Song of Songs Devotions
by Pastor Mark Hudson
Since there are many approaches to the Song of Songs, permit me to provide a brief introduction to how I understand how the book should be approached. While there are more than two ways of interpreting this book, essentially, we come down to a literal approach or allegorical. I will take a literal approach. Literal does not mean how my granddaughter answered my son when he asked, “What are you doing?” She replied, “Standing.” A literal approach with this book means that since there is no indication in the book to interpret it allegorically, we will treat it as a song or poem. This means there is no historical person this is written about.
The other approach is allegorical. One well known allegory is Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. No one should think of trying to research when Pilgrim lived, where he lived, and what he did before he left his family. We are meant to read it the way we do because Bunyan gives us clues. Another allegorical approach is when the interpreter treats a passage as an allegory. Early church fathers like Origen interpreted the Bible this way. There is no standard or guide. For instance, in SS 4:9, the two breasts of the women are the Old and New Testaments. Why? There is no objective reason. Certainly, there is nothing in the text that gives us any reasons to interpret the song this way.
If you do interpret it allegorically you are in good company. Most Jewish and Christian scholars saw the love of God for Israel (Jewish) for the love of Christ for His church (Christian) as the only valid way to interpret the Bible’ Song of Songs. Things began to change in the middle of the nineteenth century
Another decision we must make is whether we think the dramatic approach or anthology of love songs approach is the best way to understand this song. The way I see this is as different songs making up the one song. The genre or type of literature is wisdom. Wisdom literature is the application of God’s will to the nitty-gritty of life. This song reveals God’s will for that special relationship between a man and a woman (Longman, Commentary on Song of Songs. p. 49). The structure of the Song is not easily determined but more than likely a collection of poems or songs. Longman sees 23 different songs. That means this is not a chronological narrative or story beginning in chapter 1 and ending in chapter 8.
This approach will not be for everyone. Since this is not quoted in the N.T. we have no inspired guide from N.T. authors. You can (and should) read why others interpret this Song allegorically. We certainly do not pick up clues to interpret allegorically from the text of Song of Songs like Judges 9:7ff.
Regarding chapter 3: Glendhill in The Message of the Song of Songs offers this insight into chapter 3 who sees “a sudden change in mood. It progresses from yearning for his presence, through fear of loss and abandonment, to panicky action, leading to a rushing torrent of relief when she finds him, clutches him, and will not let him go until they have consummated their relationship” p. 144.
In this chapter, “absence and longing lead to search and discovery, which results in intimacy and joy” Longman p. 129. The woman discovers her husband is not in bed, so she leaves her bed to look for him in a public place – the city which is hostile to intimacy compared to the safety and privacy of the bedroom (Longman, 130). The woman, who speaks in this Song more than the man, grabs him and brings him into her mother’s bed.
In v. 3:6-11, Solomon is mentioned here 1 of the seven times his name is mentioned: 1:1, 1:5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11, 12. I do not understand this to mean this is about Solomon, the historic person. Rather this is a song and the song references Solomon’s wealth which points to the glory of relationship, romance, and the wedding. As Longman comments, “it is Solomon’s wealth and grandeur that are being applied to emphasize the magnificence of the wedding and, by association, the marriage relationship itself” Longman, p. 136.
Father, our bodies and the expression of our sexuality is a major part of our lives. We reveal how sinful and broken we are in how we express ourselves in this area. But You created us with bodies, passions, and desires. We want to marry and live happily ever after. Yet, while we know what you want for us, we want our way. We reject what we know is right and then blame You for the consequences of our sin. Furthermore, our country and our world are so utterly confused and is inflicting on itself such pain because of their rebellion. Lord, we need Your truth in this area of your lives. Since this Song is so hard to understand, we pray that not only our church, but other churches would teach and preach this Song – especially those who claim to teach the whole counsel of God. Direct us to Your truth and help us kindly and compassionately to teach, persuade, and encourage others to obey You in this area. Help us to honor our spouse. Help us to live so as to honor Christ in the realm of sexuality. We pray this in the name of the One who is Lord over every aspect of our lives. Amen