Hi Rhys,
If you refer to the Song of Solomon among others it is thought that this book is addressed to God's people by God to show his intense love toward all His people and to demonstrate how much God cherishes us even as a young man cherishes his virgin bride enough to give his life for her.... Written in terms to which the least experienced, even young couples can relate.
I note that we relate in two seeming different ways in that we are both the bride of Christ and also that we are IN Christ and he is IN us. It has to be that intimate in order to sustain the love.
Once that love is established there is no longer a need for the written law in our lives, because we henceforth live for one another, we are truly ONE flesh.
Of course I have not had the privilege of reading it in the Hebrew, but I think we need to realize that God made us and all of our physical properties, to work as a very strong attraction between men and women. An attraction that in many ways is too strong to easily control and direct in an honorable way. That is why self control is a high achievement e.g. governing our desire, our pride and our speech.
Loving anyone enough to lay down your life for them is not only exciting and demanding, it also is the supreme measure of human physical reward between two lovers.
AND without lovers, where would this old world be? It would be empty.
Love
I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find
I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple.
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.
by Roy Croft
= = = =
Indiana Bob