Song of Solomon 1:1

The name "Song of Songs" is an absolute comparison in Hebrew and means roughly the most beautiful song. The first verse already names Solomon as the author. We find this mentioned seven times (chapters 1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11, 12), and besides that the title "King" three times (chapters 1:4, 12; 7:6).

But why call this precious little book "The Song of Songs"? Just because it is Solomon's, or rather Christ's, who will in due time be King in Jerusalem, in true Solomon glory. On the same principle Scripture calls Him "King of kings and Lord of lords." Pre-eminence in all things is His. There are many sweet songs in Scripture. Moses, Miriam and her maidens, Deborah, and David all sang sweetly of the Lord's goodness. Scripture says of Solomon himself that "his songs were 1,005." But this one he calls "The Song of Songs." It far surpassed them all. It is the deep melody of hearts filled with holy love, finding their supreme delight in its full and free expression.

Solomon was not only a preacher (Ecclesiastes) and a moral teacher (Proverbs), but a song-writer (the Song of Songs). Solomon wrote 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). All have perished except this one. It is called "The Song of Songs" because it stands above the rest… As a picture it points to the Jew of the future. Its moral lesson is all-important for the Christian now. This divine poem is in the form of a dialogue between Solomon, his spouse, and her companions.

Solomon is the writer. His name means peace. Of him it is written, "King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom" (2 Chronicles 9:22). He is only a faint type of our great Prince of peace, who is the altogether lovely One, "the most handsome of the sons of men," whom God has "anointed… with the oil of gladness beyond your companions," and "appointed the heir of all things."

Many have applied this wonderful book of Scripture to the church, many more to the soul, in relation to the Lord Jesus. No one denies for a moment that all born of God share one principle — love to Him who died for all who enter by faith into the love of God in Christ. His known love creates it, a love that passes knowledge.

Literalists are apt here, as elsewhere, to deprive the book of a worthy object and divine character. According to one of the ablest recent writers, the book is meant to show humble, constant love winning over the temptations of wealth and royalty! Such an aim might suit the Idylls of Theocritus, or the Eclogues of his Latin imitator Virgil. But it betrays fatal ignorance of Old Testament Scripture. Scripture rises again and again above the immediate historical occasion into a purpose of grace.

There is no question in this book of the purification of the conscience. That question is not touched on. But it speaks of those affections of the heart which cannot be too ardent when the Lord is their object. So the faults that show we have forgotten Him and His grace only stir the heart towards Him. They bring back all that draws us to His Person… Forming our heart in this part of the Christian life is all-important. This is how Christ is truly known. With divine Persons, the one who does not love does not know.