Song of Solomon

Overview

The Song of Solomon is a collection of lyric love poems that celebrate the love between a bride, often called the Shulammite, and her beloved. Rather than telling a tight, linear story, it weaves together exchanges of desire, admiration, separation, and reunion, drawing freely on the imagery of gardens, vineyards, spices, and the beauty of the land to express the wonder of love.

The lovers praise one another in vivid, affectionate language, delighting in each other's beauty and longing for each other's presence. The daughters of Jerusalem appear as a kind of chorus, and the poem moves through scenes of courtship, the joy of being together, the ache of absence, and the longing to be reunited, all sung with warmth and unguarded tenderness.

Threaded through the poetry is a refrain urging that love not be awakened until the right time, guarding the worth and proper place of love. Near its climax the Song declares that love is as strong as death, that its flame is unquenchable, and that it cannot be bought, presenting committed love as a powerful, sacred, and priceless gift.

Across the centuries Christians have read the Song on two levels: as Scripture's honest, beautiful affirmation of marital love and desire as good gifts from God, and as a picture of the covenant love between the Lord and his people. Whether read plainly or figuratively, the Song treasures love that is faithful, exclusive, and worth protecting.

Context at a Glance

Author

Solomon, or composed in connection with Solomon

Written

Often associated with the era of Solomon (tenth century BC)

Genre

Wisdom literature; lyric love poetry

Audience

God's people, on the goodness of love and devotion

Central theme

The beauty and exclusivity of covenant love

Key Verse

Song of Solomon 8:6 (WEB)

Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh.

Love as strong as death, an unquenchable flame that cannot be bought, stands as the Song's most powerful declaration of devotion.

The Big Movements

• Longing and first praises (1-2) — The bride and beloved express their desire, admire one another, and rejoice in spring's arrival.
• Seeking and the wedding (3-4) — A search for the beloved, a royal procession, and the beloved's praise of his bride's beauty.
• Separation and renewed longing (5-6) — A night of missed connection and searching gives way to renewed praise and reunion.
• Mutual delight (7-8:4) — The lovers celebrate each other and the joy of belonging wholly to one another.
• The power of love (8:5-14) — Love is declared as strong as death, an unquenchable, priceless flame to be guarded.

Key Figures

• The beloved (the Shulammite bride) — The young woman whose love, longing, and devotion give the Song much of its voice.
• The lover (the beloved man) — Her beloved, who praises her beauty and delights in their love, associated with Solomon.
• The daughters of Jerusalem — A chorus of young women who respond to the lovers and are charged not to stir up love too soon.
• The LORD — Though unnamed, the giver of love whose own covenant devotion the Song has long been seen to reflect.

Pointing to Christ

Read on its deeper level, the Song's picture of faithful, exclusive love has long been understood to reflect the love of Christ for his people. The New Testament presents Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as his bride, so that the Song's longing, delight, and unbreakable love foreshadow the love that gave itself fully for us and will one day be consummated in glory.

Big Lessons

• Love, desire, and marriage are good gifts created by God.
• Genuine love delights in and honors the other person.
• Faithful love is exclusive and worth protecting.
• Love is best awakened in its proper time and place.
• Committed love is strong, enduring, and beyond price.
• Human love can point us toward the greater love of God for his people.