Song of Solomon 4:10b-5:1

Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.

Bible Reading

How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices— a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow.

She
Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.

He
I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk.

– Song of Solomon 4:10b-5:1

Devotion

The love between these two spouses as better than wine, and just as intoxicating. Solomon describes his bride as a locked garden, a locked spring, and a sealed fountain, only accessible to the owner. This imagery alludes to the exclusivity of sensuous love that should only take place between a husband and wife. When it is reserved for only the spouse, it is refreshing, intoxicating, and overwhelming.

God created sex for the intimacy of marriage. It is to be a locked fountain, spring, garden, that is only to be opened by one’s spouse. Our culture tries to tell us the opposite: Popular movies, music, and marketing campaigns tell us that sex with multiple partners and unlocked lust gives fulfillment and freedom. In reality, this pursuit only leads to pain, sorrow, and destruction. While God can forgive and heal those who have tried this route, those who reserve themselves only for their spouse are able to find greater satisfaction in the intimacy and enjoyment of the gift of sex that God has provided for those who are married.

The Big Question

If you are married, how can you keep your gates secure? If you are single, what precautions can you make to ensure that you will remain true to your future spouse?

Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.