I greatly enjoyed seeing the patterns developed in Song of Solomon.
Notice the repeated sections known as "refrains." These refrains help me to understand that this was indeed a song to be song. The “I charge you” refrains of 2:7, 3:5, 5:8, and 8:4 are now circled and connected in my Bible as are the “mutual” refrains of 2:16, 6:3, and 7:10. The “hurry up” refrains of 2:17 and 8:14 also are noteworthy in my understanding that we are dealing with a beautiful song and not merely a developing narrative.
The parallels also seen in 4:1 and 6:4 are good also as they help us understand a re-occurring theme or situation in their lives. I love parallels and patterns in Scripture so this invited me to study even more.
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2 comments:
Song of Solomon has always bewildered me.
While there are many specific verses that are exceedingly meaningful, and I am aware of the commentaries describing this book in various ways, including a metaphor of our love relationship with Chris...sitll, when I read SoS, I always end up wondering about the sexual content and inferences and why this paraticular relationship is displayed for us in the way that it is.
Someday, I'll have to study OT societal customs in re: to courtship practices. That may clear up my confusion.
I mean why was this maiden out looking for her "lover" in the middle of the night, for instance? And why is that in there? And why is he talking about her breasts? What kind of premarital relationship is this, anyway?
(I don't expect you to answer those questions, it's just the kind of thing I wonder as I read.)
Anyway. I appreciated this post. Although... that book holds an awful lot of words for a song, doessn't it?
Deb
Deb,
Thank you for stopping in. If you will pick one of the questions in your response, we can talk about it. Which one first?
Brother Bill
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