Song of Solomon - the Holiest book of the Bible?

[AnotherTraveler]

Stories within stories, within stories, within stories.

Amen!

[Blien]

I find it beautiful how the Lord nestles messages within messages in His word. This is a wonderful example.

If you go back to the book of Job, you see how it is dealing with the spiritual struggle between Job and God. Certainly, he is crying out in his spirit to God. Why God, how God? We watch him struggle as he searches for answers. Then we see the emotions of the heart in the Psalms. Who better than David to show the explosion of anger, love, hate and despair? He expresses all the emotions in his arsenal. We see the mind at work in Proverbs, and the will in Ecclesiastes. Of course, a man is not complete in that state, for a man also has an earthly body, and passions of the flesh. In the Song, Solomon beautifully tells us how the whole being is involved in the fire and passion of your first love. It involves total dedication of body, mind and soul, which you happily and freely give.

In God's word, He leaves us instructions and examples of how to live. But, it is also the telling of a story, of refining the people that would bring forth the Messiah. In my opinion, these five books tell us what makes a man a man. Of course, nestled within this particular book is the love story itself. It speaks of a passionate love that has humanistic qualities. It is also showing us how a covenantal love is binding, lasting, and how it should be cherished and protected. I think this is both an example of a spiritual love of God, and the beauty of an earthly relationship.

Remember how in Zechariah and Malachi the Lord says, "I have always loved you," and to return to the love of your youth? In the book of Song, He is giving us an example of how that love is an all consuming love - and how it requires dedication and nuturing. Both an earthly marriage, and a spiritual one, requires nurturing and attention, else it will wither.

I am also in the camp that believes it is an actual telling of Solomon's first love.

Stories within stories, within stories, within stories.

Debates have been ongoing over this book for centuries. However, I have never read, nor ever heard anyone say it is less than superb. That's my 2 cents worth - and in today's economy that's not much.

Wow what an interesting post! I never even thought about the first 5 books being all about man.. wow you are so right. It all makes sense! Your so smart... I will definately read Zechariah and Malachi where the Lord says, "I have always loved you". You've given me so much to think about and to consider.. thanks so much for sharing this, I will tell my friends about it!

[Guest HIS girl]

Yes, Trav is very insightful!!

[traveller]

I find it beautiful how the Lord nestles messages within messages in His word. This is a wonderful example.

If you go back to the book of Job, you see how it is dealing with the spiritual struggle between Job and God. Certainly, he is crying out in his spirit to God. Why God, how God? We watch him struggle as he searches for answers. Then we see the emotions of the heart in the Psalms. Who better than David to show the explosion of anger, love, hate and despair? He expresses all the emotions in his arsenal. We see the mind at work in Proverbs, and the will in Ecclesiastes. Of course, a man is not complete in that state, for a man also has an earthly body, and passions of the flesh. In the Song, Solomon beautifully tells us how the whole being is involved in the fire and passion of your first love. It involves total dedication of body, mind and soul, which you happily and freely give.

In God's word, He leaves us instructions and examples of how to live. But, it is also the telling of a story, of refining the people that would bring forth the Messiah. In my opinion, these five books tell us what makes a man a man. Of course, nestled within this particular book is the love story itself. It speaks of a passionate love that has humanistic qualities. It is also showing us how a covenantal love is binding, lasting, and how it should be cherished and protected. I think this is both an example of a spiritual love of God, and the beauty of an earthly relationship.

Remember how in Zechariah and Malachi the Lord says, "I have always loved you," and to return to the love of your youth? In the book of Song, He is giving us an example of how that love is an all consuming love - and how it requires dedication and nuturing. Both an earthly marriage, and a spiritual one, requires nurturing and attention, else it will wither.

I am also in the camp that believes it is an actual telling of Solomon's first love.

Stories within stories, within stories, within stories.

Debates have been ongoing over this book for centuries. However, I have never read, nor ever heard anyone say it is less than superb. That's my 2 cents worth - and in today's economy that's not much.

Wow what an interesting post! I never even thought about the first 5 books being all about man.. wow you are so right. It all makes sense! Your so smart... I will definately read Zechariah and Malachi where the Lord says, "I have always loved you". You've given me so much to think about and to consider.. thanks so much for sharing this, I will tell my friends about it!

To clarify - it isn't the first five, it's the five "poetic" books. But I know what you're saying.

The fact that you have said you will read Zechariah and Malachi has blessed me tremendously. For what greater thing can we do, than to search out His word?

[dgolvach]

I believe that the Song of Solomon could be an alegory. Perhaps the deep love and itimacy between a husband and wife mirrors how it will be between God and his children in eternity. Only far more profound. I hope so. Perhaps God is wildly in love with us.

Dan

[kat8585]

I believe that the Song of Solomon could be an alegory. Perhaps the deep love and itimacy between a husband and wife mirrors how it will be between God and his children in eternity. Only far more profound. I hope so. Perhaps God is wildly in love with us.

Dan

This is what I believe.

How are you, Dan? I've been missing you, and wondering how it's going with you.

[dgolvach]

I believe that the Song of Solomon could be an alegory. Perhaps the deep love and itimacy between a husband and wife mirrors how it will be between God and his children in eternity. Only far more profound. I hope so. Perhaps God is wildly in love with us.

Dan

This is what I believe.

How are you, Dan? I've been missing you, and wondering how it's going with you.

Hi Kat. I'm still in a state of cronic pain. But still breathing so still in the game. Thankyou for asking and remembering me. I hope you are well.

At times, the Song of Solomon is the most encourageing book in the Bible.

God Bless

Dan

[kat8585]

Hi Kat. I'm still in a state of cronic pain. But still breathing so still in the game. Thankyou for asking and remembering me. I hope you are well.

At times, the Song of Solomon is the most encourageing book in the Bible.

God Bless

Dan

There are many of us here who pray for you on regular basis. As long as you are still breathing, there is hope.

[Guest]

[Guest eagle12]

The opening statement of the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Song of Solomon.

"All scripture, we are sure, is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for the support and advancement of the interests of his kingdom among men, and it is never the less so for there being found in it some things dark and hard to be understood, which those that are unlearned and unstable wrest to their own destruction. In our belief both of the divine extraction and of the spiritual exposition of this book we are confirmed by the ancient, constant, and concurring testimony both of the church of the Jews, to whom were committed the oracles of God, and who never made any doubt of the authority of this book, and of the Christian church, which happily succeeds them in that trust and honour. I. It must be confessed, on the one hand, that if he who barely reads this book be asked, as the eunuch was Understandest thou what thou readest? he will have more reason than he had to say, How can I, except some man shall guide me? The books of scripture-history and prophecy are very much like one another, but this Song of Solomon's is very much unlike the songs of his father David; here is not the name of God in it; it is never quoted in the New Testament; we find not in it any expressions of natural religion or pious devotion, no, nor is it introduced by vision, or any of the marks of immediate revelation. It seems as hard as any part of scripture to be made a savour of life unto life, nay, and to those who come to the reading of it with carnal minds and corrupt affections, it is in danger of being made a savour of death unto death; it is a flower out of which they extract poison; and therefore the Jewish doctors advised their young people not to read it till they were thirty years old, lest by the abuse of that which is most pure and sacred (horrendum dictu--horrible to say!) the flames of lust should be kindled with fire from heaven, which is intended for the altar only. But, II. It must be confessed, on the other hand, that with the help of the many faithful guides we have for the understanding of this book it appears to be a very bright and powerful ray of heavenly light, admirable fitted to excite pious and devout affections in holy souls, to draw out their desires towards God, to increase their delight in him, and improve their acquaintance and communion with him. It is an allegory, the letter of which kills those who rest in that and look no further, but the spirit of which gives life, 2 Cor. iii. 6; John vi. 63. It is a parable, which makes divine things more difficult to those who do not love them, but more plain and pleasant to those who do, Matt. xiii. 14, 16. Experienced Christians here find a counterpart of their experiences, and to them it is intelligible, while those neither understand it nor relish it who have no part nor lot in the matter. It is a son, an Epithalamium, or nuptial song, wherein, by the expressions of love between a bridegroom and his bride, are set forth and illustrated the mutual affections that pass between God and a distinguished remnant of mankind. It is a pastoral; the bride and bridegroom, for the more lively representation of humility and innocence, are brought in as a shepherd and his shepherdess. Now, 1. This song might easily be taken in a spiritual sense by the Jewish church, for whose use it was first composed, and was so taken, as appears by the Chaldee-Paraphrase and the most ancient Jewish expositors. God betrothed the people of Israel to himself; he entered into covenant with them, and it was a marriage-covenant. He had given abundant proofs of his love to them, and required of them that they should love him with all their heart and soul. Idolatry was often spoken of as spiritual adultery, and doting upon idols, to prevent which this song was penned, representing the complacency which God took in Israel and which Israel ought to take in God, and encouraging them to continue faithful to him, though he might seem sometimes to withdraw and hide himself from them, and to wait for the further manifestation of himself in the promised Messiah. 2. It may more easily be taken in a spiritual sense by the Christian church, because the condescensions and communications of divine love appear more rich and free under the gospel than they did under the law, and the communion between heaven and earth more familiar. God sometimes spoke of himself as the husband of the Jewish church (Isa. lxiv. 5, Hos. ii. 16, 19), and rejoiced in it as his bride, Isa. lxii. 4, 5. But more frequently is Christ represented as the bridegroom of his church (Matt. xxv. 1; Rom. vii. 4; 2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 32), and the church as the bride, the Lamb's wife, Rev. xix. 7; xxi. 2, 9. Pursuant to this metaphor Christ and the church in general, Christ and particular believers, are here discoursing with abundance of mutual esteem and endearment. The best key to this book is the 45th Psalm, which we find applied to Christ in the New Testament, and therefore this ought to be so too. It requires some pains to find out what may, probably, be the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the several parts of this book; as David's songs are many of them level to the capacity of the meanest, and there are shallows in them learned, and there are depths in it in which an elephant may swim. But, when the meaning is found out, it will be of admirable use to excite pious and devout affections in us; and the same truths which are plainly laid down in other scriptures when they are extracted out of this come to the soul with a more pleasing power. When we apply ourselves to the study of this book we must not only, with Moses and Joshua, put off our shoe from off our foot, and even forget that we have bodies, because the place where we stand is holy ground, but we must, with John, come up hither, must spread our wings, take a noble flight, and soar upwards, till by faith and holy love we enter into the holiest, for this is no other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven". (MHC).

Job 32:8 "But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding". KJV.

2Ti 3:16 "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." KJV. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us.

1Cr 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned". KJV.

"Men unsanctified receive not the things of God. The understanding, through the corruption of nature by the fall, and through the confirmation of this disorder by customary sin, is utterly unapt to receive the rays of divine light; it is prejudiced against them. The truths of God are foolishness to such a mind. The man looks on them as trifling and impertinent things, not worth his minding". Matthew Henry Commentary.