The wisdom books of the Old Testament have long been a source of headaches for readers and teachers of the Scriptures. Because of little historical detail and scant authorial evidence, many battle not only with the message of this body of biblical literature, but also with the span of time in which they were written. The Song of Songs, as part of the wisdom literature, is not immune to these complex matters. Its message seems to be a love poem with apparently no application for the church. And it is difficult to determine whether the poem was composed by Solomon, for him, or to him. The author provides a pathway towards understanding issues related to the style, composition, and structure of the Song of Songs. He then offers a helpful verse-by-verse commentary around 23 poems in the Song. In the end, Longman believes the Song of Songs reminds us of the proper role of sex in marriage, focusing our attention on the unfulfilled yearnings only to be satisfied in the consummate state, when Christ consummates his kingdom and blesses his people. All in all, this is an indispensable commentary for any student of the Scriptures interested in understanding this difficult book. - Jeff Waddington - Westminster Bookstore Staff