Thursday, May 10, 2007
Gary Wiens on the Song of Solomon
Below is a very helpful article for anyone reading the Song of Solomon in the Bible. Gary responds to the questions of a young student regarding the legitimacy of seeing Solomon's Song as a picture of Jesus and the Church. You can click on the title link to access Gary Wiens' ministry website.
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Thanks so much for your note. I appreciate the dilemma you feel as you hear differing opinions about the Song Of Solomon.
Let me answer in a couple of ways. First, the common historical interpretation of Song Of Solomon is allegorical. For example, consider the writings of men like Bernard of Clairvaux and St. John of the Cross, and you will see that their interpretation is entirely allegorical. The advent of the historical/critical method of Scripture interpretation that came on the scene through the rise of German scholarship signaled the beginning of a distaste for allegorical interpretation, because it was far too subjective for the historical/critical mind. However, the bulk of the individuals who wrote about the Song until the late 1800’s were of the allegorical persuasion.
Secondly, there are two events in the life of Jesus that help us with this issue. The first of these happens when Jesus is encountering the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in John 5:17ff. In verse 39 of that passage, Jesus reminds them that they are constantly searching the Scriptures to find life, but “these are they which testify of Me.” So, in Jesus’ own mind, the Scriptures were always pointing to Him.
The second event in Jesus’ life happens during the encounter on the way to Emmaus. The two travelers are without understanding, and Jesus appears to walk with them. It tells us in Luke 24:27 that Jesus began with Moses and the Prophets, and expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Again, Jesus’ self-perception was that He was the focus of all the Old Testament Scriptures, not only the clearly prophetic ones.
Finally, the modern conservative scholarship tells us that Song Of Solomon is merely a poetic book about human romance. I believe this to be inadequate for two reasons. First, it is the Song of all songs. If it is merely about human love, how can this song possibly supercede the songs of worship in the Psalms, or the Revelation, or any simple worship song that exalts the Lord Jesus? But the inspired writer names this book the Song of all songs! I believe it to be the Song of the Lamb that is spoken about in Revelation 15:3, although there is no objective evidence for that.
The second response to the human love interpretation comes out of Ephesians 5, where Paul is writing about the highest romantic love, instructing husbands and wives how to live together. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he acknowledges that he is not speaking about human marriage at all, but about Jesus and the Church. Paul clearly shows us that human marriage is intended to be a prophetic window into the heart of God concerning Jesus’ love for His Bride, and that when this is clearly seen, understanding about Jesus’ love comes to us.
Therefore, the highest interpretation of Song Of Solomon is as a prophetic picture of Jesus and the Church.
I hope these things encourage your heart as you continue to pursue the Divine Romance.
Blessings on you,
Gary
============
Thanks so much for your note. I appreciate the dilemma you feel as you hear differing opinions about the Song Of Solomon.
Let me answer in a couple of ways. First, the common historical interpretation of Song Of Solomon is allegorical. For example, consider the writings of men like Bernard of Clairvaux and St. John of the Cross, and you will see that their interpretation is entirely allegorical. The advent of the historical/critical method of Scripture interpretation that came on the scene through the rise of German scholarship signaled the beginning of a distaste for allegorical interpretation, because it was far too subjective for the historical/critical mind. However, the bulk of the individuals who wrote about the Song until the late 1800’s were of the allegorical persuasion.
Secondly, there are two events in the life of Jesus that help us with this issue. The first of these happens when Jesus is encountering the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in John 5:17ff. In verse 39 of that passage, Jesus reminds them that they are constantly searching the Scriptures to find life, but “these are they which testify of Me.” So, in Jesus’ own mind, the Scriptures were always pointing to Him.
The second event in Jesus’ life happens during the encounter on the way to Emmaus. The two travelers are without understanding, and Jesus appears to walk with them. It tells us in Luke 24:27 that Jesus began with Moses and the Prophets, and expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Again, Jesus’ self-perception was that He was the focus of all the Old Testament Scriptures, not only the clearly prophetic ones.
Finally, the modern conservative scholarship tells us that Song Of Solomon is merely a poetic book about human romance. I believe this to be inadequate for two reasons. First, it is the Song of all songs. If it is merely about human love, how can this song possibly supercede the songs of worship in the Psalms, or the Revelation, or any simple worship song that exalts the Lord Jesus? But the inspired writer names this book the Song of all songs! I believe it to be the Song of the Lamb that is spoken about in Revelation 15:3, although there is no objective evidence for that.
The second response to the human love interpretation comes out of Ephesians 5, where Paul is writing about the highest romantic love, instructing husbands and wives how to live together. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he acknowledges that he is not speaking about human marriage at all, but about Jesus and the Church. Paul clearly shows us that human marriage is intended to be a prophetic window into the heart of God concerning Jesus’ love for His Bride, and that when this is clearly seen, understanding about Jesus’ love comes to us.
Therefore, the highest interpretation of Song Of Solomon is as a prophetic picture of Jesus and the Church.
I hope these things encourage your heart as you continue to pursue the Divine Romance.
Blessings on you,
Gary
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