- Mar 16, 2004
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I'm going to share my personal insights into Song of Solomon and offer a unique exposition of the message. The Rabbinical and Christian understanding of the text is that its an allegory of God and Israel or Christ and the church. I would submit that while the text is suitable for such an allegory it is really just a wedding song celebrating the nuptuals os two young people in Solomons court early in his reign.
Opening Scene:
The groom sat at the kings table, perhaps even one of Solomons sons, that being the case he would have been a Judean prince. The daughters of Jerusalem were the unmarried young ladies, probably the groom's sisters. She was from the Sharron valley, just west of Jerusalem and visible from the mount of Olives. They two had been betrothed at a very early age and knew their entire lives that they would marry. They had set responsibilities, the groom was responsible for building the House and the bride was responsible for planting and tending the family garden. A marriage wasn't just a ceremony, reception and a honeymoon. They could take 8-10 days. Everything had to be done before they moved in together, even though they were legally married day one.
Contrary there is no sex in Song of Songs and Solomon isn't the groom, there is no indication of that whatsoever. The opening scene is at the palace, the groom meets her at the gate. You wouldn't have presented an I'D like we would today, he meet her at the gate and told the guards to let her in. They make their way through the busy courtyard of the palace, through its great doors, long halls, toward the back where the kings family area was. It was a little like the west wing of the White House. They enter the great banquet hall and take their seats at the kings table.
Both of them come from important families, her mother was most likely from Lebanon. As she turns to leave for the evening she turns to the daughters of Jerusalem and says not to arouse love till it desires. This awkwardly worded translation is most likely her admonishing these young ladies not to let the excitement of the celebration make them anxious for their own marriages.
The next scene will be at her mother's garden where she is having breakfast with her brothers. Later they would meet in Jerusalem and finally, they take their final vows in the garden of their new home.
I suppose what makes this controversial is what this line of interpretation says about the song belonging in the canon of Scripture. I'm convinced this wedding sound is profoundly significant with regards to being prepared for marriage. These arranged marriages probably made for some unhappy unions. However, these two are crazy about one another. Its a song about tender affection, being faithful to your responsibilities and patiently nurturing a relationship built on mutual love and hard work.
Before I start a more in-depth exposition I'll wait and see it there is any interest in the subject matter.
Grace and peace,
Mark
Opening Scene:
The groom sat at the kings table, perhaps even one of Solomons sons, that being the case he would have been a Judean prince. The daughters of Jerusalem were the unmarried young ladies, probably the groom's sisters. She was from the Sharron valley, just west of Jerusalem and visible from the mount of Olives. They two had been betrothed at a very early age and knew their entire lives that they would marry. They had set responsibilities, the groom was responsible for building the House and the bride was responsible for planting and tending the family garden. A marriage wasn't just a ceremony, reception and a honeymoon. They could take 8-10 days. Everything had to be done before they moved in together, even though they were legally married day one.
Contrary there is no sex in Song of Songs and Solomon isn't the groom, there is no indication of that whatsoever. The opening scene is at the palace, the groom meets her at the gate. You wouldn't have presented an I'D like we would today, he meet her at the gate and told the guards to let her in. They make their way through the busy courtyard of the palace, through its great doors, long halls, toward the back where the kings family area was. It was a little like the west wing of the White House. They enter the great banquet hall and take their seats at the kings table.
Both of them come from important families, her mother was most likely from Lebanon. As she turns to leave for the evening she turns to the daughters of Jerusalem and says not to arouse love till it desires. This awkwardly worded translation is most likely her admonishing these young ladies not to let the excitement of the celebration make them anxious for their own marriages.
The next scene will be at her mother's garden where she is having breakfast with her brothers. Later they would meet in Jerusalem and finally, they take their final vows in the garden of their new home.
I suppose what makes this controversial is what this line of interpretation says about the song belonging in the canon of Scripture. I'm convinced this wedding sound is profoundly significant with regards to being prepared for marriage. These arranged marriages probably made for some unhappy unions. However, these two are crazy about one another. Its a song about tender affection, being faithful to your responsibilities and patiently nurturing a relationship built on mutual love and hard work.
Before I start a more in-depth exposition I'll wait and see it there is any interest in the subject matter.
Grace and peace,
Mark
