Chapter by Chapter:
Current
Scripture: Summary of Song of Solomon
Summary of Song
of Solomon:
The Song of Solomon is a series of
lyrical poems organized as a dialogue between a young woman and her lover. A
third party, or chorus, occasionally addresses the lovers.
I personally love and agree with Elder Bruce
R. McConkie when he offered up his opinion on the worth of the books of the
Bible… he describes the Bible:
“In the Old Testament, Genesis is
the book of books – a divine account whose worth cannot be measured.
Exodus and Deuteronomy are also of surpassing worth. Numbers,
Joshua, Judges, the Samuels, the Kings, and the Chronicles are all essential
history. Leviticus has no especial application to us. Ruth and
Esther are lovely stories. The Psalms contain marvelous poetry and the
portions that are messianic and that speak of the last days and the Second
Coming are of great import. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations are
interesting books; Job is for people who like the book of Job; and the Song of
Solomon is biblical trash – it is not inspired writing. …all the rest of
the prophets – Isaiah above them all – each in his place and order set forth
the doctrinal and prophetic word that must be studied in depth.” (“The Bible –
A Sealed Book,” Church Education Symposium, BYU, 17 August 1984)
There you have it, the Book of Song
of Solomon is BIBLICAL TRASH, I agree. The book is lustful in nature and really
adds nothing positive to the Bible. But for those who want to know a Summary of
the Book, please keep reading… although there is many ways to look at the Book…
you will find that I did not go into as much detail as I do with other books.
The first poem is spoken by the
young maiden, who longs to be near her lover and enjoy his kisses. She explains
that she has a dark complexion because her family sends her to work in the
vineyards. She searches for her lover, comparing him to a wandering shepherd,
and the chorus encourages her to follow the flocks to his tent.
The lovers lie on a couch together while
the man praises the beauty of his beloved, comparing her to a young mare and
comparing her eyes to that of a dove’s eye. While in bed, the maiden dreams
that she is searching the city streets for her lover and that she finds him and
takes him home. She envisions a lavish wedding procession, in which her happy
bridegroom appears as King Solomon. The man speaks, comparing each part of the
maiden’s body to animals and precious objects. He calls for her to come down
from the mountain peaks to be with him. With intense yearning, he characterizes
her as an enclosed “garden” full of ripe foliage and a flowing fountain (Song
of Solomon 4:12–15). The maiden bids the wind to blow on her garden and
invites the man into the garden. The man dines in the garden and calls for
their friends to celebrate with the lovers.
In another dream, the maiden hears
her lover knocking at her door late one night, but he disappears. Again, she
roams the streets, but this time the city guards accost the maiden. She asks
the “daughters of Jerusalem” to help her find her lover. The chorus asks her to
describe the young man, and she compares each part of his body to precious
metals, jewels, and animals.
The two find each other in the
garden. The man continues to praise each part of the maiden’s body. He bids her
to dance and likens her to a palm tree with breasts like fruit. The maiden
invites her lover to the fields and villages, promising to give him her love
among the blossoming vineyards. She wishes that he were her brother so that
people would not comment about their open displays of affection. She urges him
to “seal” his heart with her love, for love is strong. The maiden thinks back
on her earlier chastity but is glad she has lost it peacefully by finding favor
“in his eyes” (Song of Solomon 8:10). The man says that, while King Solomon
may have many vineyards, he is happy with his one vineyard, the maiden.
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