Chronological Reading Plan for June 1, Song of Solomon 1-8

Today's reading are Song of Solomon 1-8. Tomorrow's are Proverbs 1-3. 

Song of Solomon can be read many ways and is rich in depth and texture. At its simplest level, it is the love song between a groom and his bride, celebrating the physical union a married couple enjoys as one of the blessings of a godly marriage. Israelite wisdom literature treasures and celebrates sexual relationships within the bounds of God ordained and regulated marriage (Gen 2:18-25). It says much about our modern culture that there have been many attempts to reinterpret these passages as something base and, at times, obscene. Then again, man has a tendency to take the beautiful blessings of God and twist them, distorting them from the pure and holy gifts they were intended to be. 

The song can also be read as a beautiful tribute to the mutual love of Christ and His church, although the original author did not have that in mind. Prophetically, it describes the intimate union we, the bride, have with Christ. In its time, it was a poignant description of a godly marriage, an ideal to be aspired to. 

These verses should be read and savored. there are a lot of metaphorical images that don't convey well in a modern context. Few women today would be flattered to hear that their "hair is like a flock of goats" or that their "teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes". But these were gestures of deep affection and profound appreciation, descriptions of beauty in a culture that had vastly different reference points than ours. Throughout the book, you can hear and feel the tenderness and affection these newlyweds have for each other. It's an incredible description of what marriage should be and an even more incredible promise of what eternity in union with Christ will be.