{"id":31753,"date":"2024-07-03T22:00:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T05:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/song_of_songs-6_1-13-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-25T22:04:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T05:04:11","slug":"song_of_songs-7_1-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/song_of_songs-7_1-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing in Intimacy, Freedom and Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

Song of Songs 7:1-13 \u00a0 (CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

A NOTE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS:\u00a0 Given the nature of today\u2019s topic, we would advise parents to review this GAME sharing first before your kids do and then decide whether your kids should see it.\u00a0 Kids, if you are reading this, please ask your parent or guardian to review this GAME sharing first before you read it and ask your parent or guardian if they think you should read it now or wait until you\u2019re older.
\nToday\u2019s passage is Song of Songs 7:1-13.\u00a0 I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Song<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0of<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Songs<\/em><\/strong>\u00a07<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/strong>1<\/em><\/strong>-8 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n1<\/sup>\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0a craftsman’s hands.\u00a0<\/em>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0wheat encircled by lilies.\u00a0<\/em>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Your breasts are like two fawns, twins\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0a gazelle.\u00a0<\/em>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are the pools\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0Heshbon by the gate\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0Lebanon looking toward Damascus.\u00a0<\/em>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses.\u00a0<\/em>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights!\u00a0<\/em>
\n7<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0Your stature is like that\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0the palm, and your breasts like clusters\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0fruit.\u00a0<\/em>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0its fruit.” May your breasts be like the clusters\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0the vine, the fragrance\u00a0<\/em>of\u00a0your breath like apples,<\/em>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0and your mouth like the best wine. May the wine go straight to my lover, flowing gently over lips and teeth.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses\u00a01-9:\u00a0 As you read verses\u00a01-8 you may think that they sound just like the guy\u2019s praise\u00a0of\u00a0his wife\u2019s beauty in previous chapters.\u00a0 However, the difference here is that the guy\u2019s words in verses\u00a01-8 are now even more intimate and direct than his previous praises\u00a0of\u00a0his wife.\u00a0 When the guy says to his wife in verse 2 \u201cyour navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine\u201d and calls her waist \u201ca mount\u00a0of\u00a0wheat\u201d, he is basically telling his wife that she is like the most delicious food to him.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, many scholars believe that in verse 9 the wife interrupts the husband\u2019s praises\u00a0of\u00a0her.\u00a0 In particular, to me it makes sense to see the wife beginning to talk in the middle of verse 9 when she says, \u201cMay the wine go straight to my lover\u201d.\u00a0 If indeed this is the wife interrupting the husband, then the overall picture is that this couple is now more comfortable with one another than they were on their wedding night.\u00a0 While there is still great respect for one another and while they still speak in honouring ways to each other, their communication is more intimate and playful than before.\u00a0 It\u2019s because they are growing in intimacy and freedom, both in their relationship as a whole as well as in their sex life in particular.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0 In a healthy marriage, there is growing intimacy and freedom between the husband and the wife, both in terms\u00a0of\u00a0their friendship as a whole as well as specifically in regards to sex.\u00a0 The shyness and awkwardness\u00a0of\u00a0the wedding night gives way to being more carefree, more direct, more playful, and more intimate.<\/p>\n

Also, notice how the wife responds to the husband\u2019s wooing her.\u00a0 Rather than pushing him away, she welcomes him to come closer.\u00a0 The result is deeper intimacy between the two.\u00a0 Husbands, give your wife something sweet to respond to.\u00a0 Wives, take note of when your husband is trying to be sweet to you and respond in kind.<\/p>\n

So there are potentially two dynamics happening in the relationship between this husband and wife.\u00a0 First, there\u2019s a growing sense of freedom and playfulness with one another.\u00a0 Second, the wife responds welcomingly to the husband\u2019s wooing her.<\/p>\n

I find that these two dynamics happen in our relationship with the Holy Spirit as well.\u00a0 In a healthy relationship with God, there is a growing sense\u00a0of\u00a0intimacy, freedom, security and even playfulness, even as there remains a great deal\u00a0of\u00a0honour and respect.\u00a0 Also, intimacy with God happens when we take note of the Holy Spirit drawing us close and respond by welcoming Him.\u00a0 When that happens, the result is greater intimacy with God.\u00a0 I pray this for you too: first, that you would enjoy a freedom and playfulness in how you relate to the Holy Spirit (all the while maintaining a sense of honour and respect) and, second, that you respond welcomingly to the Holy Spirit\u2019s advances.<\/p>\n

Song<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0of<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Songs<\/em><\/strong>\u00a07<\/em><\/strong>:10 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n10\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 10:\u00a0 Before the wife would say, \u201cmy lover is mine and I am his\u201d (2:16) or \u201cI am my lover\u2019s and my lover\u2019s is mine\u201d (6:3).\u00a0 Now the wife is saying \u201cI belong to my lover, and his desire is for me\u201d (7:10).\u00a0 While it is a similar idea to what the wife would say before, it takes a deeper level\u00a0of\u00a0security in the wife and in the relationship for her to say, \u201cI belong to him and he wants me.\u201d<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0 In a healthy marriage, in addition to a growing sense\u00a0of\u00a0intimacy and freedom, there is a growing sense\u00a0of\u00a0security about where each stands with the other.\u00a0 \u00a0Whereas earlier in the relationship one or both\u00a0of\u00a0them might get jealous quickly or feel insecure easily, as they invest in their marriage and grow closer together, jealousy gives way to security.<\/p>\n

In your relationship with Jesus, may there also be a growing sense\u00a0of\u00a0security, where you know without a shadow\u00a0of\u00a0a doubt that He loves you and that His desire is for you.\u00a0 It\u2019s not just about you loving God.\u00a0 It\u2019s about knowing deep down that God loves you and desires you.<\/p>\n

Song<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0of<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Songs<\/em><\/strong>\u00a07<\/em><\/strong>:11-13 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages.\u00a0<\/em>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom– there I will give you my love.\u00a0<\/em>
\n13\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>\u00a0The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 11-13:\u00a0 Notice here that, after all this sweet talk between the husband and the wife, it is the wife who actually takes action and initiates spending the night together in the countryside.\u00a0 What can we learn from this?\u00a0 While from a Biblical perspective it is true that the husband is and should be seen as the leader in the relationship (see Ephesians 5:22-24), and while often it is and should be the husband initiating romance with the wife, the fact is that it is exciting, fun and empowering for most husbands when the wife from time to time initiates sex too.\u00a0 A husband may settle for being the initiator\u00a0of\u00a0sex with his wife each and every time.\u00a0 He may settle for a wife who agrees to have sex but is not actively engaged in it and is simply and passively acquiescing to his request.\u00a0 But what the husband really wants is a wife who enjoys having sex with him and who also initiates sex with him from time to time.<\/p>\n

It takes courage to be an initiator and to take a risk, especially in marriage.\u00a0 No relationship can grow without both parties taking initiative and taking risks with one another.\u00a0 So when God or your spouse takes initiative and risks themselves to reach out to you, don\u2019t take it for granted but appreciate them and encourage them.\u00a0 And may you also not be afraid to initiate and take risks that can lead to deeper intimacy, be it with God or with your spouse.<\/p>\n

Jesus, thank You that I belong to You and Your desire is for me.\u00a0 I pray for every married couple and for every person who wants to get married one day.\u00a0 May their marriage to their spouse as well as their relationship with You grow more and more in intimacy, freedom and security.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

A NOTE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS:\u00a0 Given the nature of today\u2019s topic, we would advise parents to review this GAME sharing first before your kids do and then decide whether your kids should see it.\u00a0 Kids, if you are reading this, please ask your parent or guardian to review this GAME sharing first before you read it and ask your parent or guardian if they think you should read it now or wait until you\u2019re older.
\nToday\u2019s passage is Song of Songs 7:1-13.\u00a0 I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!
\n\u00a0
\nSong\u00a0of\u00a0Songs\u00a07:1-8 (NIV)\u00a0
\n1\u00a0\u00a0How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work\u00a0of\u00a0a craftsman’s hands.\u00a0
\n2\u00a0\u00a0Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound\u00a0of\u00a0wheat encircled by lilies.\u00a0
\n3\u00a0\u00a0Your breasts are like two fawns, twins\u00a0of\u00a0a gazelle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On verses\u00a01-9:\u00a0 As you read verses\u00a01-8 you may think that they sound just like the guy\u2019s praise\u00a0of\u00a0his wife\u2019s beauty in previous chapters.\u00a0 However, the difference here is that the guy\u2019s words in verses\u00a01-8 are now even more intimate and direct than his previous praises\u00a0of\u00a0his wife.\u00a0 When the guy says to his wife in verse 2 \u201cyour navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine\u201d and calls her waist \u201ca mount\u00a0of\u00a0wheat\u201d, he is basically telling his wife that she is like the most delicious food to him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31753"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31756,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31753\/revisions\/31756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}