Song of Songs Lesson 2
The New Testament predicted that following the days of the apostles there would be a falling away from the faith and that this apostasy would include a negative attitude toward marriage (1 Timothy 4:1-3). In 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicea, a proposal was made that all clergy give up cohabitation with their wives. The proposal did not carry. The perspective represented in the proposal did. Pope Siricius in 386 commanded that all priests live celibately. Later this order was extended to sub-deacons. Many of the priests were married when they were ordained. Next, the apostate church insisted that a married man could not be ordained unless he and his wife exchanged vows of continence. This led ultimately to refusal to ordain anyone to the priesthood who had been married. Celibacy reigned as the symbol of supreme piety. Marriage was seen as a concession to human weakness and the need to continue the human race. This could be done by weaker fold and more worldly believers. The more noble were celibate. Augustine was a key influence in this, his position was basically that since the Fall, man is unable to enter into a sexual relationship without lust, and lust is defiling. In contrast, the Bible, including the Song of Songs, does not see marriage as an inferior state or a concession to human weakness. In fact, marriage existed before man sinned (Genesis 2:18-24). The prospect of children is not necessary to justify sexual love in marriage. Significantly, the Song of Solomon makes no reference to procreation or furthering the human race. It must be remembered that the book was written in a world where a high premium was placed on offspring, and a woman’s worth was often measured in terms of the number of her children. In contrast, the Song is a song of praise of love for love’s sake, and for love’s sake alone. This relationship needs no justification beyond itself. “In a sense there is almost an Edenic quality in much of the Song of Songs, almost as if it were a commentary on Genesis 2:18-25” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, p. 1206). 1:8 The Chorus or Daughters of Jerusalem This may have been said in a mocking tone, “If you of all people, do not know where he is, go to the other shepherds where you really belong anyway”. Women were given the task of caring for the newborn of the flock, hence the expression, “your young goats”.