Read Song of Songs 5:2-6
“I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling: ‘Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.’ But I responded, ‘I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?’. . . I opened to my lover, but he was gone! My heart sank. I searched for him but could not find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply.”
Discover
1. What evidence of conflict do you see in these verses?
2. How does the woman respond to her lover’s attempts to reach out to her?
3. What does she discover when she finally does open the door to him?
Respond
Even in healthy relationships, conflict is inevitable. And yet, our society has caused us to idealize and romanticize marriage in a way that isn’t realistic. Have you fallen into a similar trap? If you’re married, have you believed the myth that your spouse will complete you and fill some missing hole in your life? Or if you’re single and desire to be married, have you believed the myth of “The One,” causing you to focus more on finding someone rather than becoming someone? Ask God now to help you change your mindset to be focused first and foremost on the person you're becoming in Christ.
For Further Reading: Soul Mates: What Does the Bible Say About “The One”?
*For more practical resources related to this week’s readings, visit tpcc.org/marriage-resources.
**TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.
For Families with Kids at Home
As you talk with your kids about their futures, remember to help them focus first and foremost on the person they’re becoming in Christ. Pray today that if they choose to get married, that they would not fall into a trap of believing that someone else will complete them, but that in Christ, they are already complete.