Song of Solomon

I have recently started reading Song of Solomon together with my wife in our family Bible reading time (when this time gets the priority it deserves!) 

The marriage relationship is a helpful context to read Song of Solomon. Though it is often neglected, there are many different contexts in which people read and study this unique section of Scripture. I have no doubt that many a young man with Christian parents has taken a naughty peek here and there, as an act of rebellion. I've heard of Christian's that don't read it until after they are married. Where I work, as part of their training, the staff meet one on one with our student leaders for an hour every week to pray, read the Bible and talk about how we're serving Jesus. Last year, one of the male staff was meeting up with a male student leader and in thinking through how to read the Old Testament, one of them suggested Song of Solomon. As in all situations where there is a long section of scripture to be read aloud, they decided to divide the reading between them, notably they divided between the male and female parts. After a few minutes of reading to each other in the packed uni cafe they decided another approach may be more appropriate.

Another context where Song of Solomon is rarely found is being studied in church. On this note, kudos to Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church Seattle. Never one to back down from a challenge, Driscoll relishes in teaching on controversial doctrines and sections of Scripture where others fear to tread. However, his sermon series on Song of Solomon has recently come in for some criticism. This is mainly because he has chosen to use the book as a "how-to" sex manual for Christians.

For the record, I have not listened to all of this series. One of the ministers from church told me he felt like a cold shower after listening, which still hasn't piqued my interest enough to download them. However I did get a sampling of the upcoming series when Driscoll spoke at a number of events in Australia last year. I won't go into the specifics of what he said, partly because it was to a group of men, and partly because I don't want my blog to be high on a google search of the particular activities described. The example was a colourful interpretation of a metaphor from Song of Solomon 2:3,

his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Let's just say, the activity justified by this metaphor was a stretch at best.

For the record though, I thought it may be helpful to others if I list some more of the other metaphors from chapter 2 that you could abuse for the sake of expanding the list of sanctified marriage activities.

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples   - 2:5

he grazes among the lilies   - 2:16

be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains   - 2:17

It is important to celebrate the way God has created us and our bodies and marriage. It is important to not be scared of speaking of these matters in appropriate environments. But like with all parts of the Bible, it must be read carefully. Marriage is a great gift of God to be celebrated and the only context in which to enjoy 'grazing among the lilies'.