In chapter one, we were introduced to the two lovers pining for one another. There we 
were on the front lawn of an old house, and now as we walk up to the porch and open the front door we are transported into a magical land of springtime as we are surrounded by images of flowers, trees, fruit and foods. It’s really quite the vision we’ve stumbled into, I must say.
A proper commentator would struggle to find a significance for everything mentioned, and while this would be a worthwhile scholastic exercise, it would be the sort of thing that might cause us to miss the real impact of the word picture before us. Do you recall what flowers actually are? Yes, of course they are colorful, beautiful and fragrant; even romantic, but what are they really?
They are a reproductive system, as are fruit; the delivery system for seeds. Need I mention a gazelle or a stag?
My point is that this imagery in chapter 2 is quite erotic in nature and provides the perfect adornment for the tale being told here. Of yes, dear reader, make no mistake: Love is thick in the air in this chapter.
In verse 1 we have a rose associated with “She”, an interesting selection indeed, for unlike the lilly of the valley, a rose would have been extremely rare in the place and time this was all written. “She” is apparently quite the prize, and “He” confirms this in verse 3. “She” likens “He” to an apple tree in verse 3, a tree that produces fruit that contains seed… Then she wants him to take her to the “banquet hall” which seems better translated as “house of wine” as many older translations do, where she will be under his banner of love, partaking of his fruit and most likely wine, and then they are in a lover’s embrace…
I’m guessing you can handle the rest of the imagery on your own.
If “She” represents God’s people and “He” represents God, what is going on in this scene?
I’m sure that we can all come up with ideas on this question, I’ll toss out a couple for you to consider:
First, it seems to me that God’s people are utterly enthralled with Him, why you could see this rapture of theirs as… worshipful. They are surrendering entirely to His charms; they are giving themselves to Him. In fact, they are giving themselves to God with abandon, so great is their love.
For His part, God is OK with all of this; He finds the very sight of His devoted people positively enchanting and is only too happy to sweep them up in His loving arms.
I want to leave plenty of room for other ideas, so I’ll step aside now and leave you to take it from here; see you next time!
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As long as you tells us the story of God and his people….. and we don’t look at the words of the book, I can go happily along with you. (lol)
It would probably be a good idea to look at the words now and then 🙂
Do you think it’s a good idea to give Christians permission to read this as “erotic poetry”? I do. I think a metaphor interpretation often obscures the more basic truth, that God created us to enjoy it as such. Not that both can’t be true, God is a wonderful recycler and multitasker.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to give Christians permission to read this as “erotic poetry”?”
Well Matt, I neither give or deny permission for anything; who am I? That the passage is poetic is self-evident, as is the erotic nature of the passage. As I see it, right or wrong, the only real question is this: Is it included in sacred canon as an example of two unmarried people lusting after one another, or is there a higher purpose? And of course, the reader is free to decide for him or herself. As for me, I’d prefer to think the latter is the case 😊
well, how about both?
Could be Matt, although the fact that these two haven’t actually met yet makes it a bit awkward, but it could be so. (Don’t worry, I won’t point out that their not having met yet lends it more to my working theory) 😊
“He finds the very sight of His devoted people positively enchanting and is only too happy to sweep them up in His loving arms”
So awesome! What a wonderful God!