Song of songs

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and depth of married union.

U.S. musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book “Music: A Subversive History” (2019): “At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages — or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as ‘lightweight’ given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don’t originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism — but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible.”

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago, playing the hits of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Nothing has changed. Times change, but throughout history, the flow of love songs has been a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the Bible — complete with erotic lyrics. But the “Song of Songs” is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made to rule the “Song of Songs” out of the Bible. It’s like making it “for adults only.” Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th-century Spain, for instance, professor Fray Luis de León was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated the “Song of Songs” into Spanish.

If you start reading the “Song of Songs,” you will find that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach the “Song of Songs” with great expectations. However, readers often find the book quite different from what they had expected. One challenge is its poetic imagery. Another is that the “Song of Songs” is hard to follow. One part doesn’t seem connected to the next.

Try to explore the “Song of Songs.” One thing is for sure. You’ll learn a lot about the love between God and His people.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit my blogs at www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.