The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs

“Phil Ryken is a master expositor of the Scripture, and he uses all his ability to beautifully unpack one of the most intriguing and difficult books of the Bible to understand—the Song of Songs. Historically, interpreters have read the book as either/or. It is either about human romance or about our relationship with Jesus. Ryken reads the book as both/and—both in its immediate historical context (about romance) and its whole canonical context (about the spousal love of Jesus Christ.) And of course, biblical wisdom about love and sexuality has perhaps never been as crucial and needed by the church as it is today. An important book for us all!”

Timothy Keller

“The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs is a book that every serious Bible student will want. A thoroughly researched, insightful, and challenging treatment of one of Scripture’s most engaging and relevant books, written by one of our generation’s finest pastoral theologians!”

J. D. Greear

“Our culture is deeply confused about sexuality and marriage. Not coincidentally, it is equally confused about the God who created humanity for a committed, exclusive, loving relationship with himself. This book shows us the remedy in the Song of Songs, the divine love song that shows us how our human marriages ought to work and how they ought to mirror Christ’s passionate love for his bride. Ryken shows us how the song speaks to everyday relationships and, in doing so, how it points us to the One who made us for himself.”

Iain M. Duguid

“After reading The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs, I will never read this biblical book in the same way again. Ryken skillfully weaves into each passage God’s wisdom about both the magnificence of human marriage and the romance of our redemption. I can’t think of any Christian—single or married—who wouldn’t benefit from this book.”

Jani Ortlund

“Here is a book of costly value for both single and married people! I have been blessed to read this, and through Ryken’s exposition I see how the Word made flesh in the Song of Songs is brighter and more wonderful than I imagined. Ryken’s call for obedience to Scripture’s authority is convicting, but we are given hope and help as we read. He says that this Song ‘operates simultaneously on at least two different levels,’ teaching us about Christ with his bride, which speaks to what a truly godly marriage can be, and how all of us in the body, single or married, are his true bride.”

Valerie Elliot Shepard