SONG OF SOLOMON
The Test of Total Commitment
Thoughts come from a wide variety of sources. Some from messages I have heard from individuals, some from assembly Bible studies, some from home life and some from books I have read. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher who makes them real to me.
- "Rise up my love,” by C.E. Hocking. Precious Seed publications
- "Exploring the Song of Solomon,” by John Philips. Loizeaux Brothers
- "Meditations on the Song of Solomon,” by Andrew Miller. Billing and Sons Ltd.
- "Ruth and the Song of Solomon,” by John Watt. Loizeaux Brothers, New York
To effectively describe the power, blessings and satisfaction of commitment is really beyond the use of words. The Spirit of God used this greatest of all of Solomon’s songs to put the emotions and impact of pure love in a way that people can understand. The holy love of our Lord Jesus Christ for His blood-bought bride, the church, is illustrated by the love of a man and a woman for each other. This goes farther than the love of a new born-again believer to where fellowship and communion with our Lord Jesus becomes intimate and graceful. It reaches to where the heart, soul and spirit of our inner being is known only to our Lord. It is more than verbal expressions we would want to make, but that seem so inadequate.
When a believer who is in close harmony with the Lord Jesus by listening to the words of scripture, the sense of the text becomes a real conversation with Him. To a person who is in close and intimate fellowship with the Lord, the Bible is the air we breathe and the food that nourishes. It isn’t merely a book we study and are amazed by its deep and fulfilling content, but it is a means of significant communication that reaches the whole person.
Three ways have been used by those who write about this book to describe the interpretation and why it is in the canon of scripture. These poems resonate in the hearts of young lovers who have gone beyond infatuation and physical attraction to open emotional words that express inner feelings. The words are very descriptive of awakening love and yet maintaining a moral standard that culminates in martial love. Husbands and wives do well to read this aloud and look at each other to see the response each one has to the words.
The opinion of others is that this is a way to describe the future of our Lord Jesus Christ with the nation of Israel when He comes in power and glory as the King of Israel. Another way to learn from this book some lessons is to see the relationship of Christ and the church which is His waiting bride. He is in close contact with us but there are others that seek to turn aside the love of His people towards them and the attractions are real but not that of the love of a young woman (church) for her Shepherd-Lover who will take the church to His Father’s house. It is in this last view that I find the most blessing to me personally to the extent it leads to new devotional thoughts. Occasionally I do think about the other two forms of poetic and dramatic presentations of truth and find joy in them.
I have wondered at the point of the Holy Spirit putting this beautiful song in the canon of the Old Testament, but then it comes to my mind that in spite of the enticements of a king to get a beautiful country girl into his hareem, she remains true and committed to her “Shepherd-Lover.” She is able to conquer all kingly pressure to get her to willingly submit to him, because of her faithful commitment to, and her love for her “Shepherd.”
In the Song of Solomon, the subject of sin is not brought up. That reminds us that there are things that are not sinful, but they can hinder our communion and fellowship with the Lord. The legitimate things of everyday life: a job, raising a family, needs of children, pressing problems can crowd out the joys of love between a man and a woman. People, problems and personal matters can seriously affect our joy in our Lord Jesus Christ.