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S ONG OF S ONGS – M IKE B ICKLE
SESSION 1: Introduction to the Song of Solomon
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.
In session 1 and 2, the focus is to equip your understanding by giving information
about the context and principles of interpretation. The next 18 sessions, will be
primarily targeting the heart to supply inspiration.
B.
In this session, I’ll provide a road map to help bring understanding to the big
picture. We will also look at some introductory principles of how to interpret this
SONG.
II.
INTERPRETATION
There are many interpretations of this SONG. However, we are addressing the two main
ones. Each one has several applications that are distinct. I have found each of these
approaches to be valid and edifying. The Lord's creative abilities are manifest in this
SONG as it speaks on many levels of interpretation with perfect insight revealed at each
level. Do not limit God's genius in this SONG.
A.
Natural interpretation— This school of thought depicts a literal human love story
between King Solomon and his Bride, the Shulamite. It is a natural love story
based on biblical principles written to honor and inspire deeper love within
marriage. It is a wonderful love story that gives symbolic principles on the beauty
of married love. There are many excellent commentaries written from this point
of view.
1.
The natural interpretation has become very popular in the last hundred
years. For the previous 2800 years (since Solomon approx. 900BC) there
were only a few commentaries written on this particular interpretation. I
believe it to be a very powerful and valid interpretation.
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S ONG OF S ONGS – M IKE B ICKLE
SESSION 1 – Introduction to the Song of Solomon
Page 2
2.
There are two basic story lines when viewing the book as a natural love
story.
a. The most popular one depicts a young maiden wooed by the handsome
and rich King Solomon. He progressively wins her heart through out
the story.
b. The other main approach to the natural interpretation is of a godly
young maiden who deeply loves a poor young shepherd in her
hometown. One day the great King Solomon was passing by her
vineyard and noticed her extraordinary beauty. He then sought to win
her from her loyalty to the poor shepherd. She remains loyal to the
poor shepherd boy even in the temptations that come from the
presence of King Solomon’s wealth and power.
3.
My friend, Jack Deere, wrote a lengthy commentary on the SONG as a
natural love story for his doctoral statement when he was in seminary. It
is powerful.
B.
Allegorical interpretation—a story that is totally symbolic without any historical
facts as its basis. Natural details of facts are not important. For instance, a very
popular allegory is the Chronicles of Narnia or “The Wizard of Oz”. An allegory
is purely fictional.
1.
This view says Solomon was writing a love song to describe spiritual truth
about the love relationship with the coming Messiah.
2.
This is the most common interpretation for the 1900 years of church
history and the 2800 years since Solomon first wrote it (this includes the
rabbinical tradition).
3.
The bible itself affirms the use of allegorical interpretations.
In Galatians 4, Paul allegorically speaks of things that happened with
Hagar and Sarah. There are several other references in the bible to
allegorical interpretation.
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S ONG OF S ONGS – M IKE B ICKLE
SESSION 1 – Introduction to the Song of Solomon
Page 3
C.
Allegorical interpretations are important and helpful as long as we only use them
to illustrate a truth that is powerfully established throughout the entirety of New
Testament scripture. Allegories should be used to illustrate a truth or to make a
truth more colorful and easier to grasp.
1.
Allegorical interpretations should illustrate truths that are solidly revealed
from Matthew to Revelatio n, especially in the Pauline epistles. My desire
is to root each of the truths of this allegory into solid Pauline revelation.
2.
We refuse to make our primary interpretation of the scripture allegorical.
a. The early church fathers made this common mistake for many years.
b. A primarily allegorical approach to scripture could be likened to a ship
lost at sea without the secure anchors of historic apostolic doctrine.
D.
I believe this love poem express the emotions related to an actual romance that
took place n Solomon’s life. However, we will pursue the allegorical
interpretation in this study.
E.
More commentaries have been written on the Song of Solomon throughout church
history than any other book in the Bible, except the book of Romans. It was one
of the most prominent books for many different seasons throughout church
history.
1.
Song of Solomon was especially prominent in the medieval times from the
12 th to 16 th century.
2.
However, in the last 100 years there has not been much written on the
Song of Solomon. The focus during this time has been on the natural
relationship between the husband and his wife, a very powerful
interpretation.
3.
My prayer is that the Lord is going to revive this book in a special way in
the generation that He returns.
Friends of the Bridegroom
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S ONG OF S ONGS – M IKE B ICKLE
SESSION 1 – Introduction to the Song of Solomon
Page 4
F.
Do not be na rrow in thinking that the only valid insight into scripture is the one
you are familiar with. Worship Jesus throughout this book and do not get a wrong
spirit towards others who disagree.
1.
Do not allow any divisiveness to enter your heart toward those with an
entirely different interpretation of this unique song of love.
2.
A negative attitude is contradictory to the spirit and purpose of this book,
which is to produce love. Sadly, some who have been touched in the
arena of devotion while enjoying this book have than turned around and
become critical of others.
3.
It is important to embrace what God is saying in this book in a way that
brings honor to others who see it differently.
G.
I recommend this SONG as one of your favorite hobbies. This SONG is my
hobby. It’s not only my calling, it is a personal holy recreation.
1.
I have about 140 commentaries on this SONG. I have been collecting
them from all over the world. Reading them has expanded my
understanding. You need to be aware that there are many and various
interpretations to this SONG.
2.
I will be referring a number of times to what the scholars say. I'm pulling
from any number of different commentaries when I allude to these
references.
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S ONG OF S ONGS – M IKE B ICKLE
SESSION 1 – Introduction to the Song of Solomon
Page 5
III.
THE ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION: 3 COMMON APPROACHES
A.
There are many allegorical interpretations that cover vast and even strange topics.
Some of them are wild heresies. However, there are 3 common ways to apply the
allegorical teaching that magnifies the Lord.
B.
First, the relationship between God as the Bridegroom, and natural Israel as the
Bride is clearly taught in the Old Testament (Jer. 2:2; Hos. 2:16-20; Ez. 16:8-14,
20-21, 32, 38; Is. 54:5-6). This is how Old Testament believers interpreted this
book, finding encouragement in knowing God's deep bridal love for Israel.
1.
Some Jewish rabbis, even to this day, interpret the SONG in an allegorical
way. Some rabbis interpret it from a messianic point of view without
understanding the person of Jesus.
a. The Jewish rabbis believed in God and they wrote strictly from the
point of view of the Bride being natural Israel. They have written some
insightful material. This song was written about 900 years B. C.;
therefore, for nearly 3,000 years Jewish rabbis have been interpreting
this book as Yahweh, the heavenly Bridegroom, in love with Israel as
the Bride.
b. By far Israel’s most significant interpretation of the SONG was
allegorical. There was not much written about it from the view of the
natural marriage relationship. There are several older commentaries
written by rabbis still in existence that are very helpful. These have
survived hundreds of generations due to the Jewish tradition that they
are almost as important as Scripture. It is a fascinating study.
2.
There is going to be a great revival spirit on natural Israel. The Holy
Spirit is going to release a tremendous measure of the power of God to
bring Israel to Jesus. My prayer and conviction is that God is going to use
the book of Song of Solomon as a part of his strategy to gather harvest.
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