Focal passage: Song of Solomon 2:15-3:5
One of the common warnings I offer to couples during pre-marital counseling pertains to the importance of not glossing over issues because of their infatuation. As I tend to put it, those idiosyncrasies that you are eager to describe as charming now, may turn out to be points of irritation down the road. It’s best to prepare for marriage with a sober mind, enjoying the beauty of the relationship while also recognizing that two sinners will come together in a uniquely intimate and lasting way – there will be friction!
Of course, leave it to Solomon to describe it far more beautifully than I, with the imagery of catching those cute little foxes that will tear up the vineyard if you let them.
In Song of Solomon, we find a celebration of the splendors of romantic love within the bounds that God has designed. We also find some very helpful building blocks leading to a healthy relationship that appropriately reflect the relationship of God to His people.
It’s helpful to understand marriage in its appropriate context, which is succinctly presented to us in Ephesians 5. Marriage was created by God to illustrate the grand story of God loving and redeeming His people.
The qualities that mark a healthy marriage are those we have experienced firsthand from God as His people. We build trust within a marriage because we have experienced the trustworthiness of our God.
The character we cultivate leading up to marriage will follow us in.