Jacqui: 0:12

Greetings listeners. Have you ever read a book of the Bible and thought wait, what is this doing here? Well, if you've ever flipped to Song of Songs just the first four verses, for instance you might have had that exact reaction. It's full of passionate poetry, romantic longings and vivid descriptions of love and marriage. At first glance, it might seem more like a collection of love letters than a book of the Bible. So why is the Song of Songs in Scripture, what does it teach us and how should we read it? That's exactly what we're unpacking today. Well, welcome everyone.

Jacqui: 1:01

I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks. Today we're diving into one of the most poetic and unique books in Scripture Song of Songs, and unique books in scripture Song of Songs. We're going to explore what Song of Songs is, who wrote it, why it's in the Bible and what it teaches us about love and relationships. We'll talk about its rich poetic imagery, key verses and practical lessons that still apply today. So let's start with the basics. What's the title of this book and what does it tell us? Well, the official name of this book is Song of Songs, which in Hebrew means the greatest song, kind of like how King of Kings means the greatest king. This title tells us that this just isn't any love song. It's the best one and depending on your Bible translation, you might see it called Song of Solomon, since it's connected to King Solomon. But no matter which title your Bible uses, the meaning is the same. This is a book of poetry celebrating love, romance and marriage. Now here's where things get interesting. How should we actually read this book? Is it a literal love poem or does it have a hidden spiritual meaning? Let's talk about that next.

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For centuries people have debated how to interpret Song of Songs. There are two main views the allegorical approach and the literal approach. Some people, especially in early Jewish and Christian traditions, saw this book as an allegory meaning. It's not really about human love, but about something deeper. In Jewish tradition it's seen as a picture of God's love for Israel. In Christian tradition, some believe it represents Christ's love for the church, as seen in Ephesians 5: 25 through 32. But if we just read the text as it is, it's clearly a love poem between two real people, a bride and a groom, expressing their deep affection for each other.

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Let's look at Genesis 2:24. It reads that is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. This verse reminds us that God himself created love, marriage and intimacy. They weren't human inventions, they were part of God's plan from the very beginning. Song of Songs reflects this truth by celebrating the beauty of love in a committed relationship. And then there's Proverbs 18:22. . Proverbs backs this up and finally, Hebrews 13:4 perfectly captures the heart of this book. It tells us that marriage is something to be honored and cherished. It reads. So today we're taking the literal approach, reading Song of Songs as a beautiful celebration of love, passion and marriage, something that God himself designed and called good.

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Now, if this book is a love poem, who wrote it? Let's find out. If you flip to Song of Songs, chapter one, verse one, the very first verse, it says Solomon's Song of Songs. So does that mean Solomon wrote it? Maybe, but there are actually two possibilities. The traditional view is that Solomon himself wrote it, which makes sense because 1 Kings, chapter 4, verse 32, tells us that Solomon composed 1,005 songs. This could have been his greatest one. Plus, the book mentions royal imagery, fancy chariots and descriptions of wealth, which fits Solomon's time. But some scholars argue that the book was written about Solomon, not by him. The Hebrew wording in chapter 1, verse 1 could mean a song dedicated to Solomon rather than a song written by Solomon. Either way, solomon is a key figure in this book. But when was it written? Well, if Solomon wrote it, or if it was written during his reign, that would place it around 970 to 930 BC, making it one of the older books in the Bible. But some scholars believe it was written later, based on certain language patterns that seem different from Solomon's time. Either way, this book has been cherished for thousands of years as a beautiful reflection of love and commitment. Now that we've discussed who wrote it and when, let's talk about what kind of book this is. What's its genre?

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Song of Songs is part of the Bible's wisdom literature, along with Proverbs, job and Ecclesiastes. But unlike those books, this one doesn't give us proverbs or moral instructions. It gives us wisdom through poetry. Moral instructions. It gives us wisdom through poetry. It teaches us about the beauty of love, the importance of commitment and the wisdom of waiting for love in the right time and way. Chapter 2, verse 7, reads do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. That's a great example of wisdom in this book. It reminds us that love and passion should happen in the right time and in the right way. In this case, the consummation of their love must wait for the wedding, when the time would be right. So while Song of Songs isn't filled with sayings like Proverbs, it still offers deep wisdom about relationships, faithfulness and the value of true love.

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The poetry of Song of Songs is rich and powerful, full of vivid imagery that paints pictures of love, beauty and desire. Some of the poetic language in this book might sound a little unusual to us. The couple compares their beloved or their romance to the finest things in nature. Their love is described like eating fruit in the shade of a tree. Wine, spices and nature are used to symbolize passion and beauty. The woman, whose body and love are described three times by her groom, is often pictured as a garden or vineyard full of fragrance, fruit and delight. The man's body, on the other hand, is only described once by the woman speaking to the daughters of Jerusalem, but she uses a whole range of images to praise him, from polished ivory to gold and cedar trees.

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Now let's look at an example of how poetic language works. In Song of Songs, in chapter 4, verse 2, the groom tells his bride your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn coming up from the washing. Okay, now imagine someone saying that on the first date today Wow, your teeth look like freshly washed sheep. That might not go over too well, but back in ancient Israel that was a huge compliment. It meant her teeth were white, clean and even, basically, she had a great smile. So understanding the poetic nature of this book helps us appreciate its beauty instead of getting lost in cultural differences. All right, now that we know this is a love poem full of vivid imagery, let's talk about where and when it takes place.

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Unlike historical books in the Bible, song of Songs doesn't give us a clear setting with dates and locations, but from the descriptions we can piece some things together. There are references to gardens, vineyards and the countryside, which suggests that a lot of the romance happens in a rural setting. But there are also mentions of royal imagery, which could mean parts of the book are set in Solomon's Palace. Some scholars think the story moves between two settings a countryside love story and a royal wedding celebration. But wherever it takes place, the focus is less on the location and more on the love between the couple. And speaking of the couple, who are the main characters in this book? Let's meet them. Let's meet them.

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Song of Songs has a small cast of characters, but each one plays an important role in the story. First there's the bride, often referred to as the Beloved. She's the main female voice in the book. She expresses deep longing and desire for her groom and she's sometimes called the Shulamite woman. Then there's the groom, the lover. He's the male lead, often assumed to be Solomon. He praises his bride's beauty, commits to her fully and celebrates their love. Then there are the friends, referred to as the daughters of Jerusalem. This group acts like a chorus, responding and interacting with the bride and groom throughout the poem. They offer encouragement, such as in chapter 1, verse 4,. They say we rejoice and delight in you. But sometimes they challenge the bride, like in chapter 5, verse 9, how is your beloved better than others? They seem to be close companions of the bride, almost like bridesmaids, offering commentary throughout the poem. And lastly, there's the bride's brothers. Unlike the friends, the bride's brothers play a more protective role in her life. They only appear briefly but seem concerned about her future.

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In chapter 8, verses 8 through 9, we see, quote we have a little sister. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? Unquote. This suggests that they took responsibility for her purity and reputation before marriage. Some scholars even believe they were the ones who kept her busy in the vineyards. As she says in chapter 1, verse 6b, quote my mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards. My own vineyard I had to neglect unquote. So we have a love story between a bride and groom, with the friends cheering them on and the brothers looking out for the sister.

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Now let's talk about the overall storyline of the book. Here's a brief summary. It's a poetic love story between a bride, the beloved, and a groom, the lover, as they express their deep love and desire for each other. The book follows their relationship through three main movements. First there's courtship, and that's chapter one through three. The couple expresses their attraction and longing for one another. The bride eagerly awaits her groom and their love blossoms like a garden in spring. Then there's the wedding and marriage, and that's chapters four through five. The groom praises his bride's beauty and they celebrate their love in a committed, intimate relationship. And the third movement is mature love. That's chapters six through eight. The couple's love deepens over time, showing that true love is strong, enduring and unbreakable. While there are some shifts in perspective, including the chorus of friends commenting on the relationship, the central theme remains the same Love is a gift from God meant to be cherished, protected and celebrated.

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Now let's highlight some key verses. There are so many beautiful verses in Song of Songs, but here are a few that really stand out. Chapter 2, verse 16, quote my beloved is mine and I am his. Unquote. This verse is a perfect summary of love in marriage. It's about belonging to each other in a deep, committed way. Then there's chapter 4, verse 7. Quote you are altogether beautiful, my darling. There is no flaw in you. Unquote. Now, obviously no one is perfect, but this verse shows us that real love sees beauty and worth in the other person, beyond just appearances.

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And then there's chapter 8, verses 6 through 7. Love is as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love. Rivers cannot sweep it away. This is one of the most powerful statements about love in the entire Bible. It describes the kind of love that is enduring. Floodwaters or difficulty can't extinguish it and wealth can't buy it. These verses remind us that love is deep, strong and lasting, something that God designed to be cherished and protected.

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But that brings us to a big question why is this book in the Bible at all? Unlike many other books of the Bible, song of Songs doesn't talk about Israel's history. It doesn't contain laws and get this. God's name isn't even mentioned, except maybe in one verse, chapter 8, verse 6. Also, it's not quoted at all in the New Testament. So why is it included?

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Well, first, it reminds us that love and intimacy were created by God. Sometimes people think faith is separate from emotions or relationships, but here we see that God designed love, romance and intimacy. And second, it protects the idea of love from being cheapened. In a world where love and intimacy are often distorted, this book reminds us that real love is about commitment, joy and mutual respect. No matter how you read it, one thing is clear God is the author of love and he created it to be something good.

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Now, what are some practical applications? Well, song of Songs isn't just ancient poetry. It does have real-life wisdom we can apply today. Here are a few takeaways for all of us, whether we're single, dating or married. First, as I've already said many times, love is a gift from God. Romance, physical attraction and intimacy are not bad things. They're God's idea, but they're meant to be enjoyed within the boundaries he set within marriage. Song of Songs reminds us that love is a gift to be cherished, not taken lightly. Second speak life into your relationships.

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One of the most striking things about Song of Songs is how the couple speaks to each other. They affirm, encourage and cherish one another. That's a great reminder for all of us. Our words have power. Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death. The tongue has the power of life and death. Whether in friendships, dating or marriage, we should use our words to build each other up, not tear each other down. And three love is more than a feeling. It's a commitment.

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The love and song of songs isn't just about emotions. It's about devotion and faithfulness and perseverance. It reminds us that true love isn't just about emotions. It's about devotion and faithfulness and perseverance. It reminds us that true love isn't just about how we feel today, but about choosing each other every single day. First Corinthians 13: 7 says love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. So, whether you're in a relationship or not. This book reminds us to value love, the way God does, as something precious, pure and worth protecting. As we wrap up, let's remember Song of Songs is a book of joy. It's a reminder that love, commitment and intimacy were all part of God's good design.

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From the beginning, we talked about what the book is, who wrote it and how its poetry uses vivid imagery to describe love. We explore key themes like faithfulness, waiting for love at the right time and the power of true commitment, and we saw how this book reminds us that love and intimacy were designed by God and when we follow his plan, they become something truly beautiful. So, as you go about your day, think about the relationships in your life. How can you reflect God's love in the way you treat others? How can you encourage and uplift those around you? What positive and affirmative things can you celebrate in your relationships and about the people in your life? I hope this episode encouraged you and encourage you to read the Song of Songs. For those of you who've already read it, I hope it gave you a fresh perspective on the book. Until next time, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith so that we spread God's word further. Please share, like, follow, comment and subscribe.