Book Review: Love Songs by David Bragg
Sadly, to many Christians, there are only sixty-five books in the Bible…and then there’s the Song of Solomon. I once used an illustration in a lesson on the importance of Bible study that listed “10 ways you know you haven’t been studying the Bible enough.” One of them was, “You find your son reading The Song of Solomon and you ask him, ‘Where did you find this trash?'”
While the Song of Solomon can be very confusing, it is also a beautiful portrait of love–as opposed to lust–when studied. The book is inspired, and we need to be studying it more.
Brother David Bragg of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, has written some excellent material on this often-neglected book. He takes an interested approach in his book “Love Songs: A Comprehensive Study of the Song of Solomon,” a book intended for classroom use. There is a great controversy surrounding the book as to whether there are two major characters (Solomon and the woman–in which Solomon plays a truly great husband and lover) or three major characters (Solomon, the woman and her true love–in which Solomon becomes the “villain” of the Song). Brother Bragg presents both ideas in this book.
The 13 chapters make the book good for study in a class, and brother Bragg has divided them up in a helpful order, as follows:
Section 1: Introduction
- Chapter 1: Introduction and History
- Chapter 2: Interpretation Matters
- Chapter 3: A Commentary on Marriage
Section 2: Two-Character Interpretation Commentary
- Chapter 4: Mutual Commitment of Love (1:1-3:5)
- Chapter 5: Solomon and His Bride (3:6-6:9)
- Chapter 6: A Divine Covenant of Love (6:10-8:14)
Section 3: Three-Character Interpretation Commentary
- Chapter 7: Lust Versus True Love (1:1-3:5)
- Chapter 8: Love Is Greater Than Wealth and Power (3:6-6:3)
- Chapter 9: True Love Conquers (6:4-8:14)
Section 4: Application
- Chapter 10: The Language of Love
- Chapter 11: Love is Unique (3:6-11)
- Chapter 12: Love is Belonging (4:7-8)
- Chapter 13: Love is Pure (8:6-9)
Even if you decide not to purchase this book for classroom work, you would do well to have it by your side when you come to the “Canticles” (as Jerome called the book) in your daily Bible reading. Preachers, I would highly recommend the book for some great outlines found in section four about love.
You may order the book by calling Hester Publications at 731-989-5872. Also, take a moment and visit brother Bragg’s website by clicking here. If you order the book for a classroom setting from his website, you will receive a 10% discount. The book retails for $8.95.
