In Solomon’s old age, they [his many wives] turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. [1 Kings 11.4]
In retrospect, I find myself even less impressed with the Song of Solomon considering today's OYCB reading. The fact that Solomon had such a supposed wonderful analogous relationship with the Shulamite woman really means nothing in light of Solomon's betrayal of God! If the Song of Solomon is supposedly such a picture of God and His people or Christ and His Church, then what do we make of the additional information that Solomon went on to betray the LORD God and worship other gods? I don't think God would do that - I don't think Christ would do that!
The point of what I am saying is that for all the intimacy supposedly depicted by Solomon's relationship with the Shulamite woman in Song of Solomon, it still did not prevent Solomon entering hundreds of other relationships and consequently betraying God in so doing! Yes, I am more than a bit disturbed that we "ooh and aah" over the Song of Solomon with no regard that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines - that's 1000 women! So, how can the Song of Solomon really have any significant meaning at all? Frankly, all I get from it is a classy erotic story with the equivalent value and effect of pornography.
If Solomon was so wise, then we are better off stupid! If there is any redeeming value in the life and story of Solomon, perhaps I will see it better as Ecclesiastes unfolds!
Father, I've never fully considered the life of Solomon in light of its entirety. It is sad that he was so wise and yet so faithless.
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