Hi Friends,
Our young adults bible class usually follows a format of the reading of a book verse by verse, and having discussions on the meaning of those scriptures, and of other scriptures they may have relevance to. After recently finishing Ecclesiastes, our class is now studying the next book in the sequence, the Song of Solomon.
First, I just want to say that I'm not trying to be provocative by starting a thread on this book. I know that some of the verses in this book are graphic and/or explicit in nature (or at least appear to be). In fact, it's for this reason I have largely ignored this book in the past, or when I have read it, felt I was reading some kind of romance novel.
Our teacher began by talking about his own study, and stating that he had learned something that changed his view of SOS. The main change for him was the idea that the book is not about two people, a young man and a young woman in love, but about three people, a young man, a young woman, and Solomon himself, who is actually trying to woo the young woman to be his, but that she ultimately chooses the young man.
I read SOS this morning, and I think I see some evidence to support this view. Has anyone else here heard anything similar concerning this book?
I should also mention that the Song of Solomon is often used as a parallel to the relationship between Christ and his church (or his bride, as it is referred to in Revelations). Just so you know, this is not trying to refute that view and that it can still be used for that purpose, only to discuss directly what Solomon may have been writing about and what that book can actually tell us. At any rate, thank you in advance for any input you may care to contribute to this topic.
- Jaynee
Our young adults bible class usually follows a format of the reading of a book verse by verse, and having discussions on the meaning of those scriptures, and of other scriptures they may have relevance to. After recently finishing Ecclesiastes, our class is now studying the next book in the sequence, the Song of Solomon.
First, I just want to say that I'm not trying to be provocative by starting a thread on this book. I know that some of the verses in this book are graphic and/or explicit in nature (or at least appear to be). In fact, it's for this reason I have largely ignored this book in the past, or when I have read it, felt I was reading some kind of romance novel.
Our teacher began by talking about his own study, and stating that he had learned something that changed his view of SOS. The main change for him was the idea that the book is not about two people, a young man and a young woman in love, but about three people, a young man, a young woman, and Solomon himself, who is actually trying to woo the young woman to be his, but that she ultimately chooses the young man.
I read SOS this morning, and I think I see some evidence to support this view. Has anyone else here heard anything similar concerning this book?
I should also mention that the Song of Solomon is often used as a parallel to the relationship between Christ and his church (or his bride, as it is referred to in Revelations). Just so you know, this is not trying to refute that view and that it can still be used for that purpose, only to discuss directly what Solomon may have been writing about and what that book can actually tell us. At any rate, thank you in advance for any input you may care to contribute to this topic.
- Jaynee