Song of Solomon 2
Outline
1 | Bride: Compares her beauty with nature
2 | Bridegroom: Compares her beauty with nature
3-6 | Bride: Describes the Bridegroom’s appearance and intimate care for her
7 | Bridegroom: Cares for her rest
8-13 | Bride: Anticipates the arrival of the Bridegroom to her chamber
14 | Bridegroom: His desire to be near the Bride
15 | Chorus: An appeal to get rid of those who would tempt them away from each other
16-17 | Bride: A call to the Bridegroom to relish in their love
Reflections
When God created man, He had him look for a suitable partner, but one couldn’t be found. So God created one for him from his rib, woman. While men and women are very different in many respects, yet we are made from the same basic genetic and biological materials and in the image of God.
God then gave instructions for them to care for God’s creation and to multiply. He built into men and women a sexual desire. Sex was designed by God for two purposes: procreation and expressing love for one another, each within a marriage composed of one man and one woman. Jesus, God’s Son, who came to reveal the Father to mankind, and Paul taught the same thing (Genesis 2:20-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:31-33). God’s standard hasn’t changed, regardless of what a society might proclaim as being acceptable.
That brings us to the text we have before us. In it we see a couple’s mutual desire given voice. They describe their attraction for each other and their desire for intimacy to be shared.
Some would say that this doesn’t have a place in the Bible. However, I believe that God wants us to know as much as we need to be able to live to honor Him in every aspect of our lives. That includes how a husband and wife should be attracted to and desire intimacy with one another.
Paul taught that a husband and wife should never withhold sex from each other, unless it was mutually agreed upon and for a set period of time and for a specific purpose. But then intimacy should be restored when the time was completed so that the temptation of adultery can be avoided (I Corinthians 7). Paul also teaches that some might choose to be single to better serve God without the cares that are associated with a marriage. But not everyone has that ability and it is better to be married than to give occasion to sin.
The desire for sexual fulfillment can be very strong and if left unchecked can lead to any number of activities that fall outside of God’s original design for sexual intimacy. John teaches in his first letter that all that is in the world fall into three categories.
1 John 2:16 NASB For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Sexual relations can easily fall into each of the three categories and I’m sure that you don’t need me to describe how that might happen, so I won’t get into any specifics here. I would simply encourage you to follow God’s design for marriage and sexual relations. You can’t go wrong following God’s design!
Lord God, Heavenly Father, You recognized that it wasn’t good for men and women to be alone and that they are ideally complete in a marriage relationship of one man and one woman. Help us to live to honor You in our marriage relationships and to resist the temptations that come as we interact with others. We also recognize that You have blessed some with remaining single to be able to serve You with greater freedom. Give us the wisdom as we consider potential partners and help us to live in harmony with our spouses when marriage becomes a reality. Thank You Lord for the relationships we have and may we always honor You in all that we do. May Your will be done one earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SongOfSolomon_2_RL_TheBrideAndBridegroomProclaimTheirDesireEachForTheOther.pdf
