CENTRAL INDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Subject: Poetical Book

Assignment on: What is relationship of songs of Solomon and other
wisdom literature?
Date:

Mentor: Sir Lal Submitted by: Daniel Thawng

I. What is relationship of songs of Solomon and other wisdom literature?

The Song of Solomon is a poetic wisdom composition in the tradition of Solomon (Song
1:1), along with works such as Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. The grammar of the song’s title in
Hebrew (Song of Songs) is superlative, meaning the best song, just like King of kings or Lord
of lords. This superlative designation is exceptionally impressive given that Solomon wrote
1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). Apparently, this is the best of the bunch, but the church has
struggled to fully appreciate the message of the Song due to its intimate and even sexual
content. And confusion about love, sexuality, and marriage abound in our culture. We
need the whole counsel of God to teach us. The Song of Solomon is God’s gift to the
church for such a time as this. And yet, while the Song of Solomon has garnered more
attention in recent years, it is still rarely taught, preached, or studied. 1
The hesitancy to study the Song is understandable. As a collection of poetic
exclamations and exchanges between two lovers, the intimate nature of the material
causes some to shy away. As Hebrew poetry, the Song employs parallelism with images
and metaphors that are not always easy to grasp. And, some are not sure how to read the
Song. Should this book be read primarily as an allegory of Christ’s love for the church?
Or, should it be read as wisdom literature that teaches us about romantic love on a course
to full sexual expression and cultivation in marriage? 2

1
D.J. Wiseman, the Songs of Solomon, (England: Inter-varsity presses Leicester, 1984), 70-95.
2
Irving L. Jensen, Jesen’s survey of the Old Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1978), 305-318.
 1. Studying the Song of Solomon as part of the whole counsel of God is good for
our souls.
If you venture out to study this short but challenging book, you will become a better
student of Scripture. The Song is filled with rich Hebrew poetry: images, metaphors, and
literary devices. Studying the book will force you to slow down and ponder the text, and
you will be blessed as a result. Of the many insights to be gained from studying this
book, there are four that seem especially important for our cultural moment.
While the Song of Solomon provides much needed wisdom from God on love and
marriage, this wisdom is not attainable apart from Christ. At times, the Song puts
forward the ideal portrait of human love. We are spurred on in these times, but also
humbled. And, we are called once again to live a life of faith in the Son of God, who
loved us and gave himself for us. So, Songs of Solomon is very similar with the book of
Proverbs more than others poetical books. And also J. L. Andruska sees close affinities
between the Song of Songs and Wisdom Literature. She acknowledges that this is a minority
position, surveying the history of reception, which has offered various alternative
interpretations (e.g. literal, allegorical, cultic, and feminist). She then defines Wisdom
Literature, centralising the forms found in advice literature, the concern for wisdom, and the
intended character transformation of the audience. All of these are found in the Song.
Andruska discusses the mashal (proverb) in 8:6-7 and the intergenerational instructions found
in the refrains (2:7, 3:5, and 8:4). She argues that the Song offers wisdom about love,
didactically advocating one particular vision of love (in contrast to other love songs, which
give varied depictions of love). The purpose of the Song is to transform its readers into wise
lovers who follow the example of the lovers in the Song.3

2. The key to understanding Song of Solomon comes at the end.

This feature appears in other wisdom compositions in the Old Testament. For example, at
the end of Ecclesiastes, the author finally puts everything that proceeded in its proper
perspective and the end of the matter all has been heard. Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13). Similarly, once we read the
final chapter of Job, we are then equipped to go back and understand the reason for
everything that transpired. The same method of instruction applies to the Song of Solomon.
3
3 Edward J. Young, An Introduction to the Old Testament, (Michigan: William B. Eerdmans
publishing Co. Grand rapids, 1975), 332-337.
 3. The Song of Solomon also employs metaphor
For example, “my mother’s sons were angry with me, they made me keeper of the
vineyards, my own vineyard I have not kept” (song 1:6). The woman explains that her skin is
darkened because her brothers forced her to work the family vineyards, which meant that she
did not have time to care for her own vineyard that is, her body. This same metaphorical
arrangement appears again at the end of the Song, where the vineyards of Solomon appear
together with the woman’s own vineyard once again her body (Song 8:11).4
4. The purpose of wisdom and literature
All wisdom and Literature book’s purpose are the same ways which is to getting wisdom
and knowledge of God. These works are typically grouped together because of their abundant
use of Hebrew poetry, but that is not all that they hold in common. Traditionally, these five
books have also been known as Wisdom Literature because of their emphasis on
understanding and attaining wisdom for all areas of life, including our relationships with God
and with one another. (Proverbs 1:1-7) “To know wisdom and instruction to understanding
words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity”
The emphasis on our need to know and our reception of words of insight indicates that
what the Lord has revealed in the Wisdom Books is not trivia, nor is it information that need
never penetrate into the core of our being. Instead, the readers and hearers of Wisdom
Literature are to pay close attention to it, studying these wise sayings so that they come to a
deep understanding of what it means to live life wisely, or well. Of course, the Wisdom
Books come to us in the context of God's covenant with His people, so this reality must
always inform our understanding of what the Lord has revealed in Proverbs and the rest of
the Wisdom Literature.5

II. Who are the keys people in Songs of Solomon

1. Solomon
2. Men and women
3. Solomon’s wives
4. The young maiden (the Shula mite), the young man (Solomon, the Beloved), and the
chorus (the Daughters of Jerusalem).
III. The place
4
David F. Hinson, The books of the Old Testament, (Delhi: Published by ISPCK, 1973), 119-122.
5
Jay Harvey, Why study the book of Song of Solomon, available on https://www. Erskine Seminary,
(accessed on 3-10-2023, time 11:50pm.
 A part from the mention of King Solomon and the names of several places within and
around Palestine, such as Jerusalem, Zion, Heshbon, En-Gedi and Tirzah, Gilead, Carmel,
Lebanon and Mount Hermon, we would find it difficult to place the book within its historical
setting.

Bibliography
Wiseman, D.J. The Songs of Solomon. England: Inter-varsity presses Leicester, 1984.
Irving L, Jensen. Jesen’s survey of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.
Edward, J. Young. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Michigan: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co. Grand rapids, 1975.
Hinson, F. David. The Books of the Old Testament. Delhi: Published by ISPCK, 1973.
Harvey, Jay. Why study the book of ong of Solomon. Accessed on 3-10-2023, time 11:50pm.
Available on https://www. Erskine Seminary.