Iain M. Duguid - The Song of Songs: An Introduction and Commentary

The decision completely to revise the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries is an indication of the important role that the series has played since its opening volumes were released in the mid-1960s. They represented at that time, and have continued to represent, commentary writing that was committed to both the importance of the text of the Bible as Scripture and a desire to engage with as full a range of interpretative issues as possible without being lost in the minutiae of scholarly debate. The commentaries aimed to explain the biblical text to a generation of readers confronting models of critical scholarship and new discoveries from the Ancient Near East, while remembering that the Old Testament is not simply another text from the ancient world. Although no uniform process of exegesis was required, all the original contributors were united in their conviction that the Old Testament remains the Word of God for us today. That the original volumes fulfilled this role is evident from the way in which they continue to be used in so many parts of the world.

A crucial element of the original series was that it should offer an up-to-date reading of the text, and it is precisely for this reason that new volumes are required. The questions confronting readers in the first half of the twenty-first century are not necessarily those from the second half of the twentieth. Discoveries from the Ancient Near East continue to shed new light on the Old Testament, whilst emphases in exegesis have changed markedly. Whilst remaining true to the goals of the initial volumes, the need for contemporary study of the text requires that the series as a whole be updated. This updating is not simply a matter of commissioning new volumes to replace the old. We have also taken the opportunity to update the format of the series to reflect a key emphasis from linguistics, which is that texts communicate in larger blocks rather than in shorter segments such as individual verses. Because of this, the treatment of each section of the text includes three segments. First, a short note on Context is offered, placing the passage under consideration in its literary setting within the book, as well as noting any historical issues crucial to interpretation. The Comment segment then follows the traditional structure of the commentary, offering exegesis of the various components of a passage. Finally, a brief comment is made on Meaning, by which is meant the message that the passage seeks to communicate within the book, highlighting its key theological themes. This section brings together the detail of the Comment to show how the passage under consideration seeks to communicate as a whole.

Our prayer is that these new volumes will continue the rich heritage of the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries and that they will continue to witness to the God who is made known in the text.

David G. Firth, Series Editor
Tremper Longman III, Consulting Editor

I first started to teach the Song of Songs at Westminster Seminary in California back in 2000 as part of a course on Psalms and Wisdom Literature. I found it intimidating and overwhelming, so I gave it as small a part of the course as I felt was reasonable. However, the more I started to study the book, the more my interest in it grew, along with a conviction that it was not generally being preached adequately (or at all) in the evangelical and Reformed circles in which I move. That was understandable. If tackling such a complex book seemed an overwhelmingly daunting task for a seminary professor, armed with a PhD in Old Testament, how challenging must it be for preachers without such training? I resolved to get to grips with the Song and eventually to preach through it myself.

Following the invitation to write this volume for the Tyndale series and thanks to a sabbatical break from teaching at Grove City College, I was able to fulfil that goal during the Fall of 2012 and the Spring of 2013 at Christ Presbyterian Church in Grove City, PA. Our regular attendance of students was significantly boosted by the topic! The research that went into preparing those sermons forms the basis for this volume, while the sermons themselves will eventually be published as part of the Reformed Expository Commentary series.

I would therefore like to thank TOTC Series Editor Dr David Firth and Dr Philip Duce at Inter-Varsity Press for the invitation to contribute to this series, and for their patience as I missed several deadlines along the way. David, in particular, contributed many thoughtful observations that improved the manuscript significantly. I am indebted as well to my wonderful, eagle-eyed student assistant, Clint Estes, who read early drafts and pointed out many errors I might otherwise have missed.

I would also like to thank Grove City College for granting me the aforementioned sabbatical to work on this book and for providing such a wonderful collegial atmosphere with my colleagues in the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies. The congregation of Christ ARP provided an enthusiastic and supportive audience for the good news of the gospel, from whatever portion of Scripture. I am grateful too to my fellow pastors and elders there: Matt Harmon, Jonathan Kuciemba, Scott Miller and Lee Wishing a pastor couldnt wish for better comrades-in-arms. Revd Jim Wittke and the good people of Kirkridge ARP in Maryland kindly provided another context for me to try out an earlier version of this material, as did the faculty and students of Mid-America Reformed Seminary.

Last, but by no means least, my thanks and love go out to my family. My children, Wayne, Jamie, Sam, Hannah, Rob and Rosie, have grown up while I have been working on the Song. Sam was married last year, and he and his wonderful wife, Peggy, graciously allowed me to preach from the Song at their wedding. My greatest debt is owed to my wife, Barb, who has taught me so much about the love described in the Song: both showing me the wonderful love of a dedicated spouse and pointing me repeatedly to the even more wonderful love of our beautiful Saviour. Thank you all once again.

Iain Duguid
Grove City College