Week 28: Proverbs 22 - Song of Solomon 4

This week we get to read in 3 books that are generally (completely or partially) associated with King Solomon:

* Weekend: Proverbs 22 - 24
* Monday: Proverbs 25 - 29
* Tuesday: Proverbs 30 - 31
* Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 1 - 6
* Thursday: Ecclesiastes 7 - 12
* Friday: Song of Solomon 1 - 4

We end the book of Proverbs, then we read the book of Ecclesiastes in 2 days, and make a start with the book of Solomon on Friday.

Like the book of Proverbs, the book of Ecclesiastes is also part of the "Wisdom literature", as Chuck so nicely explained last week. Although no time period or writer's name is mentioned in the book, several passages strongly suggest that King Solomon is the author (e.g. 1:1,12,16). Some bible scholars think Solomon might have written this toward the end of his life, after the period during which his love for his many wives led him astray in his devotion to God (1 Kings 11).

The book of Ecclesiastes is reflecting on life in its entirety, from birth to death. The author tells us that life not centered on God is purposeless and meaningless. Without Him, nothing else can satisfy (2:25). With Him, all of life and his other good gifts are to be gratefully received and enjoyed to the full (2:26, 11:8). The book contains the philosophical and theological reflections of an old man (12:1-7), most of whose life was meaningless because he had not himself relied on God as he should have.

The Song of Solomon, in the Hebrew text called "Solomon's Song of Songs", is first and foremost a love song. The classic interpretation of this book is that it describes the love relationship and desire between a woman ("beloved") and a shepherd boy ("lover"), and the back-and-forth love dialogue between the two. The love between the two is challenged by king Solomon, who desires to have the woman added to his harem. In the end, the love between the woman and shepherd boy prevails (8:6-14).

Other interpretations of the text tell us that this book is an allegory of the love relationship between God and Israel, and later between Christ and the church. Regardless of which interpretation is true, the Bible speaks of both wisdom and love as gifts of God, to be received with gratitude and celebration. That is the main theme of the book, and of the Bible as a whole.

Enjoy the continued reading in the "books of wisdom".

Dick