WARNING: Sexually Explicit Language

WOW!! Can you believe this language is in the Bible? I have been reading the Song of Songs in the Old Testament for this Sunday’s Worship Service and the language is very sexually explicit. Some of the poetic metaphors sound quaint to our modern, western ears, but there is no doubt about what is being said. And I can’t find one mention of God. What is this doing in the Bible? This is a question which has been asked by every generation, even the generation who chose it as a part of the Old Testament. First of all it was by, or about one of their most famous kings; Solomon, who was thought of as having great wisdom. Secondly, I think they saw it as an allegory of Israel’s relationship with God, and even later Christians thought of it as Jesus’ relationship with “his bride”, the church. It is poetry and the fact is that like all art works, even though the artist may have had a purpose in mind, the interpretation of art is eventually left to the audience. If we think of it as an allegory, then it certainly challenges our reserved relationships with God. Here is a God of passion calling forth a deeply emotional and passionate relationship from us; a burning fire of passion for God. But allegory is out of fashion with interpreters now. Others see it as a drama, a poetic play or reading, between Solomon and a young beautiful Shulamite woman who is passionately taken as his sixty-first wife. Or is it a drama about a girl being taken by Solomon against her wishes, who is dreaming about, and wanting her Shepherd Boy lover to come and save her from the harem. Or is it just a series of love poems to celebrate the joy of sex. It certainly infers that sex is part of our life, given by God for us to enjoy. It is worthy of celebration, but in the context of true love. Not to be used flippantly or casually, but in the context of commitment and marriage. However burning hot the passion, without due care you can easily get burnt.

Adrian