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Just like the phrase “holy of holies” and “king of kings,” Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) means “the loveliest of songs.” Some Jewish scholars originally interpreted this book allegorically stating that it was describing the love God had for Israel. Others have argued it demonstrates Christ’s love for his bride, the church.
Most today believe this book is a picture of how human love can be expressed under God’s blessing. And yes, the text dabbles in sexual themes which, again, are explored and encouraged within a marriage covenant.
We are told that this book was written by Solomon which is ironic because we learn in others places of Scripture that Solomon was lured away from God by the love of women! I have so many questions. If Solomon actually loved this young maiden (the Shulamite) and she was a real person, who was she? What kind of relationship did he have with her given the fact that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3)? If Solomon was indeed the wisest man to live, what happened with his love life?
In the opening verses, the young maiden in Solomon’s court is daydreaming about her absent lover, the shepherd, and telling her court ladies about him. As the king tries to woo her, she ignores his attempts at flattery, fully content to wait on her shepherd lover.
Charles Spurgeon understood this chapter to be a description of the relationship between the church and Jesus Christ. He preached many sermons on the Song of Solomon, but in one of his most famous sermons, titled “Better Than Wine,” he outlined in specific detail how/why Christ’s love was actually better than wine. It is definitely interesting to consider the themes that are explored contextually in Song of Solomon in comparison to the metanarrative of the Bible as a whole.
Jesus definitely has called the church to be faithful to Him, just as the young maiden stayed faithful. In the OT, the nation of Israel was often divided by the love of a false god. This still happens with believers today. The picture we get of the maiden lover is one of absolute faithfulness. She is totally and completely enamored by the thought of her true love and she will not be persuaded to compromise. Although I am not totally convinced this book is allegorical, it is fascinating to consider how the relationships of Israel, Jesus Christ, and the church overlap with this story.