The Lily of the Valley--Song of Solomon's Analogies

The song, "The Lily of the Valley" uses great imagery that describes Jesus. Another one, is "His Banner Over Me Is Love." Some of these images come from the Song of Solomon. I think these are proper uses of analogies. The Song of Solomon has also been used by marriage counselors over the years to help people improve their marriages. I think this is also proper because it primarily does describe love between a husband and wife.

I think the way to use what we call "spiritualizing" is to use other Scripture to back up the spiritual analogies we draw from a statement or event. Sometimes, we can say, "The primary historical meaning of this passage is . . . , but it reminds me of . . . . (something that is clearly taught in Scripture--we can even show where that support is). Then go on to talk about the possible allegorical, metaphorical, or spirualized message.

This is a way of using analogy where you compare one thing with another. Just make sure both ideas have biblical support even if they appear in different parts of Scripture. Also, be careful of saying that this is exactly what the original Scripture (the one you are making a comparison to) intended. I mean be careful of saying the original Scripture intended to produce the analogy you picked out.

The New Testament uses such comparisons also when it talks about marriage being a picture of the relationship of Christ with the Church.

There can be value in spiritualizing a passage of Scripture, but we need to be carful with its use--especially careful not to come up with something that Scripture does not teach.

In the closing chapters of the book of Acts, there is a description of Paul going through a storm. I often use that to talk about how we go through the storms of life, but I always say that what the passage actually describes is the fact that Paul went through a real (weather) storm. Then I draw the analogies about how God helps us through "storms" (which can be clearly identified in Scripture.)

So, use spiritualizing, but make sure the comparisons are clear and reasonalble and that the comparisons can be backed up with the Bible otherwise.