Small Group Discussion. What is one of your favorite love songs? Why?

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1 Song of Songs Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org Ernest C. Lucas. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature, 2003.

2 Song of Songs Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org Ernest C. Lucas. Exploring the Old Testament: A guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature. Vol He Qi

3 Small Group Discussion What is one of your favorite love songs? Why?

4 Group Discussion Why are there so many love songs? Micah Bournes Every Poem

5 SUMMARY The Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) is a collection of poetry on the theme of human love, following the relationship of a man and a woman from courtship and onward. This book has frequently been read as an allegory of God s love for Israel (in Jewish communities) or of Christ s love for the church and for individual believers (in Christian communities). Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

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7 ALLEGORICAL OR LITERAL? The Song of Solomon has sometimes offended readers by its frank portrayal of erotic love. An allegorical reading of the Song has given it meaning for countless generations of Jews and Christians, which reminds us that the biblical texts function as living word in a variety of times, cultures, and unexpected ways. Early Christian writers, especially Origen (about C.E.), read the Song in this way. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (12 th century C.E.) composed 86 sermons on the Song of Songs along these lines. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

8 ALLEGORICAL OR LITERAL? Start at :28

9 Song of Songs 2:16

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11 ALLEGORICAL OR LITERAL? The plain reading is the literal/literary one, assuming that the book is what it appears to be: poetry celebrating human love and sexuality, which biblical faith regards as good gifts of God in creation. Properly understood, this reading does not deny the joys and wonders of human love, but rather incorporates these elements into the human experience of God. The Song takes unbridled delight in the bonds of love, even while recognizing the pains and turmoil they can bring along the way toward their fulfillment. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

12 WHO WROTE IT? The mention of Solomon in the book s title (and, in a literary inclusion, also at the end) has frequently been taken to mean Solomon s authorship. However, as with the Psalms and Proverbs, there is no way of verifying its authorship. See Lucas Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

13 WHO WROTE IT? It is probably better to see the traditional relation between the Wisdom literature and Solomon as similar to the relation between the Psalms and David. Just as David was the model singer of Israel, so Solomon was the model wisdom teacher. Solomon's glory is invoked also in the royal wedding in 3:6-11. As often in biblical royal language, the issues is NOT monarchic rule, but rather the grandeur of the royal court that serves as a small reminder of the glorious kingship of God. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

14 WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? The language suggests to some that the final form of the Song of Solomon was attained in the fourth or third century B.C.E. Other interpreters have argued that the Song may, indeed, have originated during the Solomon s era. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

15 HOW DO I READ IT? The delights of love have always and everywhere found their highest expression in poetry, the genre of the Song of Songs. It uses language that is vivid, imaginative, unguarded, and ecstatic in its depiction of the most personal and intimate of human relationships. A euphoric expression of human experience reflects the generous gifts of the Creator. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

16 Wisdom tradition The Song of Solomon has been seen throughout history as part of the Bible's Wisdom literature. Creation ethics focuses on the conduct of human life in the created order under God, rather than the Torah ethic of God's redemptive work in history. Despite the Song's lack of any direct mention of God, its association with Solomon shows that it understands itself to be a part of Israel's life and history, and part of God's good creation to be used wisely, respected, and enjoyed. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

17 OUTLINE I. The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon 1:1) In its title, the book identifies itself as a "song of songs" (that is, a superlative song) and points to a relationship between the book and Solomon. II. The Two Lovers Appear (Song of Solomon 1:2-2:7) The young woman and young man introduce themselves with descriptions of their longing for one another. III. Seeking the Beloved (Song of Solomon 2:8-3:5) The woman is beckoned by the voice of her beloved (2:8-15), and she declares her love and allegiance to him, rising from her bed to seek the one "whom my soul loves" (2:16-3:5). IV. A Royal Wedding (Song of Solomon 3:6-11) The woman envisions a royal wedding procession, perhaps fantasizing about her own wedding to come. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

18 OUTLINE V. The Man in Praise of His Lover (Song of Solomon 4:1-5:1) The man sings the praises of his beloved, describing her in vivid poetic imagery. VI. Love's Challenges (Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3) Again, the woman hears the voice of her beloved and goes to seek him, enduring an attack of the city sentinels. She describes her lover to her friends, who wonder where he has gone. VII. Mutual Longings (Song of Solomon 6:4-13) The man returns to a loving description of his beloved, his "only one." She, in turn, seeks him in her fantasy. VIII. Love That Lasts Forever (Song of Solomon 7:1-8:7) In this dialogue, the man sings of his praise and his longing for the woman (7:1-9), and she declares her love and commitment to him, singing of the fierce and enduring passion of their mutual love. IX. Concluding Dialogue (Song of Solomon 8:8-14) The closing verses report the reconciliation of the woman with her brothers and one more announcement of the longing and commitment of the two lovers. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

19 BACKGROUND The question of how the Song of Solomon found a place in the biblical canon, for either Jews or Christians, is likely to occur almost immediately to any thoughtful reader. Read on its own terms as love poetry, rather than through the lenses of tradition, it is clearly a secular poem, depicting the deepening affections and passions between two very young lovers. There is no mention of God and there are no explicit theological themes. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

20 BACKGROUND Many interpreters have found in the Song elements of Egyptian love poetry or themes related to Canaanite fertility religion. Others see it as the product of a time and place where love poetry was written to be performed at banquets by professional singers. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

21 "Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon." Few young women today would be flattered by this comparison (7:4), not to mention the observation that "your hair is like a flock of goats" (4:1) and "your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes" (4:2)! These and other poetic images in the Song are, of course, specific to a particular time and culture and do not always translate well into another era. The point is to compare the beloved to objects of beauty, value, and desire in the world of the text. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

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25 THEME: Creation, love, sexuality, & God Although the Song of Solomon nowhere speaks directly of God, its inclusion as part of the Bible's Wisdom literature makes clear that it understands human love and sexuality as gifts of the Creator to be enjoyed by God's human creatures. 20 th century theologian Karl Barth describes vividly the Bible's surprising delight in the eros for which there is no shame, both in Genesis 2 and in the Song: Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

26 THEME: Creation, love, sexuality, & God The Song of Songs is one long description of the rapture, the unquenchable yearning and the restless willingness and readiness, with which both partners in this covenant [their relationship with God the Creator] hasten towards an encounter.god the Lord and sexual eros are brought into close relationship The authors of Gen. 2 and the Song of Songs speak of man and woman as they do because they know that the broken covenant is still for God the unbroken covenant, intact and fulfilled on both sides (Church Dogmatics III/1, pages ).

27 THEME: Creation, love, sexuality, & God In other words, in its daring and provocative praise of love and sexuality, the Song of Songs celebrates the relationship between man and woman under God: as God intends it and as God still sees it: as pure and innocent, even in all its full physical sensuality, a sense that, despite all difficulties, human lovers can still sometimes experience and enjoy. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

28 THEME: Garden The Song's frequent use of images from nature, including several explicit references to a "garden," is bound to remind readers of the Genesis story of the garden of Eden. The poet wants to transport the audience back to a time of innocence: a world of harmony among man and woman and God, a time of sexuality without shame. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

29 THEME: Love & Death According to the Song, love is strong as death (8:6). That is, love, like death, is an elemental force beyond human control, a power that humans cannot escape. Human language gets something right when it speaks of falling in love. That does not mean that love and death are outside the realm of divine concern or of human ethics. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

30 THEME: Marriage, human & divine The Bible uses marriage metaphors to describe the relationship between God and humankind. Isaiah 54:5; 62:5; Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:22-23; Revelation 19:7-9; etc. The themes of delight and celebration of love that course through the Song of Songs do not require allegory to be read as reflecting the love of God for God s people. Fred Gaiser. Song of Solomon EnterTheBible.org

31 Marc Chagall

32 Why I study the Hebrew Bible Holistic world view, i.e. sex (Hebrew worldview; not Greek Platonism)

33 Hebrew View of Sex Powerful, so keep it within marriage! King David s downfall is attributed to his extramarital affair with Bathsheba. King Solomon s downfall is attributed to his sexual promiscuity.

34 Sex in the NT Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:4 (ESV)

35 Platonism Platonism is a term used to refer to a dualism taught by Plato, which holds spirit is good but matter is evil. Contradicts the biblical witness of God calling everything created good. Platonism influenced Christianity through Clement of Alexandria Origen, the Cappadocian Fathers, and St. Augustine.

36 ST. AUGUSTINE Augustine believed that all sexual intercourse even within the bounds of Christian marriage involved concupiscence a strong desire as a consequence of original sin. that carnal concupiscence by which the flesh lusteth against the Spirit. St Augustine, "On Marriage and Concupiscence" St. Augustine of Hippo FRANK A. JAMES III,

37 ST. AUGUSTINE Augustine did not altogether disparage matrimony. It is honorable and permissible, he said. But to him, celibacy was better. The purpose of sex in marriage is procreation, although it was pardonable if married persons enjoyed conjugal union without intending procreation. He even went so far as to recommend sexual abstinence for married couples if they mutually agreed to it. FRANK A. JAMES III,

38 Influence of Platonism on Catholicism Augustine s views on sex and marriage became the basis for many of the Roman Church s teachings. Through his writings, we can better understand why Roman Catholics believe that the chief end of marriage is procreation, that divorce and birth control are not permissible, and that abstinence is the ideal.

39 SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION Is Song of Songs a Wisdom Book? Why or why not? FRANK A. JAMES III,

40 WISDOM? I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. Song of Songs 2:7 (ESV, also 3:5; 8:4) FRANK A. JAMES III,

41 WISDOM

42 WALTER TROBISH God Man Woman

43 Sponsor couple

44 5 Languages of Love

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