What is the best way to interpret Song of Songs?

[GoldenEagle]

If Song of Songs were a symbolic book representing Christ and the Church and/or Israel and God then the sexual description would be disturbing. At least it would be to me. What do you think?

When I found the sexual description disturbing it was due to my immaturity in understanding the true intimacy of physical intercourse between a husband and wife, and the direct correlation that it has to help us understand our spiritual intimacy with our husband who is Christ. As I grew in Christ and learned to share with him in such spiritual bliss that completely surpasses any ecstasy that I have had sharing a bed with a wife, I have become very comfortable in seeing the direct correlation between the temporal act versus the eternal one. I simply long for my sovereign one to come in unto me and fill me with love, joy and peace that goes beyond physical explanation and rockets me into the fourth dimension of existence. He is the lily of the valley and the song speaks of Christ, not Solomon. I had to grow in maturity before I could get it. My mind was yet to earthly and perverse in nature to wrap myself around the concept.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This Gary is what I'm talking about in bold. The problem with taking the Song of Songs to the extent that it is simply allegorical without taking the literal meaning into account really takes away IMO from the story being told of Solomon and the Shulamite.

It is also taught that somehow only the "mature" in Christ really see this book in it's true form - allegory. That somehow the physical nature of the story was earthly and perverse... It is very unfortunate IMO that this has become the prevelant view in many Christian circles. This view of the physical nature of the relationship between a man and woman being earthly/perverse is almost gnostic in nature IMO.

God bless,

GE

[GoldenEagle]

What is the best way to interpret Song of Songs?

The Song of Songs is to be interpreted as the love between Christ and the Church. Only those who are pure in heart should read this book.

Are you saying the story should only be viewed in the light of Christ and the Church? If so sorry but I disagree with this view (Allegorical view).

Why or how did you come to this conclusion please?