Song of Solomon 1 · a question people ask
How do Christians read the Song: chiefly as a poem of love between a man and a woman, or chiefly as a picture of the love of God for his people?
The Song doesn't say how it is to be read. It opens, "The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s" (1:1), and its voices speak to each other: "Behold, you are beautiful, my love" (1:15), and "Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved" (1:16). Christians read it in two main ways, each resting on its verses, and these notes don't choose between them. Both agree that the Song is Scripture; that its words speak of a man and a woman and their love; that the New Testament never quotes it or names it; and that Genesis 2:24 is quoted by Jesus (Matthew 19:1, 19:4-5) and by Paul (Ephesians 1:1, 5:31). None of the verses outside the Song that these readings rest on names the Song. And many hold both together, in differing measure. Later chapters point back to this question and don't argue it again.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Chiefly a poem of the love of a man and a woman
Those who read it this way take the Song chiefly as a poem of the love of a man and a woman, which they take as love within marriage. They rest on the Song's own words: "Come with me from Lebanon, my bride" (4:8); "the day of his weddings" (3:11); "I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine" (6:3); "for love is strong as death" (8:6); and the charge "that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires" (2:7, 8:4). They read it beside Genesis, where the LORD God says, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18), and Genesis goes on to say, "Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24); beside "Rejoice in the wife of your youth" (Proverbs 5:18); and beside Jesus' words (Matthew 19:1, 19:4-5), "So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart" (Matthew 19:6). On this reading, the Song is first of all about that love.
Song of Solomon 2:7 · Song of Solomon 3:11 · Song of Solomon 4:8 · Song of Solomon 6:3 · Song of Solomon 8:4 · Song of Solomon 8:6 · Genesis 2:18 · Genesis 2:24 · Proverbs 5:18 · Matthew 19:1 · Matthew 19:4-6
Chiefly a picture of the love of God for his people
Those who read it this way take the Song chiefly as a picture of the love between God and his people, and between Christ and the church. They rest on other Scripture that speaks of that love as a marriage: "I will betroth you to me forever" (Hosea 2:19); "For your Maker is your husband" (Isaiah 54:5); "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:5); and "your love as a bride" (Jeremiah 2:2). They read it beside Paul (Ephesians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1): "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly" (Ephesians 5:25), "This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly" (Ephesians 5:32), and "I promised you in marriage to one husband" (2 Corinthians 11:2); beside "the wedding of the Lamb has come" (Revelation 19:7) and "prepared like a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2); and beside Jesus' words, "Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them?" (Mark 2:19). On this reading, the Song is first of all about that love.
Hosea 2:19 · Isaiah 54:5 · Isaiah 62:5 · Jeremiah 2:2 · Ephesians 1:1 · Ephesians 5:25 · Ephesians 5:31-32 · 2 Corinthians 1:1 · 2 Corinthians 11:2 · Revelation 19:7 · Revelation 21:2 · Mark 2:19-20
The verses
“The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.”
“Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves. Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.”
“Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.”
“When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.”