The Fellowship Residency Program has introduced me to the idea of reading commentaries alongside scripture. By next August, I will have read through the entire Bible as well as The King in His Beauty, our selected commentary. As I am reading, I am writing a little bit about each of the books of the Bible so you and I can have a more thorough understanding of the scriptures. I invite you to follow along with me as we learn the Bible in its entirety from Genesis to Revelation. This summary does NOT encompass the entire book, but it is a good place to start. I encourage you to read for yourself and begin your own Biblical journal along the way. To read any of my other Residency related posts, click here.
Introduction – There are many debates, but it seems that the Songs of Songs or Songs of Solomon are a collection of love poems about love between the king and his maiden.
Bliss of Married Love – The whole book celebrates the joys of sexual intimacy within marriage. The intimacy is not described crassly or literally but rather through delicate and lyrical imagery and poem.
The Maiden’s Virginity – The book discusses the young woman’s fear and desire for sexual intimacy with her groom. She longs for the partnership and love that comes with the intimacy, but fears that once given there is no turning back. It highlights that both marriage and the loss of virginity are irrevocable and should not be decided too quickly.
A Foretaste of Paradise – Additionally, the book communicates the beauty in the creation of sexual love that is described with language in alignment with Eden. God intended for sex to be enjoyed in His perfect creation.
The Nature of Love – Song of Songs truly depicts a theology of love. The strength of love, as unstoppable and insurmountable is contrasted with death throughout the book. It discusses how nothing can destroy love, as love is willing to sacrifice and suffer on behalf of the beloved. The book also discusses the transforming character of love. When we marry, our vulnerability is apparent as we are finally committed to another person fully. The book explains how “delight and ecstasy in the sexual union are the essence of marital love, and hence those who have exalted spiritual love as supreme, as if it is purer than physical love, clearly have strayed from the canonical witness.” Song of Songs sees the passion of sexual union as a shield for fidelity between the lovers. It argues against the theology that many believers in history have ascribed to where the life of asceticism is the ultimate holiness.
The Canonical Contribution – the book should also be read in light of the Davidic covenant. The love and relationship described is not solely young lovers. Instead, it is a description of something that will never die or dissipate just as God’s promise to his people will never falter or fail. The love described is greater than any human love will ever attain. Song of Sons point us forward to a day where the people of God as Christ’s bride will be faithful to their husband and king. The joys of that relationship will far outweigh the joys of the sexual relationship between married lovers.
Conclusion – The readers of Song of Songs can make a few conclusions. Firstly, that the joy of marriage must not be taken lightly or without thought. Additionally, the physical love in marriage is described in Edenic terms that emphasize the goodness and beauty of God’s gift within marriage. However, they can also conclude that we are to be the bride of Christ and that when we are able to see the King in His full beauty, we will be fully satisfied.
Themes: God created and designed marriage and sexual intimacy to glorify Himself. Marital love is a reflection of God’s covenant love towards us. God designed us for vulnerability. Vulnerability begets intimacy.
Interlude: A Synopsis of Israel’s Songs and Wisdom
Ultimately, the wisdom books do not advance the Old Testament story line, but they do offer us a great deal of practical discussion of how we as humans are to respond to God’s sovereign rule. Repeated over and over is that to fear the Lord is to be wise. Those who fear Him will keep His commandments and do His will. Though the books emphasize our response, they are still God-centric. God touches every area of our lives, and therefore we are to recognize His holiness and respond with wise living in worship and glory of Him.
Proverbs is to be taken as generalization and not promises for the book explains that those who do good are rewarded and evil comes with consequences. However, Job and Ecclesiastes counter this nicely by focusing on the irrationality and frustrations of our Earthly lives. We must rest in the truth that God is sovereign, and we will never fully know or understand His plan or the “whys” behind His actions. Regardless, we must respond in obedience whether or not we understand. Fearing the Lord also means trusting Him to rule the world as Creator and Lord over all. Jesus Himself wisely trusted in God to vindicate the unrighteousness and injustice of the world. Additionally, the wisdoms literature, particularly Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, also emphasize enjoying the pleasures of this life while we can. Song of Songs deepens this message with describing a marital relationship full of passion, commitment, and love. We can liken this relationship to that of us and Christ.
Psalms is difficult to summarize as it is full of deep messages. In summary, it is wisdom literature that emphasizes the blessings of meditating on, obeying, and praising the Lord. We also must read the Psalms messianically as Jesus beings the truer and better David. Though there are Psalms of lament, the book itself ends with praise because the goodness of God is fully satisfying and He is out ultimate redeemer.