Awaken Love at the Proper Time
Note from today’s Bible reading: Song of Solomon 1-8
The book of Song of Solomon is about a man and a woman and their expressions of love for one another. Much of the book describes the anticipation of their wedding and how they would then be able to fully enjoy their union as husband and wife.
Amid this anticipation, the bride offers this counsel: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, that you will not arouse or awaken love until she pleases” (Song of Solomon 3:5).
It is clear in this book that the man and his bride had a strong desire for one another. However, this statement shows that she recognized that there was a time to “awaken love.” That time was not whenever the desire was there.
The Scriptures teach that marriage is the proper time. The Hebrew writer said, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). One of the reasons why God created marriage was to give men and women a way to fulfill their sexual desires and enjoy that level of intimacy. However, outside of marriage was not the proper place for those things.
So awaken love at the proper time. Rather than giving in to our desire in the moment, we must respect God and trust His plan. He created us and knows what is best for us.