Devotions - Sex is Good for You - Song of Songs 3:4

Song of Songs 3:4      Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me.

We’ve been reading the Song of Songs in our daily readings at our church for the past week, but I haven’t commented on it. It’s a mysterious book of the Bible. For centuries, pastors used to preach and write about it as a poetic commentary on Christ’s endearing love for His Bride, the Church. They did that because they wanted to avoid the obvious: that the Song of Songs is actually about sex education and the intimate love between two dedicated partners.

It’s almost as if the Bible is stating something else that is obvious: loving sex is good for your relationship. The poetic images that are used throughout this short book are about two people who woo each other lovingly, gently, and faithfully. It was written as a marriage guidance book about intimacy between a man and a woman.

In today’s world where sexuality has become cheap and brazen, tawdry and self-centered, the poetic symbolism and faithful sexual love of Song of Songs seems quaint and tame, old-fashioned and redundant. We have lost the capacity to caress and have cast aside the enjoyment of embracing. Pillow talk and hugs have been replaced with prowess and performance. The simple pleasures of holding hands and gentle kisses have been set aside for passion and frenzy, satisfaction and cheap thrills.

The Song of Songs relates to us an ancient wisdom about relationships that is much better than what most people in marriages experience or expect today: true love enjoys intimacy and partners value one another completely whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for the gift of love and intimacy. Help us in our marriages to reclaim the simple pleasures of embracing, caressing, and loving. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing from John is called “Sunflower Celebration.” If you would like to view a larger version of the picture, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5943556725_26b4218142_b.jpg