Daily Bible thoughts 436: Tuesday 3rd September 2013: Song of Songs 1:1
In the midst of reading about King Solomon in 2 Chronicles, we pause to read one of his loveliest
works. The title, ‘Song of Songs’, means ‘the greatest of songs.’ Its writer was most likely Solomon
himself, or so it is thought. We are told that he wrote over a thousand songs (1 Kings 4:32). In the
Hebrew text the title of this book is ‘Solomon’s Song of Songs’ (1:1), which means it was written by,
for or about him; or a combination of all three.
I remember a godly older man I knew in my home church in Wigan. I don’t know how we got onto
the subject, but one night he laughingly said, ‘You have to look at the Song of Solomon with very
spiritual eyes.’ I think that for an older generation of Christians the sexual imagery in the book was
somewhat embarrassing, and they felt the need to see past it. It didn’t seem ‘holy’ to them and,
perhaps, was based on a less than full Biblical view of physical love in marriage. I will never forget
the introduction to this book, given to us by our brilliant Old Testament lecturer, Christopher
Gornold–Smith, during the first year at Bible College. He emphasised that the ‘Song of Songs’ is a
beautiful celebration of God’s precious gift of a sexual relationship in marriage. This is wonderful in
itself and is to be prized. It needs no apology. But also we see through it to God’s love for Israel, and
ultimately to Christ’s (the Bridegroom’s) love for His church (the Bride). Christopher spoke about the
Song of Songs with great awe and wonder and transmitted something of that to us. He helped me to
see it with new eyes.
We don’t read very far in the Song of Songs before we realize two things: one, it contains exquisite
love lyrics, and two, it is very explicit sexually. The Song, in other words, makes a connection between
conjugal love and sex – a very important and very biblical connection to make. There are some who
would eliminate sex when they speak of love, supposing that they are making it more holy. Others,
when they think of sex, never think of love. The Song proclaims an integrated wholeness that is at the
centre of Christian teaching on committed, wedded love for a world that seems to specialise in
loveless sex… Despite our sordid failures in love, we see here what we are created for, what God
intends for us in the ecstasy and fulfilment that is celebrated in the lyricism of the Song. Christians
read the Song on many levels: as the intimacy of married love between man and woman, God’s deep
love for his people, Christ’s Bridegroom love for his church, the Christians love for his or her Lord.
Eugene Peterson: from his introduction in The Message.
God ordained marriage in the beginning (Gen.2:24)… Given the importance of marriage in God’s plan
for mankind, it is no wonder that a description of marital love should be included in the Bible… Such
marital love reflects the perfect love that exists between God and His people, between Christ and His
church… Regardless of the difficulties in interpretation, the overall message of Song of Songs is clear:
the marriage relationship and the sexual love between husband and wife are part of God’s will for
mankind and are to be enjoyed as a gift from Him – who is love Himself (1 John 4:8, 16). Tom Hale:
The Applied Old Testament Commentary, pp.981, 982.
The Christian life is a love relationship and it puts into your heart a love song. Cherish its beauty.
Prayer: Lord, please grant that every Christian marriage will be filled with a growing love that
reflects your love for the church.