Song of Songs

<p>Good morning, Five Minute Families! God is so very good. His word gives each of us the guidance to interact with people in all the areas of our lives. We just finished a marriage retreat here at Clear View Retreat, and we got to hear how God has worked in those and many other marriages to redeem His people as well as to build up His kingdom.</p><p>In the thought of marriage, let’s discuss - mostly in code to stay family friendly - Song of Songs. Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon as it is also known as, has an interesting interpretation history and even today’s commentaries are often multi-faceted in how to interpret, understand, and apply this eight-chapter book of the Bible. </p><p>One point of interest is that in the Jewish tradition, Song of Songs is followed by the book of Ruth, but in the Christian Bible, it is followed by Isaiah. The importance and interpretation influence where Bible scholars see this book fitting in the overall arch of what God is trying to share with His people, though both of those books point to the coming Christ. </p><p>Previous scholars have taken this book as an allegory of Christ and His bride, whereas the modern application of Song of Songs is straight-forward and taken on face value. These are love poems about two people who are falling in love and learning how to relate with one another within the gifts God gives us through the element of attraction. The great thing about God’s Word here is that as He teaches us His wisdom on waiting for physical intimacy, we learn many principles of self-control and righteousness, and ultimately, we will grow in the area of all the marital intimacies if we so choose.</p><p>But, ultimately, within the poetic narrative of the two people planning and getting married, we see five fundamental principles developed. Douglas O’Donnell in a commentary on The Gospel Coalition’s website states some of them this way, “Patience and purity before passion and pleasure is what [God’s wisdom] instructs.” Let’s explore those four elements and the component th