To those of you who have studied/preached on Solomon's life, especially as it relates to Wisdom literature, I'd be interested in recommended resources.
Obviously, Solomon's life is inextricably bound up with a right understanding of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Some of those connections are obvious on the face of it. I have read various things in the past that have hinted at biblical-theological allusions to Adam in Solomon's life. Certainly some of those themes seem borne out in Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon as well. I'd be interested in exploring those. This makes me curious to see how far and in what direction we can take those connections in interpretation. It has always seemed suggestive to me that Proverbs deals with wisdom and applying the law, seemingly early in Solomon's life, Ecclesiastes narrates Solomon's warnings against the vanity of sin (experienced in his backslidings) and Song of Solomon (in my view) deals with the sweetness of the believer's relationship to Christ. Of course that is extremely simplistic, and I realize nothing in biblical interpretation is ever quite that simple. But it has the wheels turning in my mind. Is there something to Solomon's own experience of exaltation and wisdom, followed by fall into sin and recovery into the sweetness of the gospel that in some respect mirrors Adam and a larger biblical-theological theme which is helpful in the interpretation of Proverbs-Ecclesiastes-Song of Solomon?
I'm certain I'm not the first one to think of such connections and I'd love the thoughts of those of you who have dealt with this in more depth or know of helpful treatments of such themes.
@greenbaggins? @Contra_Mundum? @iainduguid?
Obviously, Solomon's life is inextricably bound up with a right understanding of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Some of those connections are obvious on the face of it. I have read various things in the past that have hinted at biblical-theological allusions to Adam in Solomon's life. Certainly some of those themes seem borne out in Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon as well. I'd be interested in exploring those. This makes me curious to see how far and in what direction we can take those connections in interpretation. It has always seemed suggestive to me that Proverbs deals with wisdom and applying the law, seemingly early in Solomon's life, Ecclesiastes narrates Solomon's warnings against the vanity of sin (experienced in his backslidings) and Song of Solomon (in my view) deals with the sweetness of the believer's relationship to Christ. Of course that is extremely simplistic, and I realize nothing in biblical interpretation is ever quite that simple. But it has the wheels turning in my mind. Is there something to Solomon's own experience of exaltation and wisdom, followed by fall into sin and recovery into the sweetness of the gospel that in some respect mirrors Adam and a larger biblical-theological theme which is helpful in the interpretation of Proverbs-Ecclesiastes-Song of Solomon?
I'm certain I'm not the first one to think of such connections and I'd love the thoughts of those of you who have dealt with this in more depth or know of helpful treatments of such themes.
@greenbaggins? @Contra_Mundum? @iainduguid?
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