God’s design for human love is a reflection of an even greater love He 1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young.3 Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. 4 Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. Song of Solomon 4:1-4 7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon… 9 You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. Song of Solomon 4:7-10 16 Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. She Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits. Song of Solomon 4:16 Others Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love! Song of Solomon 5:1b God’s design and desire is for a married couple to enjoy sex Sin deeply impacts this area of marriage Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom. Song of Solomon 2:15 Sex within Marriage: Humble, Christ-like, self-giving NOT selfish, demanding, self-gratifying Communication is absolutely necessary Intimacy starts outside the bedroom In Christ, we are fully known and fully loved