9th April 2026

9th April 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Song of Solomon 5v10-6v2)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


In the last devotion I made the claim that physical intimacy is not the be all and end all. I suspect the world we find ourselves in might ask "What else is there?" Perhaps you know where I'm going with this and you have already noticed what else the Shulammite said about her beloved. She certainly wanted physical union with him but she also described him as her friend (5v16).


Why do we not extol physical intimacy above all things? For various reasons. Firstly, there comes a time in any marriage that there needs to be more than the physical act of sex. All of us get older and as we do the desire for physical intimacy lessens. Solomon would speak of this in Ecclesiastes 12 where he instructed us to remember God in our youth before we get older and "desire falls" (Ecclesiastes 12v5). A relationship should not be founded upon physical desire because eventually physical desire disappears.


Secondly, if marriage is where we should enjoy the gift of sex we must admit that not everyone will be married. Some people desire marriage and it never comes, others will get married and for all sorts of reasons the marriage ends and there are more still who are happily single and do not wish to be married or even in a relationship. None of this is wrong and we should not treat any of these circumstances with contempt.


So the Shulammite wanted to know the Shepherd physically but she also wanted his friendship and I put it to you that friendship should trump the physical in any relationship. Why? Because there will come a time that you are old and grey and the last thing on your mind will be taking your spouse to the bedroom.


As the daughters of Jerusalem asked "where has your beloved gone?" (6v1) we realise that the Shulammite was looking for more than a quick bit of fun in the bedroom. She wanted both physical and emotional intimacy and so she described her relationship in this way   "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." (6v3). Friends, take walks together, put away your phones and talk to one another, plan date nights and let nothing change them - strive to invest deeply into your partner who is also your best friend.


Brothers and sisters, may we enjoy such relationships in our lives. Marriages which are physically charged but built primarily on a friendship that will last throughout the ages and wider relationships with friends and family which we do not take for granted but work hard so that they are long lasting friendships. But there is something else which I think is the key to excellent relationships and by the grace of God we'll look at that next time.  


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection.
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