Song of Solomon 2:1-17 – [She speaks] 1 I am merely a rose from the land of Sharon, a lily from the valley. [He speaks] 2 My darling, when compared with other young women, you are a lily among thorns. [She speaks] 3 And you, my love, are an apple tree among trees of the forest. Your shade brought me pleasure; your fruit was sweet. 4 You led me to your banquet room and showered me with love. 5 Refresh and strengthen me with raisins and apples. I am hungry for love! 6 Put your left hand under my head and embrace me with your right arm. 7 Young women of Jerusalem, promise me by the power of deer and gazelles never to awaken love before it is ready. 8 I hear the voice of the one I love, as he comes leaping over mountains and hills 9 like a deer or a gazelle. Now he stands outside our wall, looking through the window 10 and speaking to me. [He speaks] My darling, I love you! Let’s go away together. 11 Winter is past, the rain has stopped; 12 flowers cover the earth, it’s time to sing. The cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 Fig trees are bearing fruit, while blossoms on grapevines fill the air with perfume. My darling, I love you! Let’s go away together. 14 You are my dove hiding among the rocks on the side of a cliff. Let me see how lovely you are! Let me hear the sound of your melodious voice. 15 Our vineyards are in blossom; we must catch the little foxes that destroy the vineyards. [She speaks] 16 My darling, I am yours, and you are mine, as you feed your sheep among the lilies. 17 Pretend to be a young deer dancing on mountain slopes until daylight comes and shadows fade away. (Contemporary English Version)

How to Affair Proof a Marriage

1. Make a commitment to God’s standards

• Agree with God on marriage and sex

Hebrews 13:4 – Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex. (The Message)

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (New Living Translation)

Psalm 119:9 – How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. (New Living Translation)

• Affirm publicly God’s standards

Proverbs 5:15 – Drink water from your own well – share your love only with your wife. (New Living Translation)

Proverbs 5:16-18 – 16 Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? 17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Don’t share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. (New Living Translation, 1st ed.)

2. Magnify the consequences

• I constantly remind myself of the devastation and destruction of infidelity

Proverbs 6:32 – But if you go to bed with [some other person’s spouse], you will destroy yourself by your own stupidity. (Contemporary English Version)

Proverbs 6:26 – . . . making love to another man’s wife will cost you everything. (Contemporary English Version)

• Infidelity is ultimately selfishness

Hebrews 13:4 – Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. (New Living Translation)

• Why I intend to be faithful –

(1) I love Jesus

(2) I love my wife and kids

(3) I fear God’s judgement

3. _____________________ your marriage

• Understand the ____________ of men and women are very different

1 Corinthians 7:3 – A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other’s needs. (Good News Bible)

• Take care of you personal _____________________

Song of Solomon 1:12; 7:8-9,13 – 1:12 [The woman says,] “The king is lying on his couch, enchanted by the fragrance of my perfume. . . .” 7:8 [The man said,] “. . . the scent of your breath [are] like apples. 9 May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine, smooth and sweet, flowing gently over lips and teeth.” [The woman says,] 13 “There the mandrakes give forth their fragrance, and the rarest fruits are at our doors, the new as well as old, for I have stored them up for you, my lover.” (New Living Translation)

Proverbs 31:30 – Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn’t last, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be greatly praised. (New Living Translation)

• Develop a ________________________ with your spouse

Song of Solomon 5:10-16 – 10 “My lover is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand others! 15 . . . His posture is stately. 16 . . . He is desirable in every way. . . . Such . . . is my lover, my friend.” (New Living Translation)

• Avoid _______________________ situations by maintaining proper relationships

• Manage your ____________

James 1:14-15 – 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (New Living Translation)

2 Timothy 2:22 – Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. (New Living Translation)

Romans 16:19 – All the believers have heard that you obey, so I am very happy because of you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. (New Century Version)

Jeremiah 17:9 – The human heart is most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? (New Living Translation)

4. Minimize the ________________________

• Don’t place yourself in _____________________ where you know you’re going to be tempted

1 Corinthians 10:12 – If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. (New Living Translation)

• Don’t _______ __________________ that it won’t happen to you

• Guard your _______

1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (New King James Version)

Malachi 2:15 – Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? . . . So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. (New Living Translation)

Psalm 51:1-4 – 1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. (New Living Translation)