Marriage

Introduction

We will be studying the Song of Solomon for the next few weeks. It is an unusual but very important book and deals in essence with what a true married relationship is like. To help us understand it we need to see what the Bible teaches about marriage so we will look at this morning.

“God has placed this Song in the Canon in order to teach us the purity and sanctity of that estate of marriage which He Himself has established. When we read the Song of Solomon, our hearts will be purer, and we shall realise all the more the heinousness of that temptation which would lead to unfaithfulness among those who are married. Since the purpose of the book is not mere entertainment, but is ethical and didactic, we may understand why God has given it to us. For even the faithful servant of the Lord is tempted to break the seventh commandment. In the polygamous ancient world and in the sophisticated modern world, unfaithfulness may easily be regarded as something light and trivial. But when we occidentals turn from the callous sinfulness of our daily world and carefully read the oriental imagery of this portion of Holy Scripture, we are blessed, and we are helped. So long as there is impurity in the world, we need, and need badly, the Song of Solomon. E J Young – An Introduction to the Old Testament – Wm. B. Eerdmans 1964

1. Institution — Genesis 2v20b-25

a. Need v20b

b. Creation v21-22

c. Response v23

d. One Flesh v24

e. Trust v25

2. Benefit — 1 Corinthians 7v1-9

a. Commendable v1-2

b. Duty v3-7

c. Need v8-9

3. Responsibility — Ephesians 5v22-33

a. Submission v22-24

5293 hupotasso { hoop-ot-as’-so}

from 5259 and 5021; TDNT - 8:39,1156; v

AV - put under 6, be subject unto 6, be subject to 5, submit (one’s) self unto 5, submit (one’s) self to 3, be in subjection unto 2, put in subjection under 1, misc 12; 40

GK - 5718 { uJpotavssw }

1) to arrange under, to subordinate

2) to subject, put in subjection

3) to subject one’s self, obey

4) to submit to one’s control

5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice

6) to obey, be subject

A Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.[1]

b. Love v25-29

c. One Flesh v30-33

Conclusion

We need to have a proper understanding of marriage.

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[1]Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.

Marriage - 18th November 2001