The Song of Songs

© John Stevenson, 2010

Interpretations of the BookInterpretations of the Book• Allegorical Interpretation:Allegorical Interpretation: Entire book is Entire book is

seen as an allegory of the Lord’s love for His seen as an allegory of the Lord’s love for His people Israel.people Israel.

• Cultic Interpretation:Cultic Interpretation: Cultic poems for use Cultic poems for use in marriage ritual.in marriage ritual.

• Shepherd Interpretation:Shepherd Interpretation: Views Solomon Views Solomon as the villain.as the villain.

• Typical Interpretation:Typical Interpretation: Type of the church Type of the church• Natural or Literal InterpretationNatural or Literal Interpretation

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

• Solomon:Solomon: Shelomoh “Peaceful” Shelomoh “Peaceful”

• Shulamith:Shulamith: Feminine of Shelomoh Feminine of Shelomoh

• Daughters of JerusalemDaughters of Jerusalem

The Story behind the SongThe Story behind the Song

• The story beginsThe story begins

Song of Songs 1:1Song of Songs 1:1The Song of Songs, which is

Solomon’s.

Song of Songs 1:2-3Song of Songs 1:2-3May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil;Therefore the maidens love you.

Song of Songs 1:4Song of Songs 1:4Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.

We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.

Song of Songs 1:5Song of Songs 1:5I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.

Song of Songs 1:6Song of Songs 1:6Do not stare at me because I am swarthy, For the sun has burned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

The Story behind the SongThe Story behind the Song

• The story beginsThe story begins

• Boy meets girlBoy meets girl

Song of Songs 1:7Song of Songs 1:7Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you make it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself Beside the flocks of your companions?

Song of Songs 1:7Song of Songs 1:7If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds.

The Story behind the SongThe Story behind the Song

• The story beginsThe story begins

• Boy meets girlBoy meets girl

• He promises to returnHe promises to return

• He returns, not as a shepherd, but as He returns, not as a shepherd, but as the reigning kingthe reigning king

• Solomon takes his bride to JerusalemSolomon takes his bride to Jerusalem

• A temporary separation (Chapters 5-6)A temporary separation (Chapters 5-6)

Romance &Romance &HoneymoonHoneymoon

(Chapters 1-4)(Chapters 1-4)

Happily everHappily everafterafter

(Chapters 7-8)(Chapters 7-8)

Marital ProblemsMarital Problems(Chapters 5-6)(Chapters 5-6)

Song of Songs 2:3-4Song of Songs 2:3-4Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.

Observations from the BookObservations from the Book

• The name of Yahweh is not The name of Yahweh is not mentionedmentioned

• The book is never quoted in the The book is never quoted in the New TestamentNew Testament

• Jews would not permit their young Jews would not permit their young people to read this bookpeople to read this book

• The language is highly figurativeThe language is highly figurative

While the king was While the king was at his table, at his table,

My perfume gave My perfume gave forth its fragrance. forth its fragrance. (Song 1:12).(Song 1:12).

Mary then took a Mary then took a pound of very costly pound of very costly perfume of pure perfume of pure nard, and anointed nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with wiped His feet with her hair; and the her hair; and the house was filled with house was filled with the fragrance of the the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3)perfume (John 12:3)

You are You are a garden a garden spring, spring,

A well of fresh water, A well of fresh water,

And streams And streams flowing flowing from Lebanon (Song from Lebanon (Song 4:15).4:15).

He who believes in He who believes in Me, as the Scripture Me, as the Scripture said, “From his said, “From his innermost being will innermost being will flow rivers of living flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38)water” (John 7:38)

I was asleep but my I was asleep but my heart was awake. heart was awake.

A voice! A voice!

My beloved was My beloved was knocking: ‘knocking: ‘

““Open to me, my Open to me, my sister, my darling, sister, my darling,

My dove, my perfect My dove, my perfect one! (Song 5:2).one! (Song 5:2).

Behold, I stand at Behold, I stand at the door and knock; the door and knock; if anyone hears My if anyone hears My voice and opens the voice and opens the door, I will come in door, I will come in to him and will dine to him and will dine with him, and he with him, and he with Me (Revelation with Me (Revelation 3:20).3:20).

Read through Read through the following the following

passages and passages and seek to pick seek to pick

out and out and explain the explain the imagery.imagery.

Song of Song of Songs Songs 5:9-165:9-16

Song of Song of Songs Songs 6:1-76:1-7

Song of Songs 8:6Song of Songs 8:6Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.

Song of Songs 8:7Song of Songs 8:7Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.

Lessons from the Song of Lessons from the Song of SongsSongs

• God is concerned with all of lifeGod is concerned with all of life

• God is concerned with our sexualityGod is concerned with our sexuality

• All of life reflects our relationship with All of life reflects our relationship with

GodGod

• The Scriptures contain love songsThe Scriptures contain love songs

• We are a part of a sacred romanceWe are a part of a sacred romance