Song of Songs

Wild and Crazy Love Songs

Those who assume that the Bible is either boring or prudish are in for a real shock when they read the Song of Songs carefully. This book is a collection of mushy love songs in which a man and a woman sing joyfully and intimately to each other. This couple, who apparently marries in the middle of the book, also celebrates their sexuality, praising each other for the joy and pleasure each counterpart brings to the relationship. This is a steamy, R-rated book.

fig0302

What Is the Setting for Song of Songs?

The opening verse in the book serves as a title, “Solomon’s Song of Songs.” Although some scholars argue that this book was probably written long after Solomon, the church and the synagogue have traditionally accepted Solomonic authorship. Yet while it is perhaps correct to see Solomon personally involved in developing this “song,” it does not mean that this love story is necessarily autobiographical of Solomon. First Kings 4:32 declares that Solomon composed 1,005 songs. The title “song of songs” means “the best song,” implying perhaps that this praise of sexuality in marriage was the high point of his song-writing endeavor.

But how was such a racy book to be used in the life and worship of Israel? Some scholars have suggested that Song of Songs was to be read at weddings as part of the wedding ceremony. This is possible, but there is no real conclusive evidence for this. Most likely it is best to understand this book as part of the wisdom literature, as indicated by its location in the canon. The Wisdom Books address how one is to live wisely, touching on topics such as work, family, friends, wealth, and misfortune, among others. Clearly the role of human sexuality is a very important component of living. One’s intimate relationship with their spouse is one of the most foundational and critical relationships in their lives. To be truly wise, one needs to know how to love their spouse properly. The Song of Songs gives us guidance in this area of life.

What Is at the Heart of Song of Songs?

In Proverbs 1–9, remember, the father warns his son repeatedly to be on his guard against adultery and to avoid the temptations of loose women. Regarding marriage, the book of Proverbs gives some basic sound advice. First, on the negative side, it cautions us against marrying someone who nags or is quarrelsome (Prov. 19:13; 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). Second, on the positive side, it advises us to marry someone of stellar character (Prov. 12:4; 31:10–31). This is good, sound, logical (wise) advice. But it is not enough. The quiet, reserved, prim and proper demeanor of Proverbs toward one’s spouse is fine and appropriate for public life. Song of Songs, however, tells us that things need to change when the couple is home alone and the lights go out. Now a truly “wise” man is to be madly in love with his wife. Both he and his wife are to enjoy a rather wild and crazy love for each other. The rational, determined, and reflective philosophical approach to life (i.e., Proverbs) now gives way to sensuality. The calm, careful, and reserved speech of the wise one in Proverbs now gives way to mushy, sappy love whisperings in the ear of one’s spouse.

fig0304

Egyptian necklace (1330 BC). “You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace” (Song 4:9).

At various times throughout history Christians have interpreted Song of Songs as an allegory about Jesus Christ (the beloved) and his bride, the church. But this understanding is difficult to sustain if one reads carefully. Practically all scholars today concur that this is a book celebrating human sexuality.

The Song of Songs is really a series of short songs that a man and a woman (called the Shulamite in 6:13) sing to each other. Occasionally a group of friends chime in. This account is probably an idealized account of newly married lovers, written or collected by Solomon, but not necessarily autobiographical of Solomon, who had one thousand wives.

These statements by the man and the woman (she does most of the talking) are extremely mushy and corny, but of course this is true only to us as outsiders. To those couples who are madly and wildly in love, corny and mushy intimacies are quite wonderful.

The Song of Songs can be roughly outlined as follows:

fig0305

Pomegranate fruit. Pomegranates are mentioned several times in Song of Songs (4:13; 6:11; 7:12; 8:2).

What Makes Song of Songs Interesting and Unique?

What Is the Message of Song of Songs?

The Courtship (1:1–3:5)

The woman speaks first (1:2–4) and seems to take most of the initiative in the dialogue throughout the book. In 1:2–7 she longs for her lover’s affection. In 1:8–2:7 the woman and the man exchange compliments to each other, expressing their affection for each other. In 2:8–17 the woman seems to reflect back on their courtship, while in 3:1–5 she dreams about him at night.

Throughout Song of Songs, the imagery will go back and forth from rustic settings in the vineyard and in the pasture (1:6–8) to urban settings in the city (3:6–11; 5:7–8).

The Wedding (3:6–5:1)

Song of Songs 3:6–11 describes a wedding procession, complete with a beautiful carriage. The implications are that 4:1–5:1 derive from the wedding night. Here the groom showers his lovely wife with multiple compliments about her beauty.

fig0306

Wall relief of a gazelle from Carchemish. Song of Songs mentions gazelles five times (2:9, 17; 4:5; 7:3; 8:14).

The Honeymoon (5:2–8:14)

In 5:2–8 the woman bemoans a time when her husband came and knocked on her door, but left because she couldn’t respond in time. She then ran aimlessly out into the city looking for him. Probably this episode is also from a dream, but the text is not clear. She then talks with her friends about how handsome her man is, giving a lengthy and glowing description of him (5:9–6:3). For the rest of the book (6:4–8:14) the two lovers address each other intimately, occasionally interrupted by the chorus of friends. This section is dominated by the many, many compliments the man and the woman give to each other about how beautiful/handsome and desirable they are.

So What? Applying Song of Songs to Our Lives Today

This book is especially applicable to couples who have just married. In the early days of celebrating the marriage it can be fun to read this aloud to each other (i.e., let the new wife read the woman’s part and the new husband read the man’s part). This can be rather humorous, but nonetheless fun and instructive.

But the Song of Songs is also a book of wisdom for all married couples as well. We can apply this book by expressing our love to our spouse with lots of mushy, dopey, intimate compliments. The goal of wisdom is to develop character, so as we progress toward this goal we will embrace this model of having an expressive intimate love relationship with our spouses. In public we will follow the model of Proverbs and be distinguished, respectable, and reserved. But at home when the lights go out, we should follow the pattern provided by these two young lovers in Song of Songs, and be a little goofy and crazy about each other.

On a humorous note, if you do try to apply Song of Songs to your marriage relationship, it would be wise to contextualize your mushy compliments to fit today’s culture. We don’t think it will go over too well, for example, if a husband tells his wife that her hair looks like a flock of goats (4:1) or that her nose looks like the tower of Lebanon (7:4).

Our Favorite Verses in Song of Songs

Place me like a seal over your heart,

like a seal on your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like a blazing fire,

like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot wash it away. (8:6–7)

fig0307

Depicted below on an Assyrian wall relief is a royal chariot. “Look! It is Solomon’s carriage” (Song of Songs 3:7).