Thoughts on a Curious Juxtaposition of the Poetic Song of Solomon and the Plain Talk of 1 Corinthians

Both the Song of Solomon (SoS) and Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.) speak about marriage relationships but in very different ways. To some degree the differences are merely the difference in culture and training between Solomon and Paul. Solomon, blessed, wealthy, and above all wise, chose the language of wisdom from his time and place. Similarly, Paul educated to the Nth degree, steeped in both the Torah and Socrates, reflects a combination of the exacting styles of both the Pharisee and the philosopher. In addition to stylistic differences 1 Cor. discusses many subjects while SoS is almost entirely about a single intimate relationship. Finally, 1 Cor. teaches about a believer’s response to the world where SoS is metaphorically about the believer’s response to Christ. Beyond these differences, both books contain similarities in their wisdom and knowledge about how men and women interact inside a marriage.
The books contain parallel thoughts such as;
SoS 6:3 I am my lover’s and he is mine…
1 Cor 7:3-4 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
The quote from SoS is aesthetically pleasing. So much so that it is easy to miss the depth of connotation within it. The 1 Cor. quote spells out the case without flourish and leaves a clear imprint on the mind but has less impact on the soul than the lyrical SoS. The truth that birthed both ideas (or, the one idea expressed two ways) is made clear through the comparison. Simply put, we cannot live for ourselves and fulfill all God’s plans for us. This is true in many areas of living but deserves special consideration in respect to marriage and relationships. In marriage, two imperfect souls are bound together in a way that compounds/exacerbates the effects of both selfishness and selflessness. As the foundational unit of society a married couple’s behavior to each other, good and bad, reverberates throughout many lives and sets the tone and timbre of the society around them. Marriage God’s way blesses society, the family, and the individuals in the marriage.

The Song of Solomon is a lyric poem written to extol the virtues of love between a husband and his wife. The poem clearly presents marriage as God’s design. A man and woman are to live together within the context of marriage, loving each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically.This book combats two extremes: asceticism (the denial of all pleasure) and hedonism (the pursuit of only pleasure). The marriage profiled in Song of Solomon is a model of care, commitment, and delight. (http://www.gotquestions.org/Song-of-Solomon.html)

Our world is confused about marriage. The prevalence of divorce and modern attempts to redefine marriage stand in glaring contrast to Solomon’s Song. Marriage, says the biblical poet, is to be celebrated, enjoyed, and revered. This book provides some practical guidelines for strengthening our marriages:

1) Give your spouse the attention he or she needs. Take the time to truly know your spouse.

2) Encouragement and praise, not criticism, is vital to a successful relationship.

3) Enjoy each other. Plan some getaways. Be creative, even playful, with each other. Delight in God’s gift of married love.

4) Do whatever is necessary to reassure your commitment to your spouse. Renew your vows; work through problems and do not consider divorce as a solution. God intends for you both to live in a deeply peaceful, secure love. (http://www.gotquestions.org/Song-of-Solomon.html