I was wondering if you guys could explain the book of the Song of Solomon.
The Song of Solomon has quite the diversity of interpretations. Some see it as purely an allegory or a collection of wedding songs, and others see it as a literal story that has various applications. We believe it can be taken literally and that it is a true “love story” involving Solomon and an unnamed Shulamite maiden. It extols the virtue of marriage and should be read by all married couples. One possible outline of the book is as follows:
1) The COURTSHIP in 1:1-3:5.
2) The WEDDING in 3:6-5:1.
3) The PROGRESS OF LOVE IN MARRIAGE in 5:2-8:14.
Besides the literal view, Solomon and his Shulamite bride can be looked upon as a picture of God’s relationship with His earthly people, Israel. In Isaiah 54:5 God tells Israel, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name.” He reinforces this truth in Isaiah 62:5, “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” We could cite many more verses to show that God’s love for Israel is so intimate that He uses the marriage relationship to illustrate His love for her.
There is one more application that can be made. When we come to the New Testament we see that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Church are also viewed as a “husband” and a “wife.” The apostle Paul had this to say to the Church in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Paul looks at himself as a “father” ready to present his “daughter”, the Church, to Christ. In Ephesians 5:23 he spoke even more directly by saying, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.” He then went on to speak of Christ’s love for the church in verse 25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” And then after speaking of God’s institution of the marriage relationship he speaks with great plainness of speech in verse 32, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” The apostle John adds his voice to this theme in Revelation 19:7 where he writes of the actual wedding that will take place between the Lord Jesus and the church. That reads “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.” Every member of Christ’s Church should indeed rejoice when we think of the intimate relationship we have been brought into, and we should long for the day when our heavenly Bridegroom will call us home to Himself and for the glorious wedding that will unite us forever to our blessed Savior!
This book has been neglected by the masses. Some say it’s too difficult to understand; others say it is too graphic and should be avoided for that reason alone. But like every other book that God has inspired it is, as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 points out, “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NKJV). If we approach this book in dependence on the Spirit of God, Who is the Author and Teacher of Scripture, WE WILL BE BLESSED! One’s marriage relationship will benefit from studying this book, and we will gain a greater appreciation for God’s love for Israel, and Christ’s love for His heavenly Bride, the Church. (178.1) (DO)