Bible: 5 Poetic Books

Lesson 1: Backgrounder

The Book of Song of Songs: Backgrounder

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.

--Helen Keller

It may be mushy. It may be gushy. But isn't love poetry what originally got all poets into writing in the first place? Throughout history, there have been attempts to woo with words...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need; by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath.

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright,

Meet in the aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which heaven and gaudy day denies.

--Lord Byron

Almost every student at school knows at least one "Roses are red, violets are blue" poem. Adults seek to make loved ones live forever through their poetry--and you know how easy it is to find love poetry on Valentines Day!

Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) is much better than any sickly sweet greeting card verse, though. It is a beautiful account of the heartfelt feelings between a Jewish maiden (the Shulammite woman) and her lover (Solomon, the king). Deep feelings are uncovered through beautiful, heartfelt expression, and those escalate into perhaps the closest expression of love--the union of man and woman sexually and spiritually. Here, we discover how God intended sex between man and woman to be--an expression of love within the boundaries of a successful marriage.

This isn’t some sex scandal on national TV. This isn’t pornography or cheap titillation. The relationship described in this book of the Bible is one that demonstrates love, passion, commitment, and understanding. Thinking of the other person’s best qualities, thinking of their needs before your own. Saying the sweet words that need to be said, but are sometimes forgotten.

And of course, it parallels God's relationship with the church. Remember that we are to be the bride of Christ, so this book of the Bible is about more than marriage, more than relationships, more than sex and communication between husband and wife. On a deeper level, it gives us a clue of how close we should strive to have God's word in our heart as we carry out our day-to-day activities.

If you're even a little bit of the romantic type, move ahead to lesson seven, Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)!

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