Tuesday: A Loving Knowledge
Many have seen a “return to Eden” theme in the Song of Solomon. Though the couple described is not the first man and woman, the poem calls to mind the earliest garden. God’s plan that they be “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24-25) is portrayed throughout in delicate metaphors and symbols.
How does the Song of Solomon present a commitment to mutuality in the intimate life of the married couple? Song of Sol. 4:7-5:1. How is Paul’s instruction of 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 similar?
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Solomon invites her, “Come with me” (Song of Sol. 4:8). His bride responds. Later she invites him, “Let my beloved come into his garden” (Song of Sol. 4:16). He responds (Song of Sol. 5:1). Scripture here teaches there is to be no force or manipulation in this intimate setting. Into this relationship both partners freely and lovingly enter. “My garden” is “his garden”.
“Solomon” and “Shulamith” share names that are derivatives of the Hebrew shalom, “peace”, or “wholeness”. Their admiration is mutual (Song of Sol. 4:1-5, Song of Sol. 5:10-16). The balance in their relationship is evidenced even in the poetic style of paired lines and verses. The covenant expression “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (Song of Sol. 2:16) echoes the language of Eden, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23).
How does the description of the marital union as “knowing” enrich our understanding of our relationship with God? Gen. 4:1, Gen 4:25; 1 Sam. 1:19; Luke 1:34; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:3.
The Bible uses know for the intimate union of husband and wife. In this loving “knowledge”, the most hidden inner depths of their beings are offered to the other. Not only two bodies but also two hearts are joined in “one flesh”. Know also describes the relationship between individuals and God. For the discerning Christian the unique and tender knowledge of marriage, with its companionship, commitment, and unbounded delight, provides a profound insight into the most sublime and holy mystery ever, the union of Christ and the church.
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I looked up the "know" in an interlined Hebrew Bible to check whether the use of know/knew for sexual intercourse was in the original language or just an artifact of prudish 17th-century academics. It is in the original Hebrew. and is the same word used for when you want to say that you have information or understand something.
It could be that the original Hebrew writers were a bit prudish but I rather suspect, as do the lesson authors that term was used intentionally to indicate that sex was something more than just the use of the appropriate plumbing.
Christian churches like to moralize against sexual activity outside of the marriage union but we have a problem because so many marriage unions are failing. Rather than pointing the finger at those we perceive as doing wrong, perhaps we should do more to encourage those in marriage unions to grow and develop their relationships positively. When I lived on a dairy farm in my youth, if you wanted to keep the cows in the paddock, you ensured that the paddock was full or nutritious ryegrass and clover. It was only when the paddock was getting down to thistles and nutgrass that the cows would jump the fence to seek other pastures.
We have much to learn about improving and developing our relationships so that they are rich and rewarding. How about commenting with some postive ideas on this?
Maurice;
I definitely agree with you on this, and probably, maybe, we need to examine why we opt to project our problems to others or why in the first place do we find ourselves moralising the "adulterous" affairs in others, while not counseling or advising our own.
In the beginning this week's lesson, the author pointed us towards a real issue;and I quote:-
*In fact, the Song of Solomon, one of the smallest and perhaps one of the least-read books of the Bible,*
This speaks volumes on how we conduct our Christian walk. There is too much "sanitisation" of scripture at times to a point that we tend "in our own ways" to correct meaning in scripture or run away from it (telling ourselves "they never existed"). In a way, Christians today, behave as though intimacy is taboo or a waste of time against God's mission. It is for that reason that today, so many homes suffer in silence as no one is ready to talk about such true challenges in "wife to husband" relationship. Intimacy is placed as a "by-the-way" activity and has impacted the home in a great degree. Christians in a way tend to think that Solomon's expressions in Song of Songs is obsessive or to some degree "perverted", they thus result to shun the book in its entirety.
But if we understood the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5, we could thrust more effort towards building a better environment for intimacy in married couples. Instead of living in denial, it is time to come out to the open and express to each other the struggles our relationships are undergoing and try to replenish our intimacy. We have to be sincere and clear, avoiding the matter of hiding behind "wrongly understood" scripture. Today, our relationships are hurt because instead of building a marriage relationship aided by church members, we are in search of those who have strayed; will stray or intend to stray, as result the marriage relationship is left open for attack and abuse.
It is now time we build these relationships. By extension if we build one, we will avoid that one from straying away. Christians today, need to be open enough to address the issue of intimacy in marriage.
Maurice, I always enjoy reading your comments! I grew up on a farm in old South West Africa and I learnt the facts of the bird and the bees first hand from the animals on the farm. Your little allegory of the cows in the paddock is so relevant in our day. However as human beings God has given us choices. My husband was a pilot and away from home a lot. It is in cases like that where total trust is all we can have... as the luscious grass on the other side of the fence can become more than a man can deny! Doubt and jealousy can ruin a marriage and should never be indulged. In our 53 years together we have survived much, but we have never doubted or questioned each others fidelity. As time goes on our faith in the Lord has grown from a mustards seed to a tall tree and our heritage is great!
It is obvious there is something wrong with the "Christian" institution of marriage when half of them end in divorce (just like secular society) and many stay together for the "sake of ...(fill in the blank)." I wonder how "total member involvement" addresses this crucial but neglected issue.
Thank you Maurice. I teach a SS class in Brisbane (Oz) and in studies like this, I'm thankful for comments and fresh thoughts that will explain ancient texts and concepts to younger minds.
Marital relationships today may seem different than at king Solomon's time. But the essence is still the same. A relationship to practice patience and partnership in all aspects! Has marriage been outdated? I don't think so. People just try to review it but the institution withstands! A marriage can help people to develop the balance between intimacy and respect. There is a lot of choices regarding the contract between two persons, but to make this work with content for both parties takes great effort.
When I was a young man, just entering my teenage years, I used to read the adult lesson study guide and corresponding Bible verses for my dad, who was not able to read and write. A few years later, as a young adult and a young single elder in the church, I was the class teacher for my parents' adult class, largely made up of persons who were not able to read very well. The class comprised senior adults who were much more 'experienced' than I was.
I chuckle to think how awkward it would have been for me to discuss today's lesson, either as a 13 year-old or as young elder, in the presence of my parents and the other senior members of my class. I probably would have respectfully declined to lead out in the discussion.
This to me illustrates the point, that although sex is holy, and certainly not shameful, it is also a very private matter, with details that cannot be openly shared with everyone. Often we have a hard time talking about it and maintaining a straight face. This was, and still is, true in my somewhat-conservative West Indian society, and I can imagine, also true in other societies where 'sex talk' is even more suppressed.
Over and over in the verses we are asked to study today and tomorrow we find "Solomon" having an affair with HIS SISTER!
Song 4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart, MY SISTER, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
Song 5:1 I am come into my garden, MY SISTER, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
Scripture is clear! Incest is sin, an abomination! AND nowhere do we find recorded in Scripture he, Solomon married any of his sisters!
Again this is NOT about what this lesson continues to emphasize! It IS about Christ and HIS Church, HIS Bride - those that have Christ character manifested in their lives- the 144,000!
First of all, thank you for your comment.
Now let me ask if you are familiar with the practice of calling women "sisters" in the church. If you are, you should know that, even in English, the word "sister" can mean something other than a blood relative.
The same is true in the Bible. Especially in the Hebrew language, context makes all the difference, because the vocabulary is rather small. When the writer speaks to "my sister, my spouse," it becomes clear that he is not speaking to his blood sister.
Secondly, the word used for "sister" in the Song of Solomon is also used to mean "another," "together with," and "other" - providing more evidence that a literal interpretation of "sister" as one having the same father or mother is not necessary.
Thirdly, it would be helpful if you would supply some internal evidence that demonstrates that the book is about Christ and His church, rather than a man and a woman.
As it stands, you appear to be using the allegorical method of interpretation which was popular in the Dark Ages and paved the way for all sorts of non-biblical doctrines and practices. Further, it nurtured the attitude that only the "learned" could understand the Bible, putting up another barrier for the people beyond a foreign language.
The Reformers soundly rejected this method of interpretation in favor of one that takes the Bible literally except when context clearly indicates that a figurative reading is intended.
For more on this subject, you can check out:
"Origen: The Father of Allegorical Interpretation" and "Luther and Biblical Interpretation."
The author and editors of the lesson have commendably followed the Protestant principle of taking the Bible as it reads, except when context indicates that the language is figurative. This has led them to emphasize that humanity is *one* in body and spirit - not a duality of good spirit and evil body.
My personal opinion is that it is about time that we publicly affirm that God invented sex, not Satan!
In all the years I have been married to my wife I have NEVER called her "my sister." Secondly the Hebrew word used there is used 116 times throughout the OT, 106 times "sister." 6 x "another". Have a real hard time believing Solomon was saying "my another, my spouse!" Also there is no evidence Jews called fellow believers brothers or sisters.
Now whether or not you wish to accept this particular song that God choose to include, (excluding the other 1004 songs) IS indeed an allegory is for you to decide. Sometime ago a tragic accident happen in Miriam Elizabeth Ford's family. Her granddaughter was riding on a tractor her grandfather was driving. She fell off. Her left arm was severed, left leg severely damaged. Miriam, the grandmother, was greatly upset God let this happened. Asked why! God kept pointing her to a verse in the Song of Solomon. It was chapter 1 verse 13. She was not happy, telling God she did not need THAT book, a book dealing with a sensual love song between Solomon and one of his thousand women!
God kept pointing here to this book, specially that verse. Okay she decided to study in detail that book. In the end she wrote a book about what God revealed to her. Doug Bachelor found out about it and got himself a copy. I got when it first came out! To my surprise the book indeed is about Christ and HIS Bride, the 144,000! The title of the book is "My King and I" by Miriam Ford.
According to Jewish tradition Solomon not only gave a copy of
THAT song to all dignitaries that came to find out about his wisdom. Some even believe he had it done as a "play" to reveal God's love for His people!
The fact that you have never called your wife "sister" doesn't change the fact that Solomon apparently did refer to his bride with a term that is most often translated as "sister" in English. Given the various ways the original Hebrew word is used, it appears to mean someone very close yet different - someone intimately connected. As I believe I have mentioned before, Hebrew has a very small vocabularly compared to English, thus the same word serves for different meanings, dependent on context. Essentially that means that your argument re the precise meaning of the word is a non-starter.
But I do thank you for sharing where you got the idea that the Song of Solomon is not about a real man and a real woman but is primarily an allegory. I'm happy to hear that Miriam was comforted by that text in the Song of Solomon which assured her of God's love for her In response, I'll share another story that demonstrates that God uses all sorts of ways to reach people.
Lester, the best-known town drunk in a little village of Nova Scotia had once been a Seventh-day Adventist colporteur. As he was drinking with his cousin and drinking buddy one evening, they were both drunk, but his cousin looked up at Lester and said, "You know, Lester, Jesus is lonely for you. It says right in the Bible, 'I am meek and lonely in heart.'" Since Lester had known a bit of loneliness in his life, this really touched his heart, cutting right through the alcoholic fog in his brain. The next Sabbath found him in the back of the little church where my husband was pastor. My husband reviewed our doctrines with him, and Lester was baptized after being miraculously cured of his desire for tobacco. (His desire for alcohol was another story.)
Lester became a well-loved member of our church, and I still remember him fondly. It was a full two years after his re-conversion that Lester discovered that the actual reading of Matthew 11:29 was "I am meek and lowly in heart," not "I am meek and lonely in heart."
Since Lester had a genuine word from God about Jesus being lonely for Him (which He certainly was), should Lester have written an article to argue that the real meaning of Matthew 11:29 is "I am meek and lonely in heart"? (This is just one example of creative ways God uses to speak to people. A
thus an example of God using a text a certain way for one person does not necessarily mean that that's the original intended meaning of the text.)
Daniel, I'm afraid that your comments re "an affair with his sister" are not reflective of the actual text.
First of all, he calls her "my sister, my spouse." That's not an "affair."
Secondly, it is possible that the woman was a half-sister, but it is not necessary, as I pointed out earlier, since the word "sister" does not always mean blood relative.
Consider that Abraham was married to his half-sister, and he was the "father of the faithful." Also, when Amnon, Solomon's brother, forced their half-sister Tamar (2 Sam 2:13, 7-12) she pointed out that if he *asked* to marry her, King David, their father, would not refuse to allow them to marry. (2 Sam 13:13-14) So it appears that in Solomon's time it was considered acceptable to marry one's half-sister. (But I personally doubt that that's what Solomon is writing about, but we can't definitively prove it one way or another.)
You are correct in implying that marrying one's half-sister was forbidden, but it is not accurate that it was called an "abomination" in the KJV (the only version likely to use that word). In the same context, it was forbidden to have sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period.
At any rate, Solomon calling his bride "sister and spouse" does not demonstrate that the book is not to be read as relations between a real man and a real woman.
It seems quite hypocritical to me how a Polygamist who had about 1000 wives and concubines could even sincerely write about a special love for just one of those woman in his life. I mean, just think of it: if he were to have a romantic experience with one of those wives or concubines per day, it would take him close to three years to get around to being romantic with the first one again, right? So then how would he even have time to even have a special love for just one of them at all?
You're right that it would be hypocritical of someone as the apostate Solomon to write about"a special love for just one of those woman in his life."
But that's not the man who wrote the Song of Songs. The Solomon who wrote this book of love poems is found in 1 Kings 3:3-16.
I understand your point but even in today's world some promiscuous person will relate a story of a person who has/had captivated their heart in an unforgettable way.
God is just wonderful! The bible is a manual with real life situation for anyone looking answer(s) to meet various trials or experiences. God is a balance God!
Proverbs was surely written at the end of Solomon's life when he looked back on his life and had returned to the Lord. His love song could have been written when he experienced true love as a young man before all the alliances with the surrounding nations filled the harem. One tends to concentrate on the many wives and concubines, forgetting or not knowing that in Solomon's day a king would give his daughter to seal a peace deal. It is very likely that Solomon 'sealed the deal' and never slept with that woman again. We tend to interpret everything in our modern concept of things and by doing that we loose the plot. That's why it's so important to pray for guidance before opening God's word and not only to read but take into consideration the customs of time it was written.