Many of those who read the Book of Solomon wondered of the fact, that such a work was included in the biblical canon: because it is obviously about love lyrics, absolutely high and pure, but apparently having no relation with the religious and spiritual life. As regards to the religious life, one could probably agree with such an opinion. If to talk about the spiritual life, the situation is far from...
Many of those who read the Book of Solomon wondered of the fact, that such a work was included in the biblical canon: because it is obviously about love lyrics, absolutely high and pure, but apparently having no relation with the religious and spiritual life. As regards to the religious life, one could probably agree with such an opinion. If to talk about the spiritual life, the situation is far from being unambiguous. Of course there is nothing in the book about religion; it is about lovers, looking for each other, dreaming about each other, admiring the one another. It is commonly thought that the Bible does not make reference to such love, that it is there about the brotherly love, about the love of the neighbor, about the love of man in general. And in Decalogue however there is a special commandment dedicated to the not brotherly, but conjugal love, the violation of which is for the spiritual life as destructive, as the violation of any other commandment. But if that was the case, then we can consider as well the love between man and woman, the conjugal love as an element of the spiritual life, not less important, as any other love. In fact: can we divide love into parts?
And if the answer is no, then it can turn out that certain types of love - "spiritual" is raised, and the other - "carnal" are low? That one love is from God, and another, as thought and think many, - from the devil? Perhaps, if the devil was capable of loving or of being creative, such a question would have been possible. But he is in reality capable neither of one, nor the other; he can only spoil or corrupt what he did not create. And sometimes, if we allow him to damage the love which was given to us by God, he can do it. And all the same there is no love not coming from God. Of course, it is different, connecting people differently, revealing them one of another differently.
But if everything takes place in the idea and the will of God, love will never become either "vulgar", or "carnal". Any love has a physical measure, more or less obvious: we are not angels, but people, and the natural life is also appropriate for us, as the spiritual life. The problem is only in the fact that, what is going to prevail in these relations, what connect us with the loving and the loved: the spirit or the nature. The predominance of the nature will distort any love, whether it is the love between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters. And the predominance of the spirit over the nature will make any love blessed: because God is love, and it is in particular this love that is necessary to consider as God's real blessing.
1 After the title, the church, the bride, speaks to Christ, the bridegroom, Sol 1:1-4.
To the daughters of Jerusalem, and to Christ again, Sol 1:5-7.
Christ answers her complaints and requests, Sol 1:8-11.
The church expresses her value for Christ, and her delight in him, Sol 1:12-14.
Christ commends the church, Sol 1:15.
And the church, Christ, Sol 1:16-17.
1:15 Behold - This is the speech of Christ. The words are doubled to manifest his fervent affection for her. Doves eyes - Which are mild and harmless, chaste and faithful. And by the eyes he seems to design both her outward behaviour, and the inward disposition of her mind.