If you ever catch National Radio on a weekday afternoon (something I don't necessarily recommend), you might catch the host ringing up someone to find out what they think is the greatest song ever written.
Fortunately for the Bible believer, there is no guesswork or opinion needed to answer this question. According to the Holy Spirit the Song of Solomon is “The song of songs!” This fact is not up for debate - there is no greater song ever written!
Many songs can be found throughout the Bible. Exodus 15 records the song of Moses and the children of Israel as they praised God at the Red Sea for his victory over the Egyptians. Deut. 31-32 records a song of warning for the nation of Israel about the dangers of disobeying God. Revelation 15 records yet another song of Moses that will be sung in heaven. Deborah has a song of victory recorded in Judges 5 and Hannah praises the Lord through song in I Samuel 2. Psalms is a book of true praise and worship music while God sings about his people being like a vineyard in Isaiah 5. Lamentations is an inspired funeral dirge and Habakkuk 3 was a prayer with musical accompaniment. Revelation 5 and 14 even go so far as to record songs that will be sung in heaven in praise of the Lord!
All of these are inspired scripture. Some transcend earth to grace the heavenly realm – and yet we are told a 3000 year old love poem is above all of these? Why?
The only way to answer this question is to look at the subject matter. Remember that all of scripture can be viewed from one of three perspectives:
Historically the setting of the Song of Solomon is a love poem or song between King Solomon and his favourite wife sung about 1014 BC.
Doctrinally it quickly becomes apparent not far into this book that there is a spiritual aspect to this relationship that is simply not possible between two normal, human beings. Although many doctrinal interpretations have been suggested over the years, the primary teaching of the book centers on the love between the Lord Jesus Christ and his wife, the church – i.e. all true, born again believers.
Spiritual applications can be numerous in any given passage of scripture. One obvious application in this book would be to human marriage; another major application however concerns the practicalities of the believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ.
If the Song of Solomon truly is a love song between Christ and his church, then the answer is apparent – what could possibly trump the love of Christ for his redeemed? This Song of Solomon is indeed THE song of songs! Why not give it a read this week?
