HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 966
Song of Songs
“ I L O V E Y O U , ” S O M E O N E W H I S P E R S . But what does he
mean? What is she trying to say? What is love anyway? If someone
asked you to define love, what would you say?
What you will be
Today the word love is tossed around loosely and
reading about
far too casually. The phrase I love you can now
mean “I have feelings for you,” “I admire you,”
1:1– 2:7
The wedding day
or “I want to sleep with you.” Song of Songs
reminds us of the true meaning of marital love
2:8 – 3 :5
Memories of courtship
as God intended it.
Love, real love in the context of marriage, is a
3:6 – 5:1
rock-solid, unwavering, undying commitment to
Memories of engagement
care for, enjoy, and build up your spouse. Within
5:2 – 6:3
the security of this total commitment, intimacy
A troubling dream
and vulnerability—the keys to excitement and
6:4 –7:9
fulfillment in marriage—have a chance to grow
Praising the bride’s beauty
and flourish.
7:10 – 8:4
Modern society is confused about love. Movies
The bride’s tender appeal
and TV shows often portray love as man meets
8:5 -14
woman, they are physically attracted to each
The power of love
other, they have sex, they enjoy each other’s
company for a time, and then they get tired of each other and split up, leaving
behind two hurt people and often some sad and devastated children.
Sex without marriage and committed love makes you vulnerable without the
undergirding support of trust. It feels good, but it is cheap because it is based
on a fleeting feeling and not on a deep commitment. It destroys trust.
The writer of Song of Songs suggests a different set of events. First comes loving commitment, then marriage, then sexual intimacy. Commitment and trust
are the foundation stones of a wonderfully romantic, intimate, and fulfilling
marriage. They give you the freedom to grow and explore your relationship without the fear of rejection or abandonment. They are the ingredients of true love.
In this book’s beautiful example of married love, the writer also gives us
a picture of our relationship with God. In the same way that commitment is
necessary for the most fulfilling marriage, so also complete devotion is necessary between God and his people. Anything that becomes more important to
me than God, anything I do to become more intimate with sinful ways, is, in a
sense, an adulterous affair that breaks the trusting relationship between God
and me.
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