Song of Songs Preview
Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon, depending on your translation of scripture) is another poetical book written by King Solomon. Solomon, whose reign we previously read about in 1 Kings 1-11, was the wisest and wealthiest earthly king to ever live (1 Kings 10:23). His poetry was a mixture of metaphorical and autobiographical (see Ecclesiastes for further examples). This song was his poetic masterpiece. But what is it all about?
A certain level of irony exists when it comes to a book on marriage and romance being written by a man with 700 wives and 300 concubines, but this book contains an ideal picture of what a healthy relationship and marriage between a man and a woman should look like. We see their attraction and desire for one another. We see beautiful imagery tying together the emotional and physical intimacy that comes within the confines of marriage. Some of this book is literal, but not all. Some of it is Solomon trying to paint a word picture for us.
Reading this book as Christ followers in the twenty-first century, we can grasp not just the significance of a covenantal relationship between a husband and wife, but also the covenantal relationship between God and Israel (Solomon’s original audience) and Jesus’s love for the church. Like any book we read from the Old Testament, we get to read this eight chapter piece of poetry through the lens of the Gospel. As you read, try and make connections to the New Testament and take notes as you go!
Before we begin reading Song of Songs, check out this video overview of the book from The Bible Project.
Read Song of Songs 1
1 Solomon’s Song of Songs.
She
for your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the young women love you!
4 Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.
Friends
we will praise your love more than wine.
She
daughters of Jerusalem,
dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,
because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me take care of the vineyards;
my own vineyard I had to neglect.
7 Tell me, you whom I love,
where you graze your flock
and where you rest your sheep at midday.
Why should I be like a veiled woman
beside the flocks of your friends?
Friends
follow the tracks of the sheep
and graze your young goats
by the tents of the shepherds.
He
among Pharaoh’s chariot horses.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,
your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make you earrings of gold,
studded with silver.
She
my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh
resting between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En Gedi.
He
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.
She
Oh, how charming!
And our bed is verdant.
He
our rafters are firs.
Go Deeper
What’s your favorite song of all time? What makes you like a song? Is it the lyrics, the vocals, or the skill of the musicians? Maybe it’s simply the beat and rhythm? What makes a song great and why do some of the same songs appear on many of our Spotify and Apple Music playlists?
In Song of Songs 1:1, the writer gives this book a superscription. The writer say this is “Solomon’s Song of Songs.” When something falls into the pattern of “blank of blanks,” it means it is the greatest of all “blanks.” When Jesus is referred to as the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” as in Revelation 19:6, it means Jesus is the greatest King out of all the kings and the greatest Lord out of all the lords. For this to be Solomon’s song of songs means that it’s the greatest of all his songs. It’s got the most listens and plays in everyone’s playlist. In fact, according to 1 Kings 4:32, Solomon wrote 1,005 songs. Out of all 1,005 songs, this book is the greatest! There’s a lot we can learn from this greatest song.
In Chapter 1, we see the man and woman go back and forth praising, encouraging, and affirming each other. She praises his name in 1:3. This means he has great character and a stellar reputation. In 1:5-7, the woman appears to be insecure about her darker skin that has come from working outside. In her mind, this puts her in a lower social status since she had an outdoor job instead of an indoor job. But the man praises her in 1:9-11. He’s attracted to her appearance and character and is not put off by her sun-tanned skin.
Most married couples do not take the time to praise and affirm one another’s character and appearance. Instead of building each other up, they tend to tear each other down. How different would Christian marriages be if instead of tearing one another down, we built each other up with our words? What if we affirmed each other’s appearance and character instead of critiquing and criticizing?
There’s a reason why this is called the greatest of all of Solomon’s songs. As we closely watch the words and character of this man and woman, we gain an understanding of why this is in fact the greatest of all songs.
Questions
- What are a few of your favorite songs? Why do you like them?
- Why do you think so many marriages are marked by divisive words instead of encouraging and affirming words?
- In Song of Songs 1:3, the woman praises the man’s “name,” which means she praises his character. What would others say about your “name”/character?
Keep Digging
Who are these friends who show up throughout the Song of Songs (i.e., in Song of Songs 1:4)? Check out this article on GotQuestions.org to learn more about The Daughters of Jerusalem!
3 responses to “Song of Songs 1 + Introduction”
Love
What amazing experience to have and to keep on having. It is a concept, emotion, though process, that is hard to explain and sometimes hard to feel. I do wish someone had given me more advice on it as a young woman. When I was younger it was not something you discussed, sex or love and there is a difference, who knew. God gave us all things, including love and sex. To be loved and cherished is something I would desire for all to feel. It does help in knowing God better, in my opinion. I believe our concept of God’s love is smaller than what could fit in a eye of a needle. He loves us to infinity and beyond. This book is just a way to help with more of our understanding. Our world degrades sex, love and marriage BUT GOD has given us something that is so incredible special.
Key Distinctions in Hebrew Love Words
• Ahavah (אהבה): The core word for emotional, passionate, and romantic attachment between human lovers in the Song of Solomon.
• Dod (דוד): A term specifically used for a lover, beloved, or physical/romantic affection throughout the text.
• Hesed (חסד): Translated as steadfast, covenantal, or loyal love. While hesed is frequently used in the Hebrew Bible to describe God’s faithful and unyielding commitment to Israel (such as in the Psalms), it is not the primary vocabulary word driving the romantic and erotic poetry of the Song of Solomon
God thank You for Your HESED love that is to infinity and beyond. Thank You for my comprehension and understanding of this world and its love but more than that Your love for me. Knowing this worlds love and coming into more comprehension of Your Love God makes me so thankful for Rick, but more thankful for my relationship with You, God. Thank You for this day and these minutes of this day that I can share Your love to the world. Thank You for my marriage and continuing to grow our love with one another and building each other up in our walk and love for You. God thank You for all I say and do that I can focus on Your Word, building everyone I meet up in Your loving kindness in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!
Amen! Praise God!
In our culture we seem to have lost the art of calling out the good in people. Instead, it’s normal to tear apart others with our words and think nothing of it. What if we noticed the good and spoke of it? I need to remember Proverbs 19:4, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”