Sermon Central
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Trouble In Paradise Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 13, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 6th study in the study "Intimacy". This study looks at the fact that every marriage must contend with problems.
TROUBLE IN PARADISE?
Every marriage is begun with the idea that life will be perfect. After all you have finally found that one person that makes you happier than you have ever been. Nothing could be so bad to ever ruin that. Unfortunately, marriage is full of trials and tribulation. Maintaining a good marriage that will last takes hard work. We must be reminded of our Wedding Vows, “For better or for worse.” Every marriage has its “for worse”; but if the marriage is going to last, the couple must be able to survive the “for worse”. In our text, Solomon and his wife have had a fight.
Stop And Think
What are those “for worse” situations that you have struggled or struggle with? Have they been taken care of? If not, what are you going to do to handle those problems and when?
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The Scene
Song of Solomon 5:2-8 (NKJV)
THE SHULAMITE
2 I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.”
3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
4 My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.
6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7 The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me.
8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!
Song of Songs 5:2-8 (The Message)
THE WOMAN
I was sound asleep, but in my dreams I was wide awake. Oh, listen! It’s the sound of my lover knocking, calling!
THE MAN
“Let me in, dear companion, dearest friend, my dove, consummate lover! I’m soaked with the dampness of the night, drenched with dew, shivering and cold.”
THE WOMAN
“But I’m in my nightgown- do you expect me to get dressed? I’m bathed and in bed- do you want me to get dirty?” But my lover wouldn’t take no for an answer, and the longer he knocked, the more excited I became. I got up to open the door to my lover, sweetly ready to receive him, Desiring and expectant as I turned the door handle. But when I opened the door he was gone. My loved one had tired of waiting and left. And I died inside- oh, I felt so bad! I ran out looking for him But he was nowhere to be found. I called into the darkness- but no answer. The night watchmen found me as they patrolled the streets of the city. They slapped and beat and bruised me, ripping off my clothes, These watchmen who were supposed to be guarding the city. I beg you, sisters in Jerusalem- if you find my lover, Please tell him I want him, that I’m heartsick with love for him.
We do not know what had happened as far as what they were fighting about, but apparently she was dreaming about a time when she and Solomon had a fight and she wouldn’t let Solomon in the bed. He tried and tried to get her to change her mind. He tried to calm the situation down, but finally he just got frustrated and left.
As she began to calm down, she decided that he could come back to bed with her and she was even looking forward to it then; but when she opened the door, he was gone. Her anger now turned to fear. She had upset him so bad that he has left. She began to fear that he had left and was not coming back, so she went to find him. As she was searching the city for Solomon the guards of the city beat her up and took her veil. She was not supposed to be out walking the city at that time of night. The only type of women that were roaming the city at night was prostitutes.
Apparently she finally just gave up. She told the women of the harem that she could not find Solomon and if they knew where he was to please let her know. She also told them that her heart hurt for love for Solomon and she couldn’t live without him.
