Day 249

Song of Solomon 1:1–4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23

TODAY AND TOMORROW we will be reading the book known as the Song of Solomon, or the Song of Songs —a radical departure from the territory we’ve just completed in Job and Ecclesiastes. The Song of Solomon is a short but potently beautiful book of poetry contained in Old Testament Wisdom Literature. In this song of all songs, we discover that human sexuality is indeed a celebrated part of the biblical narrative. But this song has many other layers.

From a literal perspective, this book is the story of the passionate consummation of love between a man and a woman who are utterly lost in each other. The book stands on its own as a witness to marital love and the bliss of a passionate physical relationship.

The ancient Jewish tradition looks at the poem allegorically —it is poetry, after all. From this perspective, the story being told reveals God’s passionate love for His children, the Jewish people. This view is completely supportable in other areas of Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments.

In the Christian tradition, the book is an allegorical look at Christ’s passionate love for His church and a foreshadowing of His deep desire for His bride.

In this case, all three of these perspectives can be true. As you approach the Song of Solomon, you have a number of lenses through which you can view it. Invite God into how you read it. But no matter how you approach the Song of Solomon, you’ll find a very meaningful portion of Scripture that speaks to us on many levels. Drink deeply of the beautiful and eloquent poetry of the Song of Solomon.

MEDITATION:

How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.