DECIPHERING A LOVE STORY

I just spent much of the evening reading through a series of posts at The Life Project: Finding Clear and Simple Faith. I spent the time reading a series of posts about the Song of Songs. Here Don Merritt helps us to take a closer look at what on the surface looks to be an erotic love story full of passion and sex. What do we find? According to , we find a story about humanity’s relationship to God. Is he right? I certainly think he makes a good case.

The Song of Songs is only eight chapters long. We can read it easily in a single sitting. However, I have learned the wisdom of studying the Bible with a good guide. When we study without one, we don’t realize just how much we are missing. We may even get so confused we come away with a foolish interpretation. Therefore, I look for help, and when I saw  was writing this series, I made a point to set aside some time to read it.  did an excellent job. I am pleased to recommend this series to my readers.

Here are ‘s posts. Make certain you take the time to glance at the comments too. Some are very interesting — and no — I am not talking about mine.

• Song of Songs: A Dilemma
• Song of Songs and the Old Testament
• And So the Drama Begins
• Spring has Sprung
• Troubled Dreams
• Growing Anticipation
• Dreaming Again
• “Dance of Delight”
• The Moment of Truth has Arrived
• Picking up the Pieces
• Putting the Pieces Together
• Finding the Last Piece

Note that Bible exposition is not especially easily. Therefore, even though  focuses on and carefully explains his preferred explanation of the Song of Songs, he does not hide the fact there are other interpretations.

Does the fact there are multiple interpretations mean the Bible is just too hard to understand or that  is just plain wrong? No. It just means:

• Even though the best things in life are free, there is some good stuff God makes us work for.
• What we find in the Bible may sometimes depends upon what we need from it.

Whenever we read anything or interpret another person’s words, how we understand what we read or hear depends at least partly upon us. Our situation, our education, our wants and needs, and other factors influence how we understand what another is trying to say to us. That is true of what God is telling us through the Bible too, and that is why it pays to read the Bible regularly. Because we each change, our understanding of the Bible changes. That includes something that should be obvious. If we study the Bible regularly, our understanding of the Bible will improve.