4:9 - I know when you first look at it, it seems a little weird, but I love that he refers to her as "sister and bride." To me this denotes the deep level of love and respect that Solomon has for his wife. He understands that she is more than just a person to have sex with. His statement speaks to an understanding that he and his beloved are both the children of God - they are a part of a worldwide family of people created in the image of God and worthy of respect. She is not only his wife, but his spiritual sister and his friend. This is what a marriage relationship should look like...it should be a union of respect and honor (as well as desire and pleasure as we see over the next few chapters).
5:1ff - The imagery here is unmistakable - they are enjoying one anothers' bodies in the midst of a married love relationship. Solomon and his beloved are delighting in their marriage union. We must never forget that sex is a beautiful, God-given act that is too often ignored and made negative by the Church. Sex in the midst of a loving, committed, spiritually driven marriage is absolutely amazing...and when you have experienced it in such an environment of trust and respect, you know how shallow and unsatisfying the meaningless, lust-driven non-committed sex of the world is.
5:14 - Here is some great advice for the all the ladies out there. Solomon's beloved knows what he wants to hear. She says that his arms are like rods of gold, embedded with jewels - she tells him that he is ripped. She praises his strength. You may not know this because of all the bravado that gets thrown around by men, but we are generally very self-conscious creatures. Most try to act tough as a means of overcompensating for their fear of the weaknesses they see in themselves. A wife who is willing to build up her husband and confirm his strength is a wife who is making serious investments in the love bank. We are sensitive people! I remember when we were first married...I had been working out and I came home all excited because I had been working out with reps of over 300lbs. on bench press. I told my wife about it and she said something to the effect of - "I didn't marry you because your strong" or "I would love you no matter what." Sure, she said those words to be nice and emphasize her unwavering commitment to me, but I was hurt. My sensitive little ego needed confirmation that I was a strong guy. Over the years she has learned how fragile I really am and does a great job of making me feel strong - and it has nothing really to do with physical fitness or strength as much as it has to do with building me up. Wives, if you want your husbands to be leaders in your family (Not "the boss" but God-honoring leaders), probably not a good idea to emasculate him.
6:13 - I like this...the woman who has given herself to her husband is no longer available to other men. She is for Solomon and he is for her. They have chosen to forsake other men and women...chosen to leave their families behind and become one in body and heart. They fulfill each others' desires and no third parties are welcome in that realm.
7:10 - The woman who is giving herself as a wife for a man is the only vessel through which he should be attaining sexual satisfaction. A man's desire should be for his wife and his wife alone (And vice versa). This brings honor to his wife, brings honor to God and twisted perversion out of the marriage bed.
8:6-7 - Seal your heart and seal your body - they are only to be shared with your spouse. A lot of marriages in this world would be a lot more healthy if this is the kind of commitment husbands and wives made to one another.
Showing posts with label Song of Solomon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Song of Solomon. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Song of Solomon Chapters 1-3
1:3 - "Your name is like oil poured out." Solomon's name is his character. She is saying that his reputation, his character is very good. Like a fragrant oil, his name goes before him and people know that he is a good man. Women of purity are drawn to him because they know he can be trusted. This is the kind of man that Christian women (all women for that matter) should be looking for!
1:7 - She wants to be around Solomon...she wants to spend time with him and get to know him, but notice how she wants to do it. She wants to be around him in the middle of the day, out in public, around his friends. She wants built in accountability. If they are hanging out together in broad daylight, there is less chance that they are going to do anything to compromise their purity. She says, "I don't want to be like the prostitutes that hang around your friend and veil themselves - I am a woman of honor and I will make sure there are boundaries for our integrity." Song of Solomon has a lot to teach people who are in relationships - don't put yourself in situations where you are alone for long periods of time...set boundaries!
1:9 - I know this doesn't sound too great...most women would be offended if someone called them a horse, but you have to understand the context. The mare that pulled Pharaoh's chariots would be the most magnificent horse in all of Egypt. Beautiful. Powerful. His most treasured possession. And a mare would lead the armies out, because the other male horses would be drawn after her - they would long to follow. This is an incredibly beautiful compliment. Solomon is saying that she is his most treasured possession...she is beautiful beyond compare...powerful...that any man would follow her every move. Little more romantic when you put it that way, huh?
1:13 - What is it that lies in the middle of the chest? The heart, right? In ancient times (when bathing wasn't really frequent) women would were perfume boxes so that they would only smell beautiful fragrances. She is saying that she keeps Solomon in her heart, and that the love she has for him makes everything better. AWWWWWWWW!
2:1 - This is cool...the love for Solomon has actually made her blossom as a person - she has become more confident. If you go back to chapter 1 verse 6, you see that she doesn't even want Solomon to look at her, because she feels like she is too dark. But he has spoken such confidence into her heart, that she now sees herself as beautiful. Single men and women should look to be in relationships with people who help them to become better...more godly...more confident.
2:2 - "A lily among thorns." Lilies grow on lily pads...roses grow on thorn bushes - what is Solomon talking about. He doesn't think the rose is a good enough comparison to his love. Lilies only grow one single unique flower. Roses grow many identical flowers on the same bush. Solomon is saying that his beloved stands along in her beauty...that no one is like her...in fact the other women look like thorns to him in comparison to his beloved.
2:5-7 - These are absolutely sexual terms. Raisins and apples were thought to be aphrodisiacs in the ancient world. Think about the position of the hands and arms described...that shows two people laying down and embracing. Solomon's beloved desperately wants to sleep with him. She is in love with him...she finds him incredibly attractive and she wants him. It is that plain and simple. Every young engaged couple understands this feel. But look at verse 7...this verse comes out like a subconscious reminder to the young woman - "Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases." Don't mess with your purity...wait until there is no guilt...wait until there is utter commitment...wait until marriage.
2:9 - This is a two-way street...Solomon is also deeply in love and attracted to his beloved. He is filled with desire for her as well. He is depicted like a stag...stamping at the ground outside of her home.
2:17 - She sees his desire and love for her and actually invites him to enjoy her body...she wants him to run wild over her like a wild stag - their passion continues to increase with each chapter. Again - I think anyone who has been close to marriage understands this fully. Before Mandy and I got married, the desire for sex was almost overwhelming, but like Solomon and his beloved, we were able to wait until it was right before God after marriage. Even if mistakes have been made with regards to purity, couples can make the choice to stop...to make the commitment to reclaim the control and do things as God wants them to be done.
3:1 - With the desire overwhelming both of them, the Beloved goes into Solomon's room to find him, but he is not there. He knows that he cannot trust himself alone with her and has made the choice to do whatever it takes to maintain their purity. How many men in the world are like this today? The woman offers herself to him and it is the man who has the character to wait. That is awesome. So many times in the lives of even Christian couples, it is the women that have to make the boundaries and fight for purity. We need some Christian men in the world who will stand up and be leaders for purity in relationships. That is the kind of men you should be looking for ladies!
3:4-5 - She finds Solomon and she will not let go. So they go to her mother's house. The desire is burning them up...they are in love...they are committed to one another and the time has come to get married.
1:7 - She wants to be around Solomon...she wants to spend time with him and get to know him, but notice how she wants to do it. She wants to be around him in the middle of the day, out in public, around his friends. She wants built in accountability. If they are hanging out together in broad daylight, there is less chance that they are going to do anything to compromise their purity. She says, "I don't want to be like the prostitutes that hang around your friend and veil themselves - I am a woman of honor and I will make sure there are boundaries for our integrity." Song of Solomon has a lot to teach people who are in relationships - don't put yourself in situations where you are alone for long periods of time...set boundaries!
1:9 - I know this doesn't sound too great...most women would be offended if someone called them a horse, but you have to understand the context. The mare that pulled Pharaoh's chariots would be the most magnificent horse in all of Egypt. Beautiful. Powerful. His most treasured possession. And a mare would lead the armies out, because the other male horses would be drawn after her - they would long to follow. This is an incredibly beautiful compliment. Solomon is saying that she is his most treasured possession...she is beautiful beyond compare...powerful...that any man would follow her every move. Little more romantic when you put it that way, huh?
1:13 - What is it that lies in the middle of the chest? The heart, right? In ancient times (when bathing wasn't really frequent) women would were perfume boxes so that they would only smell beautiful fragrances. She is saying that she keeps Solomon in her heart, and that the love she has for him makes everything better. AWWWWWWWW!
2:1 - This is cool...the love for Solomon has actually made her blossom as a person - she has become more confident. If you go back to chapter 1 verse 6, you see that she doesn't even want Solomon to look at her, because she feels like she is too dark. But he has spoken such confidence into her heart, that she now sees herself as beautiful. Single men and women should look to be in relationships with people who help them to become better...more godly...more confident.
2:2 - "A lily among thorns." Lilies grow on lily pads...roses grow on thorn bushes - what is Solomon talking about. He doesn't think the rose is a good enough comparison to his love. Lilies only grow one single unique flower. Roses grow many identical flowers on the same bush. Solomon is saying that his beloved stands along in her beauty...that no one is like her...in fact the other women look like thorns to him in comparison to his beloved.
2:5-7 - These are absolutely sexual terms. Raisins and apples were thought to be aphrodisiacs in the ancient world. Think about the position of the hands and arms described...that shows two people laying down and embracing. Solomon's beloved desperately wants to sleep with him. She is in love with him...she finds him incredibly attractive and she wants him. It is that plain and simple. Every young engaged couple understands this feel. But look at verse 7...this verse comes out like a subconscious reminder to the young woman - "Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases." Don't mess with your purity...wait until there is no guilt...wait until there is utter commitment...wait until marriage.
2:9 - This is a two-way street...Solomon is also deeply in love and attracted to his beloved. He is filled with desire for her as well. He is depicted like a stag...stamping at the ground outside of her home.
2:17 - She sees his desire and love for her and actually invites him to enjoy her body...she wants him to run wild over her like a wild stag - their passion continues to increase with each chapter. Again - I think anyone who has been close to marriage understands this fully. Before Mandy and I got married, the desire for sex was almost overwhelming, but like Solomon and his beloved, we were able to wait until it was right before God after marriage. Even if mistakes have been made with regards to purity, couples can make the choice to stop...to make the commitment to reclaim the control and do things as God wants them to be done.
3:1 - With the desire overwhelming both of them, the Beloved goes into Solomon's room to find him, but he is not there. He knows that he cannot trust himself alone with her and has made the choice to do whatever it takes to maintain their purity. How many men in the world are like this today? The woman offers herself to him and it is the man who has the character to wait. That is awesome. So many times in the lives of even Christian couples, it is the women that have to make the boundaries and fight for purity. We need some Christian men in the world who will stand up and be leaders for purity in relationships. That is the kind of men you should be looking for ladies!
3:4-5 - She finds Solomon and she will not let go. So they go to her mother's house. The desire is burning them up...they are in love...they are committed to one another and the time has come to get married.
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