the Shulammite Woman

The Shulammite Women
Her Character: Hers is the only female voice that speaks directly to us in the Scripture. Ruth’s and Esther’s voices , for instance, are mediated by narrators. The Shulammite woman boldly declares her longing and desire to be united to her lover in marriage.
Her Sorrow: To have been separated from her beloved at times.
Her Joy: To enjoy so passionate a love
Key Scripture: Song of Songs 1-8

Please take the time to read Song of Songs (aka Song of Solomon) this week.

Unlike any other book in the Bible, the Song of Songs is full of erotic imagery. The Shulammite woman was as passionate as her lover initiating contact with him, openly declaring her feelings. She yearned for kisses from his mouth, so in love that even his name smelled sweet to her. She wandered the city at night (or dreamed of wandering it) searching for him. She wished she could pass him off as her brother so that she could kiss him publicly without creating a scandal. Each declaration from her elicited a passionate response from her lover, who sang of her,

Your stature is like that of the palm,
And your breasts like clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like the clusters of the vine,
The fragrance of your breath like apples,
And your mouth like the best wine. ~ Song of Songs 7:7-9

Despite the ancient imagery, we get the message. Anyone inclined to believe the Bible teaches a negative view of sex should read this book of Scripture before drawing such a conclusion.

Day 2

I have copied the article below from a friend of mine. I thought it would be fun to share.

God made sex for the enjoyment of married couples but many are confused when it comes to sexy talk. Christians either make sex sound boring and “the world” too vulgar. I ran across this article that describes sexy talk using the Song of Songs. Have fun with this. For the full article go to http://www.growthtrac.com/artman/publish/article_1036.php

Sexy talk was in the Bible long before the pornographers crafted the first four-letter word. In other words, Christians had a vocabulary for sex before the Puritans or pornographers started messing up the works. We have only to avail ourselves of these words. Below is a glossary of biblical images for sexuality.

apples: testicles
clusters (of the palm): breasts
dew: male sexual secretions
entering the garden: sexual intercourse
fawns: breasts
feed among the lilies: oral sex or sexual kissing
foxes: interruptions or obstacles to sex
fruit: genitals, male or female (usually female)
garden: vulva and vagina
garden of nuts: penis and testicles
gazelle: penis
know/knowing/known: sexual intercourse
lovesick: horny
mountains: breasts
myrrh: female sexual secretions
orchard of pomegranates: vulva and vagina
palm: woman’s body
pleasant fruits: pleasure coming from the vagina—the Song likensentering the garden to entering paradise
round goblet: vulva
stag: penis, sometimes the whole male body
towers: breasts
twins of a gazelle: breasts
vine: penis, sometimes the whole body
vineyard: the woman’s body or genitals
wine: symbol of erotic pleasure

You can use these words to make fun, sexy phrases that you and yourwife share. Here are a few of our favorites: “I think the stag is ready to play in the garden.”“I feel like getting some fruit from the orchard.”“The vine is definitely growing in the garden of nuts.”“I’m in the mood to climb the palm tree.”“We should let the gazelle and fawns out tonight.”“Would you like me to feed among the lilies?” We could go on, but you get the idea. Have fun with the language God gave us for sex in the Song of Songs.

By using these words, we’re reclaiming sex as something from God. We’re showing the Puritans that it’s okay to be playful and sexy. It’s putting the pornographers on notice that the Bible has better words for sex than they do. And it’s honoring God’s gift of sex in its fullness—something sacred, erotic, and fun.

Day 3
Read Song of Songs

Many of the images used in this poem give, indirectly, the idea of lengths of time spent together: “resting” (1:13), “sit” (2:3), “browse” (2:16; 6:2), “go” “spend the night” “go early” (7:11-12). The impression is of long lengths of time spent together quietly and intimately. What picture does that give you of the love between this man and woman? What does it tell you about the need for time together with the one you love?

Song of Songs 8:6-7
6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

These verses express the undying commitment of the lover and the beloved. What do you think is required to have the love described in these verses? It is something that just happens or is it something that must be worked out?

Throughout history, intimate love relationships have been shamefully distorted and profaned. Songs of Songs gives God’s picture of the beauty of the relationship. What can you do to foster this love in your own marriage relationship?

Day 4

The erotic poetry of Song of Songs is not merely an expression of sexual desire but of the romantic love between a man and women. The love between the lover and the beloved is not merely one of physical pleasure and intimacy but one of a depth of feeling and commitment. True love doesn’t fade with the changes brought about by time but is stronger even than death. Neither the waters of time nor the rivers of disappointment or tragedy can wash it away.

If you have been so fortunate in your own marriage to experience a love even half as passionate as the one described in this book of the Bible, read it in light of your own story, thanking God for his blessing. But even if you haven’t, you can be glad that married love and it’s sexual expression was God’s idea to begin with. You can also read the Song of Songs as a dialogue between God and your own soul. God’s love is more passionate than any human love you could ever experience. He is the true Lover of your soul, ready to sing with you the greatest and most beautiful song of all.

God promises to love his people with the same depth of love described here. That includes you. You are his treasured one, his beloved, and he delights in you just as these lovers delight in each other.

Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me. ~Psalm 31:21

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. ~Psalm 149:4

I have loved you with an everlasting love. ~Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. ~Zephaniah 3:17

Day 5

Lift Your Heart
The Shulammite woman was so captivated by her lover that his name was like perfume that made everything in her world smell good. Light a fragrant candle as you take time to reflect on one or more of God’s names. Look up relevant Scripture passages and ask God to reveal himself more deeply to you.
Creator of Heaven (Genesis 14:19)
My Song (Exodus 15:2)
Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
Good Shepherd (John 10:14)
Counselor (John 14:26)
Father of Compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3)
Savior (1 Timothy 4:10)
Light (1 John 1:5)

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the beauty of intimate marriage that you have given to us. Thank you for the relationship I have with you. Thank you for the blood that brings me to a place to call you Abba. May your love surround me and my friends. Fill us with your promises of love and intimacy. May your names make everything in our worlds smell like perfume, may we all give thanks for the beauty and blessings of your love.