Love, Sex, and Relationships in Biblical Contexts
Explore the intricate dynamics of love, sex, and relationships as depicted in biblical texts such as Song of Solomon, New Testament teachings on different types of love, perspectives on physical intimacy, prevailing attitudes about sex, and insights from C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters. Discover the reasons for heterosexual married sex and intriguing observations about Song of Solomon. Delve into the richness and complexities of these themes in the Bible and reflect on their relevance in contemporary society.
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Song of Solomon Solomon s Inspired Trilogy Proverbs - Living skillfully Ecclesiastes - Learning skillfully Song of Solomon - Loving skillfully
LOVE in New Testament Times Epithumia ~ Strong Desire (lust or love) Philos ~ Friendship or Brotherly Love Storgay ~ Family Love Agapay ~ Unconditional Love Eros ~ Physical & Romantic Love
Physical Intimacy (Sex) in the Bible To Know (Gen 4:1 KJV) Marriage Bed (Heb 13:4) Adultery & Fornication (Heb 13:4) Harems (Gen 12:14,15;Esther 2:1-3;I Kgs 11:3) Canaanite cult - Ashtoreth (I Kgs 11:4,5) Gentile cult - Aphrodite (I Cor 6:18-20)
Prevailing Attitudes about Sex gross-dirty, necessary evil, response to abuse leads to sexless marriages, cordial roommates god - priority, identity, response to media leads to idolatry, perversion, conflict, destruction (Rom 1:24-28) gift-part of God s very good (Gen 1:27,28,31) in marriages leads to shameless, mutual enjoyment (Gen 2:24,25)
Screwtape Letters - C.S.Lewis Never forget that when we (demons) are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and satisfying and normal form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy s (God s) ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures.
Reasons for Heterosexual Married Sex Pleasure - Song of Solomon Children - Gen 1:28 (be fruitful & multiply) Oneness-Gen 2:24 (they shall become one flesh) Comfort - II Sam 12:24 (David with Bathsheba) Protection- I Cor 7:2-5 (come together so that Satan does not tempt you)
Observations about Song of Solomon 1 - Sometimes called Song of Songs (1:1) 1Kings 4:32 Solomon spoke 3000 proverbs, and his songs were 1005. 2 - God is never mentioned (S of S 8:6 ESV) 3 - S of S is never quotedin the New Testament 4 - Childrenare never mentioned 5 - S of S is sensually frank but not crass
Spiritualizing the Sensual Origen (185-253), Bernard (1009-1153), Matthew Henry (1662-1714) all tend to see the S of S as an allegory describing in poetic form the mystic union between the Christian soul and Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. Literal interpretation may cause us to blush, but it will steer us away from seeing sex as gross or god, but instead as one of God s gifts.
Main Characters in S of S Wife (She) -speaks first & most. May be Abishag who cared for David in his old age (I K 1:1-4). Called Shulamite (S of S 6:13) as a play on the name Solomon, or as a pet name Husband (He) - Solomon (7x) the king (3x). Friends (We) - Healthy, helpful, godly, wise counselors (S of S 1:4b,11, etc.)
An Attempted Outline (1:2-4) The King (1:5-8) The young Bride (1:9-11) Bride in the Palace (1:12-14) Bride at the royal dining table (1:15-2:3) Couple walking in the country (2:4-7) Couple in the palace banquet hall
(2:8-13) Couple together in the Spring (2:14-17) Romantic moment in the vineyard (3:1-5) Night before the wedding (3:6-11) Wedding processional (4:1-5:1) Wedding night (5:2-6) First Fight (5:9-6:13) Patching things up
(7:1-9) A time for embracing (7:10-13) Romantic getaway (8:1-4) Maturing love (8:5-7) Defining married love (8:8-14) Roots of a healthy marriage
Questions for Couples to Discuss at Home 1 - When you first met, did you see sex more as gross, god, or gift? 2 - Today do you see sex more as gross, god, or gift? 3 - What experiences and teachings were most helpful and unhelpful in your view of sex? 4 - What are some of your favorite intimate memories with your spouse?
Discussion Questions 5 - What are you hoping God does in your marriage relationship as you study the Song of Solomon? (borrowed from Real Romance by Mark & Grace Driscoll) Next Time Let Him Kiss Me (S of S 1:1-7)
S of S 1:1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 2 (She) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth For your love is better than wine. 3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore, the virgins love you.
S of S 1:4 Draw me away! (We) We will run after you. (She) The king has brought me into his chambers. (We) We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you. 5 (She) I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
S of S 1:6 Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept. 7 Tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?
