Canticles—Christ’s Love for His Bride
07.26.22
He brought me into the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. My beloved is mine, and I am his. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me. (2:4, 16; 7:10)
This book has been titled several ways. In English it is ‘The Song of Solomon,’ from verse 1, which designates the author. The Hebrew has it ‘The Song of Songs,’ or ‘the best of songs,’ also from verse 1. In the Latin it is ‘Canticles,’ simply meaning songs.
Solomon is spoken of as the author seven different times. This is part of the 1005 such songs that he composed (1 Kings 4:32).
As noted in our studies of Solomon’s other books, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, he wrote this book in his early years.
The Song of Solomon is a love song filled with metaphors and imagery designed to portray God’s view of love and marriage: the beauty of physical love between a man and a woman. It is such a contrast from Ecclesiastes, the book that precedes it. As one commentator put it, “To turn from Ecclesiastes to the Song of Solomon is like stepping out of the wilderness into the Promised Land. It is like the bright shining of the sun after rain.”
This is a book that has troubled Bible scholars. How does one interpret it? There are three basic approaches to its interpretation. First is the ‘naturalistic.’ This sees the book as merely a collection of love songs and poems. It may be rooted in history but there is no spiritual message. It is simply good literature.
The second approach is ‘allegorical.’ This ignores the idea that the poem has any historical foundation. It has only spiritual meaning.
The third approach, and we will take it as the correct one, is ‘typical.’ The book is historical, based in the life of Solomon, but typifying God’s love for His people. The difficulty with this is of course is that Solomon does not furnish the best example of marital devotion. The experiences recorded in this book may reflect the only pure romance he had. Perhaps this woman is Naamah., the mother of Rehoboam, the heir to the throne. She was his first wife, married before he became king.
While Solomon is the focus of the book, Christ is its fulfillment. We see this marriage relationship beautifully picturing Christ and the believer in Ephesians 5:22-33.
The Shulammite and Solomon had a deep affection for each other. This is the same love that God desires for His bride. The bride would have been Israel had she not fallen away into spiritual adultery. The Bride now is composed of all the redeemed, Jew and Gentile alike, who have given their hearts to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. It thus points to a mutual affection between Christ and the believer.
The book is composed of seven songs. The flow of the book pictures a typical romantic relationship. In the early chapters, the bride reminisces about their courtship, betrothal and wedding. Solomon refers to her as “my love, ” and she refers to him as “my beloved.”
In the later chapters, the love relationship has its struggles. At the end, the love is secure as it comes to its maturity.
“The abiding value of the Song of Solomon is clear… As human life finds its highest fulfillment in the love of man and woman, so spiritual life finds its highest fulfillment in the love of Christ and His Church.” [John Phillips]