Song Of Songs (part 3) -- a celebration of covenant sex and romantic passion [185]

Intimate Covenant Podcast

Intimate Covenant Podcast
Song Of Songs (part 3) -- a celebration of covenant sex and romantic passion [185]
Aug 03, 2026 Episode 185
Intimate Covenant -- Matt & Jenn Schmidt

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In this episode we conclude our Song of Songs series with a break down the biggest interpretive debates around Song of Songs and explain why a purely allegorical reading collapses the text into endless guesswork. We also name the book’s core themes, showing how covenant marriage, erotic desire, and spiritual meaning fit together without embarrassment.

  • why Song of Songs often gets treated as allegory only
  • what an allegory is and why the text never labels itself that way
  • how bad presuppositions about sex distort Bible interpretation
  • why canonicity objections usually come from discomfort
  • how Scripture uses marriage as a metaphor without erasing earthly marriage
  • examples of hymn lyrics that ignore context
  • Song of Songs themes: mutual pleasure, exclusivity, intimacy, passion, beauty

Sign up for the annual Intimate Covenant Marriage Retreat where we will dig into these themes from the Song of Songs: intimatecovenant.com/retreat


For a deeper dive, here's a list recommended resources to expand your perspective to help with reading the Song of Songs:

  • Allender, Dan B., and Tremper Longman III. God Loves Sex: An Honest Conversation about Sexual Desire and Holiness. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014.
  •  Alter, Robert, trans. Strong as Death Is Love: The Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Jonah, and Daniel: A Translation with Commentary. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2015. 
  •  Longman III, Tremper. Song of Songs. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001. 
  •  Pope, Marvin H. Song of Songs: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. The Anchor Bible, vol. 7C. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977. 


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  Cherishing,
  Matt & Jenn




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