Song of Songs 8:5-14
Animal Farm is a wacky story; one that doesn’t really fit as a kids’ tale. Yes, it seems pretty silly on the front, with the pigs leading a revolt against the farmer and taking over the running of the farm on their own. But the power of the story isn’t in the crazy adventures or the silly chants. What made Animal Farm brilliant and powerful was not goofy pig antics or silly farm-based jokes. Its brilliance was much darker. It’s an allegory – a story that seems to be about one thing but is really about another. Animal Farm is about the events leading up to the Russian Revolution in 1917 that then led into the Stalinist era of communism (Wikipedia). That’s probably why the recently released children’s animated movie bombed heartily at the theatres (Box Office Mojo). The story was never meant for kids, because it was never actually about a farm.
Song of Songs is not an allegory. We don’t read this and directly interpret the man to be Christ and the woman to be us people, the church. Usually allegories are a little more obvious that they are an allegory—just like Animal Farm. This book is pretty clear what it is speaking about and to whom it is speaking. That means first and foremost that our lessons should be taken on a matching level. Romantic relationships are the forefront of the book and therefore we should take away lessons that have to do with human romantic relationships. There is a difference, however, between an allegory that is really speaking about something else such as Animal Farm, and a reflection (like Song of Songs) that can also have some secondary applications of a spiritual nature.
This passage is speaking to the relationship of a man and a woman and as such there are important things we need to know regarding that relationship. We will see some best practices for marriages while also getting a glimpse how we can strengthen our relationship with Jesus.
Best Practices in Marriage
At this moment of the passage, the man and woman aren’t focused on spiritual things but only thinking about each other. These verses are what you think they are talking about physical intimacy. Allow me to expound a few observations regarding sex that this passage offers. First, if we look at v4, we see a repeated phrase not to stir up or awaken love until it pleases. We’ve mentioned that before and the idea here is that there is a healthy time and an unhealthy time for physical intimacy. The whole of scripture is clear that physical intimacy is best kept inside the bond of marriage. When protected by the ever-lasting commitment of marriage, sex is a bond-builder that brings incredible unity and closeness to the marriage. Outside marriage, however, is a different story. Unmarried sex rips people apart from the inside out because it creates permanent attachments in temporary relationships. Imagine supergluing two sponges together then ripping them apart. At the heart of it all, this is what sex does – it bonds. Look at v6 – a seal upon your heart. Love as strong as death. This is two people who have superglued themselves together in a permanent bond that doesn’t release until death. It can’t be quenched or drowned or sold. There is no removal of that bond. God’s rule for sex inside of marriage wasn’t to spoil our fun, but to protect our very souls and bodies! Don’t cause irreparable harm to yourself by seeking the fun without the commitment. It only destroys. God’s rules are there to protect!
Peace is Born From Commitment
The book has a very interesting cut to black. That’s the end – we’re left with the woman calling out for her man to return. Seems odd and unsettling, doesn’t it? It just ends. Kind of like PB Crisps. They were one of my favorite snack treats back in the day and then they simply disappeared. Never heard about them again. I really liked that those treats had just the right amount of creamy PB to crispy shell ratio. But they just stopped showing up on store shelves. This book may seem to have a harsh or crisp ending, however there is much more peace in this than you realize. Look at v10. The woman has reached her point of peace. We’ve seen her go through intense dreams, fears, the constant game of seek and find, but she has come to peace. Notice that the chase isn’t over – which is huge! There can be peace inside commitment even when life is moving fast all around us and change is constant. Life is still going on for her, but in her commitment, her marriage, her bonding with her man, she has found peace with her trust in him. The chase; life; they never stop – but inside a healthy marriage, there is peace in the bond that gets us through.
Next Steps
Best practices are there because it’s the best way to do something. This is where the spiritual reflection comes in. When we live in faith and trust in the providence of God, we can rest assured that we are safe and secure in Him, our refuge and peace in the storms of life (Psalm 46).
- Save sex for marriage! Honor God regardless of age or experience.
- Trust the commitment (both with God and each other) and live on faith.
- Remember that God is perfect but humans are not. Ups and downs.
Nita and I always had a plan to recover after kids came and went as foster parents. It was usually a trip to Universal Orlando and inside our marriage, we used that as a connecting point and safe space for us to process after a kid was moved on. Inside a healthy partnership, there is refuge no matter the storms of life. Stick to God’s best practices to live with peace in your life no matter what happens.
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