O.T. 3 SPRING 2017 SONG OF SONGS

Question 1

How is Song of Songs interpreted?

Answer 1

(in spite of the lack of explicit religious content)
The Song is often interpreted as an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel, God and the Church, or Christ and the human soul, as husband and wife.
=However, some reject any allegorical interpretation of this book claiming that a better interpretation is to take it at face value; as a collection of passionate love songs between a husband and wife.

Question 2

what extremes does Song of Songs combats?

Answer 2

This book combats two extremes:
asceticism (the denial of all pleasure)
and hedonism (the pursuit of only pleasure).