Song of Solomon

Besides the story of Esther, Song of Solomon is the only other book in the Bible that does not mention the word 'God'. So why is it included in the inspired canon of scripture, when a cursory reading seems to suggest that it's a collection of love poems in prose and dialogue form?

The Hebrew title Shir Hashirim—Song of Songs—is superlative among the 1005 songs which Solomon wrote (1 Kings 4:32), despite the debates and contentions regarding its authorship. The name Solomon is mentioned seven times (1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11-12) along with a lesser number of queens and concubines (6:8 vs 1 Kings 11:3) at the time this song was written.

While the original text provides no proper delineations to help readers distinguish who is speaking to whom throughout the book, it is not difficult to make out the voices of three parties involved, namely the beloved, the Shulamite girl, and a chorus of female attendees, aptly named 'the daughters of Jerusalem'. And like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this divinely inspired romance piece is played out in stages, beginning with courtship and ending in the consummation of love in marriage.

In this age of sexual promiscuity and moral laxity, Song of Solomon is perhaps the best gift from God that exemplify the excellence of fidelity in love and marriage in which a man and woman celebrate their sexual intimacy and union. But much more than that, it depicts the mystery of the marriage relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church, of which the songwriter Samuel John Stone wrote:

The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation by water and the Word.

From heav'n he came and sought her to be his holy bride;

With his own blood he bought her and for her life he died.

Indeed—love divine, all loves exceling!

OUTLINE OF SONG OF SOLOMON

1. The Courtship of Love (1:1-5:1)

a. Act I—Falling in Love (1:1-2:7)

Shulamite girl in love

Inside the king's private chambers

Friends' response

Shulamite girl defends her look

Beloved's captivation

Mutual admiration

b. Act II—Longing in Love (2:8-3:5)

Beloved's visitation

Shulamite girl's hesitation

Search in desperation

c. Act III—Uniting in Love (3:6-5:1)

Beloved's true identity revealed

Beloved's expression of love

Beloved's marriage proposal

2. The Consummation of Love (5:2-8:14)

a. Act IV—Struggling in Love (5:2-6:3)

Missed opportunity

Shulamite girl's lovesickness

Friends' query

Shulamite girl's praise of her Beloved

b. Act V—Maturing in Love (6:4-8:14)

Beloved's desire for intimacy

Shulamite girl's acceptance

Shulamite girl's declaration of love

Friends' promise to protect

United in love—at last!