She says to Solomon in Song of Solomon 7:13, “The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved.” By chapter 7 Solomon and the Shulamite have been married for awhile. They are no longer newlyweds. But here they are still working at romance. When she says she has delicacies, both new and old she’s telling him that in addition to all his favorites moves, she’s got some new stuff she wants to try out. You see, she didn’t quit working at winning his heart just because they were married!
And guys, I want you to notice something: Solomon didn’t stop working at winning her heart once she said “I do.” This whole poem was written well into their relationship for it covers multiple stages of their relationship. That means that well into their marriage he was still writing her poems, writing her songs, and doing similar romantic things. He didn’t stop working at winning her heart just because they were married!
I heard the story of a elderly man who after 60 years of marriage was still working at bringing romance to his marraige. He made a special stop at a lingerie shop on Valentine’s Day in hopes of a special night of romance he had planned for him and his wife. When he got home they had a candlelight dinner and after talking for an hour, he gave her his gift. She went upstairs to try it on, only to realize it didn’t quite fit. She thought, “He’s almost blind, I might as well wear nothing at all” and that’s exactly what she did. When she presented herself to her husband of 60 years here was his response: For the amount I paid, they could’ve at least ironed the darn thing!” So the man’s romantic evening didn’t turn out quite how he wanted after that comment, but I give him props for trying – for continuing to work on the marriage after all those years!
- Husbands: Don’t give up on writing her poems, buying her flowers or opening up the car door for her. Great sex takes work.
- Wives: You have to work at it too. When is the last time you lit some candles and turned on some music? When’s the last time YOU initiated? How much sexy lingerie did you own when you first got married? And how much do you own now?
If you need help working at romance, let me recommend a book to you: A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Douglas E. Rosenau. I know this will require some time investment on your part but again – the Bible says that great sex take work.