Hdbdan
I must admit that I don’t really know how to interpret Song of Solomon. I am well aware that there are many notable Christians who equate the book to Christ and the Church. Yet, I am a little apprehensive at jumping to such conclusions; especially given that Solomon is often used as a type of Christ by these same noted Christians. Others, seeing that Christ had not yet been revealed, see it as God and true Israel, but other than this these views are very similar.
I have a hard time with those conclusions mainly because in the end Solomon actually looses out to the “shepherd lover” and the Shulamite and the shepherd lover exchange vows and live happily ever after.
As I read commentaries on this book, I see that most of them agree this is probably the hardest book in the OT to understand; which actually corresponds to my thoughts as I read it.
As I read the quotes from the notables you mentioned, I find myself wanting to agree with them, mainly because I have a hard time understanding why God would include in the Canon of Scripture a book that isn’t about Him.
As I read the book and I think about the meaning, although I want to read things into the text that I don’t see; I am leery about doing so. It would seem rather it is a story mainly about Solomon, the Shulamite and the Shepherd lover. The Shulamite women is the object of the affection of both Solomon and the Shepherd lover, yet despite the wooing of Solomon, the Shulamite women is attracted to the Shepherd lover and Solomon looses out. It is obvious that there is a meaning in this book that God wants people to understand, but at this point other than some possible principles, that meaning escapes me.

Tom