cyberjosh
Member
I have to be honest with everyone: the Song of Solomon is a stumbling block to me. I see little theological value for it - only of some temporal (physical) value in marriage (and even Ecclesiastes talks about the vanity of fleshly pleasures - almost as Solomon's "after-commentary" on the Song of Solomon) - and absolutely no eternal value for it, thus probably why we find no NT parallel for it. Though, I must also admit, I mainly have a problem with people's interpretations and applications of it. Let me make it clear though that I don't know how to properly interpret the book or what it says, so I don't claim to have a better interpretation, but nonetheless I sense that there is an abundance of misapplied interpretation of this book. Let me expand upon this and explain. The majority of commentaries that I have read on it are often scant or mediocre on the depth of their commentary on other theologically significant or rich passages in other books of the Bible, [it seems they can't emphathize with the level of passion the writers (prophets, apostles, etc.) of the Bible wrote with concerning the truths of God - and thus can't give a very detailed explanation of theologically rich ideas], yet when they get to Song of Solomon they seem to open up immensely on the topic of the "privilage of sexual & sensual pleasures inside of marriage" (its almost like the only place you see the commentators rejoice or use exclamation points in their entire commentary on the Bible), not to say that I necessarily disagree with that statement (for God surely ordained sex and made it pleasurable to us) but the commentators seem to quickly grab hold of it because it is much more practical and (dare say I) more enjoyable and "understandable" to comment on than the eternal theological truths of God in the rest of the Bible.
Now I know we have had endless debates here already on sex and we never have resolved the issue because it causes dissent and the threads always end with unresolved issues. But I believe that sensuality is of no spiritual value. It may be a physical expression and extention of your true love for your partner but to focus on solely the sensual/physical aspects (as Song of Solomon does) seems lackingly out of its proper context. The passage on Solomon observing the beauty of his mate's body (which grows increasingly erotic) is all fine and good and no doubt enjoyable for the couple, but I'll be darned if the commentators don't exalt that passage to no end. I mean don't they ever read Paul where he says it is actually honorable to remain single unless you lack self control, and in that case marry so you do not burn with lust? [And I personally have to admit my personal musingings of whether you can lust inside of marriage by giving an unhealthy amount of attention to sexual matters to the neglect of spiritual matters]
I mean is this not the same Bible that wrote:
"As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion" (Proverbs 11:22)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. " (Proverbs 31:30)
Where is the cooresponding moral application of "having discretion" and "fearing God" in the Song of Solomon? I absolutely hate the neglect of weightier matters on this topic when people preach or teach from the Song of Solomon and praise the beauty and sensuality one can soak up in marriage... Where is proper theologial focus of this again...?. By itself, standing alone, are those things not what the world already exalts in Playboy, Girl's Gone Wild, Maxim Magazine, etc.? Beauty is fleeting and sensuality outside of God's context for sexual intercourse is useless and vain IMO.
What have you to say on this issue?
Sincerely,
~Josh
Now I know we have had endless debates here already on sex and we never have resolved the issue because it causes dissent and the threads always end with unresolved issues. But I believe that sensuality is of no spiritual value. It may be a physical expression and extention of your true love for your partner but to focus on solely the sensual/physical aspects (as Song of Solomon does) seems lackingly out of its proper context. The passage on Solomon observing the beauty of his mate's body (which grows increasingly erotic) is all fine and good and no doubt enjoyable for the couple, but I'll be darned if the commentators don't exalt that passage to no end. I mean don't they ever read Paul where he says it is actually honorable to remain single unless you lack self control, and in that case marry so you do not burn with lust? [And I personally have to admit my personal musingings of whether you can lust inside of marriage by giving an unhealthy amount of attention to sexual matters to the neglect of spiritual matters]
I mean is this not the same Bible that wrote:
"As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion" (Proverbs 11:22)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. " (Proverbs 31:30)
Where is the cooresponding moral application of "having discretion" and "fearing God" in the Song of Solomon? I absolutely hate the neglect of weightier matters on this topic when people preach or teach from the Song of Solomon and praise the beauty and sensuality one can soak up in marriage... Where is proper theologial focus of this again...?. By itself, standing alone, are those things not what the world already exalts in Playboy, Girl's Gone Wild, Maxim Magazine, etc.? Beauty is fleeting and sensuality outside of God's context for sexual intercourse is useless and vain IMO.
What have you to say on this issue?
Sincerely,
~Josh
