Union and Communion: A Devotional Study of How the Song of Solomon Reveals a Believer's Union With Christ

by James Hudson Taylor

A new edition of a classic study of the Song of Solomon from a famed nineteenth-century missionary to China explicates the esoteric significance of the great biblical poem, dividing it into six sections and relating its meaning to the New Testament. Reprint

Genres: Christian, Devotional, Theology, Relationships, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Old Testament

94 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1971

About the author

James Hudson Taylor was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM) (now OMF International). Taylor spent 51 years in China. The society that he began was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country who began 125 schools and directly resulted in 18,000 Christian conversions, as well as the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 500 local helpers in all eighteen provinces.

Taylor was known for his sensitivity to Chinese culture and zeal for evangelism. He adopted wearing native Chinese clothing even though this was rare among missionaries of that time. Under his leadership, the CIM was singularly non-denominational in practice and accepted members from all Protestant groups, including individuals from the working class and single women as well as multinational recruits. Primarily because of the CIM's campaign against the Opium trade, Taylor has been referred to as one of the most significant Europeans to visit China in the 19th Century. Historian Ruth Tucker summarises the theme of his life:

No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematised plan of evangelising a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor.
Taylor was able to preach in several varieties of Chinese, including Mandarin, Chaozhou, and the Wu dialects of Shanghai and Ningbo. The last of these he knew well enough to help prepare a colloquial edition of the New Testament written in it

Reviews

[Diamond Cowboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little treatis on the book of the Song Of Solomon which is a love letter to Jesus from the Bride of Christ which is us.
I highly recommend this book.

[Kelsey Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to pick up when reading Song of Solomon. I still find this book of the Bible difficult to understand, but Mr. Taylor's book was a big help. How neat to read something by someone who was so fully given to our Lord. I know if we had the opportunity to sit with Hudson Taylor and hear him expound on the Word of God; we would all take it! What a treasure to have some of his thoughts about the Lord preserved in writing.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was a commentary until I started reading it. I just saw this slim, old volume in my father in law's bookshelf and was instantly intrigued by the thought of reading something by Hudson Taylor. I hadn't read the Song of Solomon in the light that he wrote about it before, and it made it more beautiful to me.

[Naísia Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Incarnate Word is the true key to the written Word;”(p.4)

Excelente, edificante, irretocável: Estudo de Hudson Taylor sobre o "Cântico dos Cânticos".
Taylor se preocupou apenas em escrever da maneira mais simples e mais direta, quase como uma conversa, porém, devido ao assunto, sua prosa acabou saindo também muito bonita.

A propósito, ele foi um grande missionário do Século XIX, que levou o Evangelho à China.
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[Chad Delhotal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and abridgement of this work years ago and found much profit. He does apply the Book entirely to the relationship of the believer to Christ and neglects to speak of the husband and wife relationship which I find disappointing. He also does take some leaps in interpretation because of his neglect of the primary focus but all together a worth while read.

[Anna Sojourning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to think of this book. It's beautifully and passionately written, and forms a thoughtful allegory from the love poetry of Song of Solomon. There is very little material which has been written on Song of Solomon, and there's been a great deal of confusion and controversy surrounding this book of the Bible, so I appreciate Mr. Taylor for tackling it.

After the first few chapters I feel Mr. Taylor begins to overinterpret the scripture and finds a continuous story in what is meant to simply be love poetry. The godly ideal of romance, marriage and sex is in itself supposed to be an allegory of God's relationship to us, and Mr. Taylor didn't really address that fact. Furthermore, using only KJV he nitpicked the meaning of individual words which will not be in other translations of the Bible and which likely might not even be in the original Jewish text.

All this being said, it's an interesting read and contains some good thoughts.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

Taylor reaffirms the all to common, (though less so recently) viewpoint that the Song of Solomon is a metaphor for Christ and the church. He does this without so much as referencing the opposing, and somewhat more obvious interpretation, that its the Bibles main discourse on physical union. My own interpretation is somewhat more boring: why not both? I see no reason for a controversy here, as both viewpoints have there share of validity. Song of Solomon is obviously about sex and marriage, and just as obviously about union with Christ. It appears that Taylor rejected the former viewpoint somehow, which is surprising given the often explicit language.

[Lydia Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible commentary on Song of Solomon! I have read this book of the Bible countless times, and I have never been able to interpret the poetry of this song well enough to understand its deeper meaning behind its words. Taylor is so insightful and he credits it to the revelation from the Holy Spirit, with which I can agree. The more I listened to this audiobook, the more I understood that this is more than just about the desires of a man and woman joining together as one in the flesh. It is a union and communion of the Church with her Bridegroom, Jesus.
My eyes have been opened and it is VERY interesting and captivating to see more of His Truth revealed!

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very few topics (if any) that could be more exciting than God's loving communion with believers. Taylor's reading of Song of Solomon is in line with a long tradition that sees the poetry as a drama of the people of God and Christ. His study is intentionally short but filled with insights into the dynamics of the Christian life. Great devotional reading that is sure to stir one's love for Christ. Take it up and join the Bride in saying with teary eyes: "My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand."

[James Brixey]

An odd book. I think needs reading on `paper' or at least kindle, the audio book is harder to follow. Worth readiing, I think, certainly the other side of the coin to, say, matt chandler.

I think, probably, that the song of solomon is about sex. Like, real, human intercourse, and the surrounding paraphenalia, between a couple very much in love. I also think it is a metaphor for Christ and the church. I would like to get me a book that can do both, but for the moment, this is a very helpful read anyway.

[Jeremy Utley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent companion to the Song of Solomon. There are many things that blessed me, but the simple idea that I have taken away is that it is when the bride (an individual Christian) is occupied with the Bridegroom (the Lord Jesus) that He finds in her everything to admire and adore. Simple thought, but really gave me a longing to adore Him rightly, and to seek His pleasure in my life.

[Michael Jeffries · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine little devotional/commentary on the Song of Solomon. Definitely of the “Christ is the Groom, the Church is the Bride” hermeneutic; which is true, but we can also appreciate it as a great piece of God inspired ancient romance (literal) literature as well. Fine little book in itself, but kind of feminine.

[JD Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it really insightful that the Song of Songs is treated as an exposition on the command to "abide in the vine." Often in reading that command we ask, "What does that look like?" And Union and Communion gives language to answer the question.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful exposition of one of the more misunderstood books of the Bible. Too many see the Song of Solomon as nothing but human love poetry, when it SHOULD be considered the greatest allegory ever written. Easy book to make it through in under two hours. Well worth the read.

[Madeleine Tope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a poignant and powerful little book. Hudson Taylor had such a wonder and awe of the relationship between Christ and His Church, and you can sense it in every page of this book. I will definitely be revisiting it in the years to come.

[Kathryn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this brief walk through the Songs of Solomon. Taylor takes us step by step to see how Christ saves us and settles our identity in Him, then brings us with Him as we face the world and others around us. I'd like to read this again.

[Dwight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Describes the Song of Solomon as a metaphor for the bride of Christ (Shulamite) and Christ (Solomon)

[Rebekah]

Definitely one to re-read!

[Andrew Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well executed. Taylor does a wonderful job explaining the main points of the texts. I do believe he overreaches in some of the details, but nonetheless a worthwhile read.

[Gabrielle LaFata · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 10 favorite books and one that I read once a year.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly mystical work from the founder of the China Inland Mission. I found it passionately written. Taylor takes a look at the Song of Solomon through the eyes of a Christian Mystic. He identifies with the bride enraptured in her bridegroom, sick with love. In her he finds the dramatic experience of the believer, at one time caught up in union with Christ, at another feeling the pain of separation because of her own heart "prone to wander."

Taylor also betrays a glimpse of his own soul. This hero of modern missions has the heart of a mystic - not one caught up in the navel-gazing which causes many to impugn the mystics, but one whose ardent love for his Beloved stirs him to action.

When she is separated from him for the second time, the bride tells the daughters of Jerusalem how lovely he is, her heart inflamed and faint with love, growing more so as she tells it. (SS 5:9-16)

The LION of the tribe of Judah is to His own bride the KING of love; and, with full heart and beaming face, she so recounts His beauties that the daughters of Jerusalem are seized with strong desire to seek Him with her that they also may behold His beauty.

This is why Hudson Taylor went to China! His heart was so full of his savior's beauty that he had to share it. In comparing the church to the bride of Solomon, he also declares that this is the experience of every Christian, to be so wholly in love with Christ that mission flows from the heart like honey from the comb.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good read with the author making some very excellent points on the Song of Solomon. That being said, he sticks to the theological theory that the book is purely a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and His church, which makes for some pretty awkward interpretations in parts of the book.

[Kevin King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished reading this sometime last year, and had intended to write a detailed review. But I was so busy at the time that it didn't happen. Having read several other books on this subject over this same period I now find it difficult to comment on specific points without risking confusion with observations made by other writers.

But this book is rightly considered a Christian classic; and of all the books I have read on the Song of Songs, this is my favourite. Although briefer than most, it does exactly what it says in the subtitle, providing a highly motivational and perceptive exposition of the analogy between the bride's love relationshp with the king, and ours with Christ.

[Kyle Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intimacy and Communion with God - allegorical interpretation, but encouraging! - FREE on Kindle

"The real secret of an unsatisfied life lies too often in an unsurrendered will. And yet how foolish, as well as how wrong, this is! Do we fancy that we are wiser than He? or that our love for ourselves is more tender and strong than His? or that we know ourselves better than He does?"

Taylor, James Hudson (2012-05-16). Union And Communion or Thoughts on the Song of Solomon (p. 4). . Kindle Edition.

[Tommy Grooms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus far I had only ever read Song of Solomon as love poetry. I knew it could be read in an allegorical fashion but I had not taken the time to find a resource that did so. This was a short, clear, convincing reading of the interactions between Bride and Bridegroom as relating to falling out of and in communion with God. Easy to understand, though be ready for lots of Scripture quotations without citations from elsewhere in the Bible.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book gives us a wonderful glimpse into the intimacy of Hudson Taylor's communion with God.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the season of my life in which I read this book, learning how to rest in Christ's love, learning how He loved me.

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so refreshing to read! It is about abiding in Christ. Lovely in every way.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little devotional going through the Song of Solomon

[Larry Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did a great job of paralleling Song of Solomon with that of Jesus's relationship with the believer.