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Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
The problem of reading the Song of Solomon is deciding how you think it should be understood in the first place! One common idea is that it is an allegory: it tells one story (i.e., the love between a man and woman), but its meaning is found in the love of God for Israel or Jesus for the church. Another approach that has been used is to understand it as a collection of various love songs and not the telling of a story.
Many others understand it as a historical story about true love between a man and woman. Some see only two characters, Solomon and his wife (his favorite one?). Others see it as Solomon trying to deal with true love of the Shulamite and her shepherd lover as she is enticed with the fame, privilege, and prosperity that comes with marrying the King.
From a study done by Rob Harbison:
One opinion is that there are two principle characters in the Song--Solomon and a Shulamite maiden. He woos her and wins her love and devotion, then she becomes the chief of all his wives and the real love of his life.
"The Song of Solomon deals with a love affair—I would guess, the one great love affair of Solomon ’s life. Such an experience will be understandable if we assume that it took place when Solomon was yet a young man and before he glutted himself with wives and concubines. Reading the book in this light will leave us with mixed emotions—joy at the pure love between Solomon and Shulamith, but also a certain sadness at the tragedy of what Solomon must certainly have lost when he reached out for more. But even that tragedy ought to be instructive to us and make us wiser. " (Mott, p.64). [Mott, L.A. Wisdom and Poetry: Study Guide VI.]
A second opinion (and the one which guides this study) is that there are three principle characters in the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite maiden, and her shepherd-lover.
Solomon tries to charm her away from her shepherd with his money, power, and flattery. She is tempted by those outward trappings, but her heart remains loyal to the one true love of her life until she returns to him. Thus, the poem is made to address the triumph of pure love over lust.
"The poem is God's commendation of true mating love and his condemnation of Solomon 's polygamy... Three principles lead me to accept this view: 1) The Bible is a complete book, and as such it must deal with all aspects of human experience. Mating love is a strong factor in life and unless this poem deals with it, it is omitted from God ‘s book. 2) The very structure and evidence of the poem. 3) If such a virtuous girl's marriage to Solomon was the theme, then Solomon ’s polygamy would be tacitly endorsed. " (Hailey, p. 24). [Hailey, Homer. Bible Class Notes: Wisdom Literature. Temple Terrace: Florida College Bookstore. Revised 1972.]
(You can read the whole study at http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/harbison/song-of-solomon-rh.pdf This study will provide you with an outline of the speakers, helping see the flow of the conversations.)
Hebrews 13:4 - "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge."
1 Cor. 7:2-3: "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. "
Hugh DeLong
