How can we apply the passion in Song of Solomon 1:2 to marriage? “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine.” The Verse Alive with Desire • The bride’s opening cry captures unashamed longing. • A kiss, the most tender of touches, is celebrated—not merely permitted. • “More delightful than wine” paints marital affection as rich, intoxicating joy. God’s Gift of Marital Passion • Genesis 2:24 roots this desire in creation: husband and wife become “one flesh.” • Passion is not worldly excess; it is woven into covenant love. • Proverbs 5:18-19 urges spouses to delight in each other’s bodies. • Scripture treats physical intimacy as sacred, never sordid. Lessons for Today’s Husband and Wife • Celebrate affection openly. Loving touches, words, and kisses nurture security. • Value one another above every earthly pleasure—“better than wine.” • Remember that passion flows from covenant commitment, not casual attraction (Malachi 2:14). Practical Steps to Rekindle the Delight – Schedule unrushed time together; intimacy grows in margin, not in hurry. – Speak praise often. Compliments mirror the poetic affirmations throughout the Song (1 :15-16). – Guard privacy. Create spaces—devices off, doors closed—where affection can flourish. – Share spiritual life. Prayer, worship, and Scripture reading weave heart-level closeness that fuels physical desire. – Surprise each other: a note, a favorite dessert, an unexpected embrace. Small gestures echo “kisses of the mouth.” Safeguards for Lifelong Romance • 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 calls spouses to honor each other’s needs, refusing manipulation or neglect. • Ephesians 5:25-28 frames affection in sacrificial love: husbands cherish, wives respond, both image Christ and the church. • Purity of mind protects passion. Reject lustful substitutes—pornography, emotional affairs—that dull genuine desire (Matthew 5:28). • Quick repentance and forgiveness keep resentment from chilling warmth (Colossians 3:13). Love That Points Beyond Itself • Marital delight whispers of Christ’s lavish love for His people (Ephesians 5:32). • As spouses savor each other, they taste a foreglow of the eternal Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). • Cultivated, covenant passion becomes living testimony: God’s design is good, His Word true, His gifts “more delightful than wine.” |
    |