Spiritual sensuality. These are two words we would not normally put together. Spiritual things are of God. However, sensuality seems to be anything but godly or spiritual. There has been a prevailing attitude toward eroticism and sensuality that sees it as something that is sinful and worldly.
If this is true, what do we do with Song of Songs? This is an entire book of the Bible that belongs in the adult section for married couples. Jews have often interpreted this book as being about God’s love for Israel. Likewise, Christians have historically interpreted this book as sort of a parable of Jesus’ love for the church. The obvious reason is that the passionate sensuality of the book seems beneath the exalted message of the scriptures. Therefore, it must be about something higher, such as our Lord’s love for his people. This view is reflected in some of the songs we sing in our hymnals, which applies the images in the Song of Songs to Christ. These include the Lilly of the Valley from 2:1, The Fairest of Ten Thousand from 5:10, and The Rose of Sharon from 2:1. There is even a children’s song that comes from 2:4 - “He brought me to his banqueting table, his banner over me is love.”
The only problem with this view is that if eroticism is too worldly, then why would God use it to describe his relationship with his people? If the passionate and sensual love of the Song of Songs is scripture, then why can’t it be what it appears to be? It describes smoldering, passionate, sensual love between a husband and wife.
Consider the opening words of the book…“The Song of Songs…” This grammatical construction is the same as “crème de la crème,” (cream of the cream), or the best of the best. In other words, this sensual, erotic, passionate love poetry is the best of the best. The best of the best is found in scripture! This tells us that all love is of God, including the passionate love between a husband and wife. It is exquisite, sultry, and passionate. It expresses overwhelming admiration and overpowering desire. In the marriage, these are good and godly things. They are just as God intended. It belongs to God, not Hollywood or the music industry. In fact, Hollywood has taken this exquisite creation of God and gleefully destroyed it. Taking it outside of marriage with no real commitment and turning it into a means of self-gratification and objectification of another human being rather than mutual expressions of love in a committed marriage has led to untold damage. However, when honored in the way God intended, it is the best of the best.
Some of the recurring phrases still resonate with us across the language and cultural barriers. We comprehend the suggestiveness of the aromas and fruits. We can understand what the secret garden, or walled garden means when it comes to the romantic and passionate love between spouses. We can relate to phrases such as “the one whom my soul loves.” However, there are other phrases and images that either do not communicate well, or are completely obscured through the language and cultural barriers. One could analyze each phrase, but then something may be lost. Poetry is not meant to be merely analyzed, but to be experienced. This is one of the reasons I suggest reading freer translations and paraphrases when reading Song of Songs. The New Living Translation, The Message, and other such renditions offer a fresh reading that often communicates more in the way the poetry of the verses were intended.
Why is this book in the Bible? Perhaps it is meant to function for the godly marriage the same way the book of Psalms function for all who love God. As the poetry of the Psalms model worship, devotion, prayer, confession, and self reflection for the worshipper, Song of Songs models romance, passion, sensuality, and making love in both words and action for the married couple. Sensuality in this way is intensely spiritual and is of God, not the world. There is no shame or guilt when spouses honor this exquisite creation of God according to his intent.
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