Beloved: A Study in Song of SolomonSample

What does it say?

Solomon and the maiden talked of being alone together. Two times in this passage, she told the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love until it could be fulfilled.

What does it mean?

The mutual love between Solomon and his future bride caused other women to desire the same kind of relationship. Being keenly aware that her friends might try to manufacture those feelings, the Shulamite maiden encouraged them to maintain their moral purity until their wedding day. She modeled her advice, even though her love for Solomon was so consuming that she dreamed of frantically searching the city for him at night. Although Solomon and his fiancée each spoke of being alone together, they used restraint in physically expressing their love during their engagement.

How should I respond?

Virginity is an old-fashioned notion. Current culture tells young people to wait to “fall in love” before having a physical relationship. They seldom hear that pre-marital sex is both physically and emotionally unhealthy. So what guardrails should you put in place as a single person? First, don’t confuse physical intimacy with love. Be constantly aware of the temptations of spending time alone with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Following God’s design may be counter-cultural, but practicing abstinence before marriage will free you within marriage to express love as God intended.