Valentines Day 14 ~ House of Cedar, Rafters of Fir

February 14, 2014 · Happy Valentine's Day ~Day 14~ House of Cedar, Rafters of Fir ***warning: this devotional contains sexual content :)*** There are hundreds of beautiful and provocative word pictures in the Song of Solomon, that average people miss, including myself. I understand some of the word pictures because I've studied the bible quite a bit, but I'm sure that I miss all kinds of things. The average American would read the Song of Solomon and scratch his head when he reads such phrases as, "Strengthen me with Raisin cakes", "The mandrakes send out their fragrance", or "His body is like polished ivory decorated with sapphires". The imagery is very interesting, poetic, and beautiful when you understand the culture. Raisin cakes were thought to increase fertility and were considered Aphrodisiacs, so when you read chapter 2, verses 3-6, you might raise your eyebrows a bit, now that you know why raisins were considered so special. Mandrakes are a very poisonous plant from the nightshade family but they are mentioned in 7:13, because their aroma has 55 odiferous constituents which create bizarre chemical aromas, which heighten sexuality, indicating that even in that culture certain scents were used and enjoyed to enhance sex. Some of the descriptions used when the Shulammite or Solomon compliment each other's body, don't mean what we think they mean. In the original and/or poetic language, it actually means something different. In 5:14 where Solomon's body is mentioned as polished ivory, it's not talking about his body. This is a reference pulled from where ivory comes from (the elephant's tusk), thus she is complimenting his male genitalia. She adds that his polished ivory is decorated with sapphires (which are almost always blue), clearly referencing his testicles. Many prudish commentators dismiss these references saying that Solomon wore a white garment with jewels on it. Umm...I highly doubt clothes were even on the radar when Solomon wrote this. Chapter 5, verses 10-16, clearly progress from his head all the way down to his feet, and back up to his mouth. If Solomon was writing about clothes, he would have stated so. The Shulammite is clearly complimenting every part of his unclothed body. God meant sex to be beautiful, erotic, and provocative. That's why he included the Song of Solomon in His Word. God created sex and designed it to be just how Solomon described it. It should be enjoyable, passionate, satisfying for both, interesting, creative, sometimes spontaneous, and there should be variety, quality, and sufficient quantity. Sex is one wall of the protective fence around your marriage, meant to help protect the marriage from outside influences. My most favorite word picture in the Song of Solomon is found in chapter 1, verse 17..."The beams of our house are cedars, our rafters are fir." In the original language, fir would be translated as Cypress, the strongest wood available at that time. Cedar trees are humongous trees, with pleasant-smelling wood, bark, and needles. If you have ever been to North Idaho, you know the absolute pleasure of resting under a huge cedar tree. The smell is intoxicating, the size absolutely breath-taking, and the protection, perfectly adequate. Animals consistently seek out Cedar trees in rainy and snowy weather, for shelter. The feathery leaves of the cedar tree and the thickness of the foliage creates a wonderful canopy and umbrella-like shelter. We always fed our animals their hay under the cedar trees, and I remember on more than one occasion running under cedar trees when an unexpected rain storm hit. You can stay completely dry under a cedar tree. Cedar trees are also highly resistant to rot. Sex in marriage is meant to be like a home made of the strongest wood available, and like the protection of a cedar tree. Sex in marriage should strengthen the relationship but also be as intoxicating and protective as the cedar tree. The sexual relationship should be one area that helps weather storms in life, not an area that creates storms. Pornography, extra-marital affairs, sex-trafficking, and abuse create storms in the sexual relationship, in the view of sex, and in the marriage relationship. Sex is meant to be an oasis in the marriage; the shelter we can run to when we are sad, stressed, and weary....where we can find refreshment, rest, and love. The sexual relationship should be protected at all costs. Sex is the gift God gives at marriage. Sex is the avenue that a husband and wife become one flesh. Sex is how God chose to seal the covenant of marriage, through consummation. Sex is to be taken very seriously, not treated as a casual pleasure. The beauty of this gift from God is absolutely astounding. Only a creative, loving, caring, fun-loving God could create a male and a female, with body parts that perfectly suit each other. Only a God who desires intimacy with his creation could create this kind of intimacy available to man and wife. Only a God who loves children could give us this most pleasurable means of having them. If God looked at everything he had created, including sex, and said it was good, then it is truly good. If God can create funny animals like kangaroos, the platypus, and walruses, then he must have thoroughly enjoyed making them and laughing at them, as we do. God enjoyed creating this world and all that is in it, thus he enjoyed creating sex, and we should enjoy it, too. If God is pure and holy, then his creation of sex is pure and holy. Please don't ruin it. Solomon ruined it (see day 13), and regretted it the rest of his life. I pray that this Valentine's Day you would come to have a right view of sex, and enjoy it fully, the way God intended. I pray that you would protect it's sacredness, and cultivate it in your marriage just like you would cultivate a garden, if you want to get something out of it...with care, diligence, and attention. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* When Valentine's Day rolls around, don't approach it with dread, casualness, or apathy. In doing a brief study of St Valentine, I discovered three things we can apply to sex and marriage and can actually celebrate and remember in February! 1: Sex and marriage is holy, pure, and right. 2: Sex is one way that helps protect our marriage 3: We will be persecuted for our correct and biblical view of sex and marriage, but God will be with us. Legend has it, that St. Valentine was sought after by soldiers because he would perform Christian marriages for them. Soldiers were prohibited from marrying in Valentine's time, because people thought marriage would distract them from their job. But somewhere deep inside all of us, including those soldiers, is the desire to be holy, pure, and right. St. Valentine gave them a way to enjoy marriage and sex in the way that made them holy, pure, and right. Another legend says, that St. Valentine wore an amethyst ring, and the soldiers would look for the man who wore that ring, so he could perform their marriages, secretly. Amethyst was thought to be a protection against intoxication, but not only that; a protection in battle. Marriage is a battle and is under attack. Sex is one way that helps protect our marriages from the enemy, people, or things that wage war against it. There's no mystery in why Amethyst is the birthstone for February; the month we celebrate St. Valentine. St. Valentine helped persecuted Christians. We will be persecuted and made fun of, for our biblical worldview and biblical view of marriage. St. Valentine was martyred for his faith. Would you be willing to be martyred for yours? Would you lay down your life for Christ, the one who gave you life? You can begin by laying down your life for your spouse....by making marriage a picture of Christ....by treating sex as holy, and protecting it. These things could change the world. <3 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! <3