Key word: Love
If there is any book in the Bible that people do not know what to do with, it is this one. Historically, both the Jews and Christians have dismissed its message and offered allegorical interpretation. But if read literally it reveals a love story – the joys of romantic love within the bounds of marriage.
There are three principle actors within this drama. First, there is King Solomon, who has fallen in love with a beautiful shepherdess. He speaks often of his love and attraction for this young lady who he eventually marries. Knowing Solomon’s less than exemplary relationship with women, many believe this story tells of the one wholesome love in his life. He is very complimentary of this young lady, often telling her how lovely she is (e.g. 1:15, 2:2).
We don’t know the name of the second character, but she is from a place called Shulam and is called the Shulamite (6:13). She is young, a shepherdess, from the working class, but she has caught Solomon’s eye. She is equally complimentary (e.g. 2:3-5). Their great delight is being together, and so makes time to get away and enjoy one another (7:10-12).
There is a third set of players in this story. Some call them the choir, which periodically show up and cheer the lovers on (six times) (e.g. 5:1b). They approve of the love expressed by this couple. As a matter of fact, God approved too. They also warn three times not to allow the physical side of love to be uncontrolled (2:7; 3:5; 8:4).
Overall this is a book about God’s approval of romantic love in marriage. Our key verse is 2:4b – speaking of the bond of love in marriage.
Key verse: Song of Solomon 2:4b – “His banner over me is love.”
