Bible Reading: Numbers 6; Psalms 40-41; Song of Solomon 4; Hebrews 4
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. (Song of Solomon 4:6-7)
Chapter 4 of the Song of Solomon is about the royal couple's wedding night. The first part is Solomon's description of his wife. It is filled with Middle Eastern rural imagery from nature. It would seem that he is rehearsing her beauty as he gets more intimate with her on their wedding night. This is for married couples only! The great tragedy of our day is that many couples have experience prior to their wedding night with someone other than their spouse. We see here a man who is totally enthralled with his wife. He tells her how beautiful she is. They spend this night in each other's arms and Solomon's conclusion is that there is no spot in her. He now knows her intimately as no other man does.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. (Song of Solomon 4:9)
Notice how Solomon calls her his sister and his spouse. What a beautiful declaration of the relationship between them. A husband and wife should work hard to cultivate a close friendship in their marriage. They should also realize the blessings of marital intimacy. Solomon calls her a garden and a fountain.
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. (Song of Solomon 4:12)
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. (Song of Solomon 4:15)
She is his garden and his fountain. This is something that is not to be shared with anyone. Solomon also writes in another place:
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? (Proverbs 5:15-20)
God designed marriage and the intimacy of the relationship is his idea. It is to be between one man and one woman in the bonds of covenant marriage. Just as much as the Shulamite ravished Solomon on his wedding night, she is to have his heart all of their life. The Bible says to rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let God build this kind of relationship in your marriage.
In Christ,
Rody
