generally negative view? Ask for group members to volunteer the passages or teachings on which their view is based.
2. Or ask your group members to develop a series of statements on Christian sexuality. Divide into teams to look at the following passages, giving each team a different passage to read and discuss: Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 2:20-25; 1 Corinthians 7:1-38; and 1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Apply

1. If you did not do the group reading of Songs to launch this session, do it as a concluding activity, so that your members can sense the celebration which is an appropriate response to God’ s gift of sexuality and marriage.
2. Or ask your members to read through this book silently, marking passages or phrases that seem to them to express the tone of celebration.