HMMMMM.....scholars differ on this book of the Bible. Some say that it is about Christ (the bridegroom's) love for His bride (the church)....
Some say that it is King Solomon's love for a girl....
It was hard for me to get some of the poetic love language because of the culture differences, but it does speak of a perfect love and sex that is to be a gift within a marraige....it is about the "physical delights of love" According to the Wesley study Bible, it is a fantasy that explores erotic lve and the growing personal commitment between the lovers as they overcome separation and oposition to their relationship.
As such, it reflects an ideal of the love between men and women in general and mirrors the ideal relationship between human beings and God......
So...apparently it is both....a littlen allegory, and a little human love...
The NSRV translates 1: 5 to, I am black and beautiful
The NIV translates to dark and beautiful, and the study notes say that it is because she is poor and had to tend fields so she was tan.....
Wesley (founder of the Methodist denomination) feels that the bride is the church....
5:1 is actually about making love....
There are fantasies and dreams and partings and reconciliations....
I remain confused at the imagery in 8:10 in which "my breasts were like towers" study notes say that "her towering breasts signal physical maturity and readiness for love" Yikes.....I guess it is good that I didn't get love notes with imagery!!
So, Christ's love for the church, human love, or both?
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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yep.....a little difficult to read.....I cannot picture any man speaking this way........lol....too cheesy.....
ReplyDeleteI really want someone telling me that my naval is a rounded goblet and my waist is a heap of wheat....