The Bible OverBrew - Bible in a Yearنموونە

Week 33. Day 1. Song of Songs.

This song celebrates the love between the king and his bride, in language that echoes the paradise of Eden. It is a beautiful story of love that triumphs even over times of separation and alienation. Though in recent times it has been more common to see this song as a celebration of human love and marriage (albeit with applications then to God and his people), for the purposes of this reading, try reading it as first and foremost an allegory about the love between Christ the king and his bride the church. The way God will bring his people back to Eden paradise is by bringing them back to himself.

Here is one possible outline that may help with your reading

Ch 1-2 Declarations of love. (Note: 2:10-17 may be Solomon’s proposal)

3:1-5 Bride’s dream

3:6-4:16 Solomon arrives for the wedding

4:16-5:1 Consummation

5:2-8:7 Married life

8:8-14 Final words

As you read:

• Look for references to Eden
• What are the barriers to love?
• How does the king feel about his bride?
• How does the bride feel about the king?

For reflection: how does the book of Song of Songs enrich our view of Christ?