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A Christian Marriage Preparation Study from the Song of Songs
Introduction
- Our God who gives us everything pertaining to our daily uneventful even boring life, godliness, righteousness, holiness, and forgiveness, is the same God who is the foremost expert on our need for romance, sex drive, and our future marriage.
- God knows everything about us, and based upon what He knows about us, He is more than willing to provide us with an instruction manual so that we might truly live with the joy and intensity of satisfaction that He created us to experience fully.
- That instruction manual of God is one of the Books in the Bible, that is, the Song of Solomon, Canticle of Canticles, or the Song of Songs. Indeed, in its eight chapters, the Song of Songs is full of explicit descriptions of pre-marital relationship, romance, marriage, love, sex, and intimacy.
- For many Christians, this Book, the Song of Songs seems somewhat mysterious, since most Church Fathers and Bible Scholars understand and interpret it as an allegorical relationship of Christ and His church as His bride. Indeed, all Christian marriage relationships are to be founded upon an individual Christian’s intimate relationship with God and His Christ. Depending upon how we have our personal relationship with God and His Christ, all the Christian marriage relationships can stand or fall apart.
- This Book takes a specific couple, Solomon and the Shulammite (Shulamite) woman and gives several snapshots regarding initial attraction, dating, courtship, sexuality and marriage, conflict, and renewal of romantic love. In this Book we see Solomon and the Shulamite woman experience a pure desire and passion, yet their desire is always in the right context and timing. And all along the way, we see something divine in their relationship and blessed union. A passionate fire builds between them, and that fire is maintained from start to finish in their whole relationship.
- This Song of Solomon shows us very vividly and explicitly a holy love, one that is possible between two sinful and fallen human beings only when touched by divine grace. Through such an exemplary love life of king Solomon, God teaches us the purity of love, sacrificial love, and lasting love that all Christian couples would pursue most in their marriage relationship.
1:1 The Song of Songs that is Solomon’s.
BRIDE (in soliloquy)
2 Oh, that he would kiss me with kisses of his mouth,
for batter than wine is your affection.
3 For fragrance your perfumes are pleasing,
and perfume poured forth is your name.
Therefore, the maidens love you.
4 Draw me after you! Let us run together!
The king has brought me to his chambers.
DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM TO KING
We will rejoice and be glad in you.
We will extol your love (better) than wine.
BRIDE (in soliloquy)
Rightly do they love you.
TO DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
5 Dark am I but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare at me for I am dark;
the sun has scorched me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me.
They appointed me caretaker of the vineyards,
but of my own vineyard – that belongs to me –
I have not taken care.
(in soliloquy)
7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,
where you pasture your flock,
where you rest them at noon,
lest I become as a veiled woman by the flocks
of my companions.
DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM TO BRIDE
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women,
go forth on the trail of the flock
