5th March 2026

5th March 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Song of Solomon 1v1) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


It might surprise you to know that the Song of Solomon may not actually be from the pen of Solomon. Why not? Well, the song isn't necessarily positive about the wisest of all Kings. It all depends on your interpretation of this book - for some Solomon is the hero of the song and the love of the woman's life but for others Solomon isn't portrayed positively in the song and therefore it might seem odd that he would write negatively about himself.


I've thought a lot about this particular question and I come down on the side of believing that Solomon isn't the hero of the song. But does that stop Solomon from being it's author? Not necessarily. Another one of Solomon's books is the wonderful book of Ecclesiastes. It is thought that Solomon is "the preacher" of Ecclesiastes and if so he tells us his sad tale. He withheld nothing from his hand, he tried everything under the sun and he even admitted that he had many concubines (Ecclesiastes 2v8). A concubine was not one of the King's wives but she was a woman who the King could have sex with whenever he wanted. Solomon had three hundred such women under his roof and we can only imagine how often he called for them to come to his bedroom.


Yet in Ecclesiastes, Solomon is open and honest about this situation and admits that despite his actions his wisdom never left him (Ecclesiates 2v9) and it taught him that all was vanity - not least a life of unrestricted sexual adventure.


Therefore I don't think it is inconceivable that Solomon in his wisdom wrote the greatest of all songs, the song of songs. Perhaps as an old man when his sexual deeds were done he looked back and realised that there was something greater than having one thousand women at the click of his finger and, as we will see, I think we get this impression in chapter eight and verses eleven to twelve.


I can't tell you for sure who the human author of the song was - perhaps it was a reflective aged Solomon or perhaps the Lord inspired another to write a critique of Solomon's foolishness. Ultimately the Lord is the author of all Scripture and because He is endlessly faithful we can read and trust His Word. The Song of Solomon is actually God's song and it is a celebration of love and covenant faithfulness. May we learn from it, may we grow more faithful in word and deed and may the Lord make us wise as we listen to the song of all songs. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q7 What are the decrees of God? The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
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