The Message of the Song of Songs

The Bible Speaks Today: Old Testament

by Tom Gledhill

At first reading the Song of Songs appears to be an unabashed celebration of the deeply rooted urges of physical attraction, mutual love and sexual consummation between a man and a woman. Tom Gledhill maintains that the Song of Songs is in fact just that--a literary, poetic exploration of human love that strongly affirms loyalty, beauty and sexuality in all their variety. With tender metaphor and extravagant imagery, the Song writer spins a tale of human love into the cadence of verse, innocent of our quest for historical persons behind the text. But in God's story, human beauty, intimacy and sexuality are not ends in themselves. They are transencedental longings, whispers of immortality. Like all of creation they point beyond themselves to their divine author, who in this Song is nowhere mentioned but everywhere assumed. Gledhill's commentary is a refreshing reminder of the Song of Song's ancient and vibrant affirmation of human sexuality that forms an interlude in the Old Testament story and echoes between the lines of Christian revelation.

Genres: Christian, Biblical Studies

254 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

Reviews

[StephenM]

Gledhill's resolute refusal to countenance an allegorical reading is tiresome and wrongheaded. His claim that associating the Song and its eroticism with the love of God for his people might damage our understanding of God is merely the flip side of the Medieval refusal to consider a literal reading and the Song's relevance for human love. Both positions unnecessarily limit the Song's meanings and relevance. It's divinely-inspired poetry, of course it has multiple levels of meaning!

Also, Gledhill likes to ramble, sometimes interminably, and brings in anachronistic language that makes the couple sound far too modern, as if they're the model couple of the '90s. He does occasionally surprise with a really good insight, though, and his sense of the overall structure of the Song seems strong.

[Annie Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish everyone could know that the Bible‘s sexual ethic comes actually from a high view of sex, rather than a prudish. The Song is a “celebration of love and all its dimensions.” “[The Song’s] unembarrassed use of metaphor and allusion demonstrates the warmth and vitality of the God-given joys of love.”

Though the book felt a bit repetitive, so does the Song. Gledhill describes the Song as a collection of paintings in the same style, of the same mood, by the same artist, each with particular sub-themes. And he does a wonderful job of touring us through the gallery.

[Chad Delhotal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently studying the Song of Solomon to teach a Sunday School class made up of young married couples. This book was very helpful. The author was not afraid to point out ideas that carry some erotic elements without going overboard. He also suggested many good applications for the development of the marital relationship. All in all, this is one of the three books that I have drawn upon the most in developing my lessons.

[Jonathan Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended and it was fine. The author is a strong writer but I kept wishing for more engagement with the text. The book felt more like a series of sermons on the Song as the author kept floating off on various topics rising from the text. This would be good to pair with a more technical commentary on the Song as this book would cover the practical/application side for a pastor/teacher.

[Matt Braymiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am coming to the close of a class on the Song that I've been teaching for the last few months. I chose a number of sources to assist in gaining a deeper understanding of this often neglected book of the Bible.

This volume presents an excellent study on the Song and makes it very accessible to the reader. I did not find the interpretation offered to be the most helpful of the sources used, but made reference to it many times over the course of my recent study.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!! By far the best resource for your personal study of Song of Songs.

Beautiful. I spent a year studying Song of Songs/Solomon (SoS), and Gledhill’s The Message of Song of Songs is the best resource I encountered by far! Very accessible (i.e. not just for scholars). Gledhill’s tone is so positive towards the text and towards the man and woman characters in each song – they are happy, and we are touched by it; they long for and value and draw near, and we think more about relationships and what we can give and how we can express value to/of others. We are plunged into a world where two people find each other worth their time, and we long for something similar in our own human relating. Studying SoS with this study tool is a great way to spend time with God as he transforms our minds and guides us to love others better. Three quick notes:

1) Gledhill divides Song of Songs in this manner:
Introduction 1:1
First Cycle: 1:2-2:7 (ends with “the charge”)
Second Cycle: 2:8-3:5 (ends with “the charge” again)
Third Cycle: 3:6-5:1 (ends with consummation)
Fourth Cycle: 5:2-6:3 (ends with an intimate reunion)
Fifth Cycle: 6:4-8:4 (ends with a variation of “the charge”)
Sixth Cycle: 8:5-8:14 (challenging to categorize: possibly a series of appendices? possible “Curtain Call”?)

2) Married and unmarried people would both enjoy this book. Like his subject text, Gledhill is able to discuss sexual topics without vulgarity, and the lessons about relational intimacy are valuable as we reflect on our friendships or our interaction with God (our most intimate relationship).

3) There are nine pages at the very back of the book which Gledhill titles “For Further Thought.” They contain discussion questions which are great for personal reflection and can be harvested for use in teachings.


(My second favorite SoS study resource is the LifeChange Study Guide for Song of Solomon by NavPress.)

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite decent as far as commentaries go. Gledhill was fabulous when it came to reading and interpreting poetry. I don't think I've ever read a commentary where the author quoted so much poetry himself. Fully appropriate when commenting on the Greatest Song (that is, the "Song of Songs") itself.

In his efforts to have the text "speak today," I did find Gledhill to often move beyond the text in directions that I just wasn't comprehending. I often thought, "wow, this is really practical, but I'm not sure how we got here. I actually saw the text taking us in a different direction."

Update 2021: Still quite decent. Still fabulous in some places and puzzling in others.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because we were studying Song of Songs at church and I wanted to add to my own reading since it's a book of the Bible I just haven't spent much time with. It's from the series "The Bible Speaks Today" which is halfway between a expository driven commentary and an application driven devotional book. It's a good popular level book that gave me just the extra commentary I was looking for.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid commentary that pays attention to the literary dynamics of SOng of Solomon. It steers clear of fanciful interpretations or wild allegory. His conclusion is the Song of Solomon celebrates the the romantic love of two ordinary people. He seems the royal imagery as enhancing the drama.

[J. Alfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I acquired a lady friend, and was advised to read more about the song of songs. This one seemed pretty roundabout and quickly got off track. However, the parts that were on track, so to speak, were wild. I was either raising an eyebrow or blushing the whole time.