The Most Intimate of Relationships - Song of Solomon 1-3 and Galatians 2
The Song of Solomon is a love story about the love of king Solomon and his Shulamite wife. It is a poetic description of romantic love between a husband and wife. I believe it is in the Bible to emphasize the supremacy and the importance of marital love and fidelity. Since I have been participating in my son's wedding recently, I have been able to observe the excitement of God bringing two people together in this way. It makes me so thankful that Chris and I have had such an exciting and maturing relationship now for over 33 years. It is truly a gift from God. He intends for us to experience this true intimacy with one special person and to be committed for life. I am saddened when I see marriages that lack love and intimacy. No matter what they are based upon, if they fail to have this closeness and excitement, they are missing God's design. God never intended marriage to be about money or pleasure. It is about relationship and growing together in an intimate way. That is why the sexual relationship plays such an important role. God desires for us to be "one" with another person in every way, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Of course, Ephesians 5 tells us that the marriage relationship is a picture of our relationship with Christ. That is what Paul was defending in Galatians 2. There were people who wanted to make salvation all about keeping the Law. They wanted to make being a Christian about rules and regulations. He would not stand for it. He told them that he had been crucified and that now Christ lived in Him. He lived his life by faith in Christ through this intimate relationship with his Lord and Savior. He would not let the Judaizers or Peter or Barnabas distort that truth. Paul wanted to make sure everyone knew that salvation comes through a love relationship with Jesus and nothing else. I pray that each of us knows the excitement of knowing Christ. I pray that we have a growing and maturing relationship with Him. That is His desire for each of us. He wants us to enjoy His love forever. That is why He calls the church the bride of Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Song of Solomon 4-5 and Galatians 3.
Of course, Ephesians 5 tells us that the marriage relationship is a picture of our relationship with Christ. That is what Paul was defending in Galatians 2. There were people who wanted to make salvation all about keeping the Law. They wanted to make being a Christian about rules and regulations. He would not stand for it. He told them that he had been crucified and that now Christ lived in Him. He lived his life by faith in Christ through this intimate relationship with his Lord and Savior. He would not let the Judaizers or Peter or Barnabas distort that truth. Paul wanted to make sure everyone knew that salvation comes through a love relationship with Jesus and nothing else. I pray that each of us knows the excitement of knowing Christ. I pray that we have a growing and maturing relationship with Him. That is His desire for each of us. He wants us to enjoy His love forever. That is why He calls the church the bride of Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Song of Solomon 4-5 and Galatians 3.