Canticles

[WebersHome]

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[font=Verdana]Just in case someone looking in has neither read nor heard anything from Song until just now; I should probably warn them that portions of it may not be suitable for children.

Some of its language is a little disturbing even for grown-ups, especially in mixed company. One thing's for sure: if we're not careful with this topic, we might give the impression that Christians are depraved.

I suppose there are any number of ways to spiritualize Song, and they're probably all very useful. Nothing especially wrong with allegories either; I mean, the apostle Paul allegorized an event from the Old Testament to illustrate his point in Gal 4:21-31, so I think it's probably okay to utilize his method when we ourselves want to draw attention to something important.

But as for me, I'd much rather take this little book in the Old Testament prima facie, viz: as a romantic fantasy rather than some sort of mystical writing. In point of fact, it's possible that Song is a compilation of several unrelated ditties rather than one continuous story.

Now; according to 2Tim 3:15-17; all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

So then, how does Song fulfill that statement? Well; I think it's pretty obvious that Song is going to teach us the effect that true heart-felt romantic love has on people in relationships between normal men and normal women which, I can tell you from personal experience, is very beneficial for new Christians who grew up in dysfunctional homes and/or coming out of a religion that made them feel guilty about their thoughts and feelings for the opposite sex.

â—� Song 1:1 . . Solomon's song of songs.

Solomon penned quite a few songs; something like 1,005 (1Kings 4:32). Whether he wrote the music too or just the lyrics; I don't know; maybe. He was a very intelligent guy, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was a musician; nor even that he could carry a tune; but then he didn't have too. Solomon had a number of professional singers on the payroll. (Ecc 2:8).

"song of songs" suggests a colloquialism like Sadaam Hussein's "mother of all wars". In other words: this particular song may have represented Solomon's best work to date.[/font]

[font=Georgia]NOTE[/font][font=Verdana]: Personally I think Bad Romance is Lady Gaga's best work to date, but keep that under your hat.
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[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by WebersHome]

Hello,

I'm one of JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES so my view is a little different to yours.


This is an introductory video on the JEHOVAH'S WITNESS website to the Song of Solomon
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/vide ... t_index]=6

[WebersHome]

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[font=Georgia]my view is a little different to yours.[/font]

[font=Verdana]Fine by me. Viewers are entitled to a second opinion; especially in the fields of medicine and religion.
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[WebersHome]

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[font=Verdana]In a number of places throughout Song, speakers address no one in particular. In point of fact, quite a bit of dialogue throughout Song is what's called soliloquy; defined by Webster's as a poem, discourse, or utterance of a character in a drama that has the form of a monologue, or gives the illusion of being a series of unspoken reflections. In other words: talking with and/or to one's self.

We will also be running across places where the soliloquy isn't vocal; rather, imagined; viz: thoughts.

The Juliet in this musical story is assumed to be a girl called Shulamite (Song 6:13) from the Hebrew word Shuwlammiyth (shoo-lam-meeth') which is apparently a pet name rather than a real name. It means peaceful; defined by Webster's as untroubled by conflict, agitation, or commotion, i.e. quiet, tranquil, and devoid of violence and force.

The "untroubled" aspect of her pet name caught my attention because it strongly suggests, at least to me anyway, that Song's Juliet doesn't lose her composure under duress; in other words; she's unlikely to throw a hissy fit when things don't go her way.

That's a fitting pet name for the girl because later on in Song, she's spoken of as a dove; a bird well-known the world over as having a gentle personality.

Personally I don't much care for the name Shulamite because it's not all that feminine, and it suggests an ethnic identity rather than a pet name; so from here on in I will be calling her Shulah.[/font]

[font=Georgia]BTW[/font][font=Verdana]: Solomon's Hebrew name Shelomoh (shel-o-mo') compliments Shulah's; it means peaceful, which is pretty much the same meaning as hers. However, I don't really care for the sound of that name so I'll be referring to him as Shiloh from here on in. (cf. Gen 49:10)
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[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 4 by WebersHome]


Hello,

I'm one of JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES have a song about the shulamite maiden. It's on pur website and it refers to the parallels between her and anointed Christians. I suppose you are Muslim, so I understand your rejection of the bible, we accept scripture as it is which must be strange to you and your Muslim brethren, but I respect our differences.


JW

[ElCodeMonkey]

[Replying to post 1 by WebersHome]

Hello,

I'm one of JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES so my view is a little different to yours.


This is an introductory video on the JEHOVAH'S WITNESS website to the Song of Solomon
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/vide ... t_index]=6

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[WebersHome]

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[font=Verdana]â—� Song 1:2b . . for your love is better than wine.

That phrase makes better sense when kept with the first half of the verse; which refers to kissing on the lips.

So; better in what way?

Alcohol, in just the right amount, can soothe people's nerves and put them in a good mood.

"He bringing forth food from the earth, wine that gladdens the heart of man" (Ps 104:14-15)

But given the choice, I think most of us would rather be with a lover than with a bottle because lovers, on the whole, make us feel much, much better than booze.

I cannot remember ever feeling like singing whenever I was drinking; but this one girl I was dating back in the day made me feel so good that I was constantly humming old love songs that I hadn't thought of in years. Pretty amazing.

"There are three things which are too wonderful for me; four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid." (Prov 30:18-19)
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[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 7 by WebersHome]

The Song is in my opinion highly poetic. I know some view the song As pornographic but I think that is untrue. Learnt a lot from the JEHOVAH'S WITNESS interpretation. For example that her lips are spoken of like wine, not literally that her lips are wine because that would be difficult to speak from.


My own words,



https://www.jw.org/en/publications/vide ... t_index]=6[

[WebersHome]

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[font=Verdana]â—� Song 1:3 . . Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, your name is like purified oil; therefore the maidens love you.[/font]

[font=Georgia]ASIDE[/font][font=Verdana]: I am convinced that Song is just as much a fantasy as Mozart's Magic Flute. The reason being that in Ecc 7:28, Solomon complained that he was unable to find even one good woman among a thousand. In other words: in my estimation, Shulah was a daydream; viz: the kind of girl that Solomon always wished to meet, but never did. She was a girl who only existed in his imagination; and that's where she stayed.

Anyway, back to the guy. The Hebrew word for the "oils" actually describes something greasy, i.e. a paste or a cream or possibly a wax; or something with the consistency of honey. So apparently Shiloh's fragrance was produced by something smeared on rather than splashed on.

The words "purified oil" are from a Hebrew word that actually means "poured forth". Well; an open container of any strong-smelling chemical would eventually fill a whole room with its odor.

Shiloh's name-- i.e. his reputation --was like an open container of perfume in an enclosed room; in other words: everybody knew Shiloh just as Boaz was well-known to be a man of standing in Jerusalem (Ruth 2:1) and "therefore the maidens love you" likely means that Shiloh was a man that any girl would be proud to be seen with, i.e. he was very eligible; viz: a good catch.[/font]

[font=Georgia]NOTE[/font][font=Verdana]: I'd sure appreciate some help from someone other than a Watchtower Society agent with this topic. I'm not all that confident that I can talk thru the whole Song all by myself.
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[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 9 by WebersHome]

I think that the king was indeed Solomon, but that ultimmatly the shepherd wins her heart. I have watched the entire introduction to book and it sums up the story well.

My own words,


JEHOVAH'S WITNESS




Romantic Love in the bible
http://jwitness-forum.proboards.com/post/2267/thread

The story begins In about 1020 BCE in Shunam in Galilee, a region in the north of what is now called Israel...



... a boy and a girl meet in an apple orchard. They fall in love...



To be continued ....