Who's the Man?

In Sunday’s message we said the man in the Song is undefined. But many identify the man as Solomon. In this post we’ll discuss Solomon’s role in the Song of Songs.

The Song of Songs begins: Song of Songs which is Solomon’s.

The question is what does “which is” mean? Some believe that the Song of Songs is written by and starring King Solomon. He wrote it; he’s the man in it. I don’t think that’s the case.

I think that it written for Solomon, not by him. I think Solomon ( a lover and collector of wisdom) probably commissioned someone (or someones) to write love poetry to be read at one of his weddings.

The reason I don’t think Solomon is both author and co-star is simple. The man in Song of Songs doesn’t sound like what we know of Solomon. Solomon has some good points, but in the area of love & marriage he’s a disaster.

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. God says that marriage is one man and one woman. Solomon also married foreign women, women who did not worship the LORD. God explicitly says not to do that. And Solomon married all these women as a way of making treaties with foreign nations. God explicitly says not to do that. It is in love and marriage that wise Solomon had no wisdom.

The man in the Song does not sound like Solomon. The man in the Song of Songs is a one woman man. Solomon isn’t. The man in the Song of Songs marries for love. Solomon doesn’t.

I don’t think it makes any difference in interpreting the Song of Songs if Solomon did in fact write it. I think the question of who wrote the Song of Songs is less about Song of Songs and more about your opinion of Solomon.

If you think he’s an awful, lousy hypocrite, then you’re comfortable with the idea that he wrote it. If you think he’s a mixed bag, then you’re comfortable with the idea that someone else wrote it.

But I have a hard time believing God chose Solomon to teach his people about love and marriage. I know God uses flawed teachers, but this is a stretch in my mind. I could be wrong, but my guess is that Solomon conscripted some folks to write Song of Songs and it was given to him as a wedding present.

And I think we find a subtle dig at Solomon at the end.

_Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it [a] would be utterly scorned.

Song of Songs 8:7_

For a man who traded on love and marriage for political purposes, I think this one would have a stung a bit. No wonder it comes at the end!