SEX!
Now that I've got your attention come and buy a doughnut!
This was the advertising genius of my Year 10 Business Studies class as we developed our marketing plan for our class project.
It has been tempting to deploy it again to drum up some excitement for our four week series in the book The Song of Songs.
Because of the fank romantic and even sexual content of the book, some Jewish people treat this is 'the sealed section' of the Bible. A part of God's word they're not allowed to read until they're 30 years old. Even some Christians have forbidden the reading of Song of Songs in church.
But as the Apostle Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Therefore the content and instruction of Song of Solomon, given by God, will be helpful to everyone, whether we're single or married or divorced or widowed. It is God's good word for his people on the topics of sex, marriage, love and relationships.
For those who are not married, Song of Songs speaks to them.
The book recounts the years of attraction and pursuit between the two lovers. Here we see God's wisdom on what to look for in a partner as well as how to speak to and pursue a man or woman of noble character.
For singles seeking to remain celibate, Song of Songs' message, “do not awaken love until it is time,” will both instruct and motivate during that season.
Those who are not married are not second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God, but rather singleness—equal to marriage–is viewed as a gift of grace (1 Corinthians 7:1-7). Song of Songs will aid us all in encouraging those who are single in stewarding this gift for the glory of God.
For those who are married, Song of Songs will present a picture of a relationship working as God intends. A relationship that is romantic, communicative, sexual and self-sacrificial for the sake of the other.
For all of us this book will give God's wisdom on how to relate well in almost all our relationships. It will help us be a better friend, child, parent and partner.
Song of Songs is God's better love song. And is speaks to us all of how to do love, sex and relationships best in God's good world.
But it is more than that. Song of Songs also lifts our eyes to the greatest lover of all, God himself. The one who gave himself for us, so that we might be his beloved bride, his church.
In a world that is all confused and broken about love, sex and relationships the next four weeks will be vitally important as we sit under God's word.
Grace and Peace,
Andrew
P.S. Given the sensitive nature it is quite possible that for many of us this series might raise some painful, difficult or disappointing experiences. Please reach out to someone at church you trust so we can love and care for one another as we explore God's word together.