Does the Song of Songs (Solomon) Reveal the Meaning of Life?
I believe the Song of Songs exists in the Bible to reveal the meaning of life.
We are characters in a particular chapter of an epic story and the character we collectively play is the young lover in anticipation of a coming wedding.
Here’s why:
It simply tells us it is the ultimate song. That’s what the phrase “song of songs” means technically. You will never find a better piece of poetry in existence. Better in what way? You will never find a better artistic expression of the nature of our current reality than in this poem.
It describes reality as a lover’s chase. The main voice in the story is a young girl betrothed to a young man before their marriage. Imagine the weeks, months, and years of catching glimpses of one another but never able to fully enjoy one another.
It explains the strange tension we experience between the glimpse and the gaze. In Psalm 27 David says that the only thing he asks is to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his Temple.” But we don’t get to do that. We live in the era of the glimpse before the gaze. Our life consists of fleeting moments where we catch glimpses of what we’ll finally see one day in fullness.
It reveals why a love relationship with God can feel so elusive. The poem has these moments where it looks like the lovers will finally get to consummate their love and the scene suddenly ends. But then it starts over and we get another glimpse, pursuit, and near consummation. Like God tells Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me IF you seek me with all your heart.” God wants to be pursued over and over and we enjoy moments of satisfaction but not ultimate satisfaction. The moment seems to slip away and the pursuit starts again. Betrothed lovers must learn to enjoy this cycle and this reveals what God wants us to do during this season of our relationship.
It describes love as the most excellent way. Nothing is better or more powerful than love. Probably the highest description of the power of love in human history is toward the end of the poem, “Many waters cannot quench love” for “It is stronger than death.”
It points to the main challenge of anticipating love’s fulfillment, distraction and burnout. On one hand, distractions like the little foxes, the assaults of the watchmen, and the advances of Solomon can take us off the path but we can also awaken love to such a degree that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” and we prematurely flame out.
It unveils that life is about hoping for a future marriage where the lovers finally enjoy one another fully in a garden city.
I’ve never read a more accurate description of the nature of reality in its purest state.
As I use this as a lens to understand the meaning of life here are a few takeaways:
Chase God through glimpses.
Ultimate satisfaction will prove elusive
Let love fuel the chase
Never give up…the wedding is coming