Good morning, Five Minute Families! God is so very good. His word gives each of us the guidance to interact with people in all the areas of our lives. We just finished a marriage retreat here at Clear View Retreat, and we got to hear how God has worked in those and many other marriages to redeem His people as well as to build up His kingdom.

In the thought of marriage, let’s discuss – mostly in code to stay family friendly – Song of Songs. Song of Songs, or Song of Solomon as it is also known as, has an interesting interpretation history and even today’s commentaries are often multi-faceted in how to interpret, understand, and apply this eight-chapter book of the Bible.

One point of interest is that in the Jewish tradition, Song of Songs is followed by the book of Ruth, but in the Christian Bible, it is followed by Isaiah. The importance and interpretation influence where Bible scholars see this book fitting in the overall arch of what God is trying to share with His people, though both of those books point to the coming Christ.

Previous scholars have taken this book as an allegory of Christ and His bride, whereas the modern application of Song of Songs is straight-forward and taken on face value. These are love poems about two people who are falling in love and learning how to relate with one another within the gifts God gives us through the element of attraction. The great thing about God’s Word here is that as He teaches us His wisdom on waiting for physical intimacy, we learn many principles of self-control and righteousness, and ultimately, we will grow in the area of all the marital intimacies if we so choose.

But, ultimately, within the poetic narrative of the two people planning and getting married, we see five fundamental principles developed. Douglas O’Donnell in a commentary on The Gospel Coalition’s website states some of them this way, “Patience and purity before passion and pleasure is what [God’s wisdom] instructs.” Let’s explore those four elements and the component that divides them – the pledge of marital commitment.

1. Patience – 1 Thessalonians 4:4 demonstrates our need to have patience in waiting for marital connection – “that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor”
2. Purity – Psalm 119:9 directly states, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
3. Pledge – The pledge of marriage is ordained in Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
4. Passion – Once married, God allows for marital connection such as 2 Samuel 12:24 – “David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.”
5. Pleasure – As Hebrews 13:4 instructs, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.” We can find pleasure in the good gifts God gives in marriage.

God has a plan and purpose for each of us, and He created the gift of passionate marital intimacy. We must honor the Lord in all areas of our lives and this is no exception. If you and your spouse did not keep things on an honorable level, ask forgiveness from the Lord, from one another, and from yourself. Pray that the Lord will give you a greater understanding of His original plan, and then speak His truth in love and understanding to those in your family. Don’t let your past sins keep you from giving God glory for all that He redeems and accomplishes in the course of marriage. He uses marriage as His analogy for our relationship with Him for a reason, and we need to understand the family foundational relationship of marriage and its strength so greatly impacts our five-minute families.

Both internally and externally, a couple needs to show marital commitment throughout their lifetime as chapter eight verse six states, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.”

Please consider now joining us next year for a marriage enrichment retreat. Your marriage does not need to be in a difficult place to come. In fact, we encourage couples who are strong and growing closer in the marriages to come as well so that you do not give the enemy a foothold.

May God bless and keep you. May His face shine upon you. Be blessed!