Reading: Song of Solomon
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned (Song 8:6-7).
And He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matt. 19:4-6). By Biblical definition, marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. This bond encompasses all aspects of a couple's relationship, including spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. While the laws regarding the creation and dissolution of legal marriage contracts vary from place to place and may change over time, it is essential to remember that God's definition of marriage remains unchanged and cannot be altered by human laws.
In the Song of Solomon, God offers us a beautiful illustration of His concept of marriage. He begins with courtship, showing us how to build the foundation necessary for a successful marriage. As the bride and groom prepare for the wedding, they reflect on what brought them to that moment. Mutual attraction Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes. (Song. 1:15) led to passionate feelings of love and belonging. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love (2:3-4). Physical desires were kept in check (2:7) even as the couple spent more and more time together, discussing everything from their hopes, dreams, and insecurities (1:1-17) to all the small but still significant differences they needed to settle before attempting to make a home together (2:15).
After they marry, God then goes on to share with us the beauty of marital intimacy and stresses the importance of maintaining a deep and passionate connection with your spouse. Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon (4:11). How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights (7:6)!
The picture He paints is not one of shallow perfection but rather of determined, loving commitment. The couple makes mistakes, as all couples do. They have times where they don’t connect, where they take each other for granted, and where they seem to be drifting apart (5:2-6). But when they realize what is happening, they immediately seek each other out to make amends. Through dedication and perseverance, they come to realize that well-tended marital love is stronger than any outside force.
I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves (Song. 7:10-12).
Thought For Today:True marriage is a celebration of faith and devotion; by honoring our spouse, we honor God.
Christ Revealed: As the chiefest (outstanding) among ten thousand (Song 5:10). Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16).
Word Studies:1:3 savour = fragrance; 1:11 borders = ornaments; 1:12 spikenard = perfume; 1:16 our bed is green = we recline on a grassy field; 2:5 Stay me = Invigorate me; flagons = delicacies; sick of love = overcome; lovesick; 4:4 bucklers = small shields; 5:4 bowels = heart; 8:5 raised = awakened.
Pray For Government Officials: Rep. Joe Wilson (SC) • Country: Ukraine (44,291,413) East-central Europe • Major Languages: Ukrainian, Russian • Religious Freedom • 83.7% Orthodox (various jurisdictions); 10.2% Catholic (mainly Greek-Catholic); 2.2% Protestant; 0.6% Jews; 3.3% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4).
Optional Readings:Hebrews 8