It's been called "profane", "offensive" and deemed "intolerable" to consider its literal meaning part of the scriptural canon. Such is the hard-fought history of the Song of Songs: no other book has ben so maligned, simply for existing in the Bible.

In truth, the Song is exactly as it appears: an intensely passionate expression of romantic love, ascetic and sexual, between two lovers. The poetry is structured in tow anti-symmetric halves: a chiasmus.

The Song's lovers are forever imprinted as timeless emblems 0f this flawless, except godless- love; and the divine Hand enriches the Song symbolically, creating an allegorical overlay with spiritual instruction. The literal story line and interwoven allegorical messages coexist effortlessly: rooting Solomon's Song on Earth does not limit it reaching to Heaven.

The spiritual lessons imprinted in the Song are simple, profound and highly relevant to the 21st century disciple; and the manner in which they can be seen to emerge from the symbology, fascinating