Help for Fighting Lust: A Meditation Plan (3 of 5)

The following is a guest post by Joe Tyrpak, Assistant Pastor of Tri-County Bible Church in Madison, Ohio. In part 1 of his meditation plan he suggested that we “Call to mind the deceptions of sinful sensuality.” In part 2 he suggested that we “Call to mind the destructions of sinful sensuality.” Now he moves to his third point.

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Meditation Plan (Part #3): CALL TO MIND THE DELIGHTS OF GOD-ORDAINED SENSUALITY.

Solomon does not call us to focus only on the negatives of physical intimacy. Rather, in addition to knowing the deceptions and destructions of sinful sensuality, he calls us to focus on the delights of God-ordained sensuality. Solomon not only encourages us to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality; he commands it.

When I’m come to this part of the meditation plan, I often consider four different facets.

First, I think about the specific commands of Proverbs 5. God issues five staggering commands:

1. “Drink water from your own cistern” (5:15).
2. “Let your fountain be blessed” (5:18).
3. “Rejoice with your wife” (5:18).
4. “Let her breasts satisfy you” (5:19).
5. “Be intoxicated with her love” (5:19). Here, the term love would be better translated lovemaking. Clearly, that’s what is in view.

So five times I’m commanded by God to indulge in the pure pleasure of marital intimacy! He created it to be satisfying, refreshing, joyful, and intoxicating. Calling this to mind helps me to remember the goodness and liberality of God, something Adam and Eve failed to do.

Second, I think about the Song of Songs. Here are a few statements that have become precious to me (I’ve given my own paraphrase of each).

• 1:2, “I’m longing for you to smother me with your kisses.”
• 4:7, “You are altogether beautiful, my love.”
• 4:9, “You have aroused the passions of my heart with one glance of your eyes.”
• 4:12, “A locked garden is … my bride, a locked spring, a private fountain.”
• 5:1, “Eat, friends, drink, and be intoxicated with lovemaking!”
• 8:6, “The fiery flashes of passionate love are expression of the very nature and character of Yahweh himself.”

Third, I think about my wife. I call to mind that she is committed to me, that we are covenanted together, that she loves me and has given to me her whole self, her whole life. I recall our precious romantic memories-from our dating years to our wedding, honeymoon, life experiences together, vacations, normal time at home, sexual enjoyments, special dates, hours reading on the couch together. I specifically call to mind the many, many delights of making love to her, and I call to mind how she totally intoxicates me.

Fourth, I sometimes think about statistics. Many studies have been on the sexual fulfillment of various individuals. Inevitably, the studies all reveal that long-term monogamous couples have the most satisfying sex lives. These studies show that the supposed pleasure of “free sex” is an absolute lie, and that God’s way is not only right, but also full of delight.

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Previous posts in this series:

• Help for Fighting Lust: Transparency (Chris)
  
• Help for Fighting Lust: The Pious Prostitute (Chris)
  
• Help for Fighting Lust: Applying the Gospel to Sexuality (Joe)
  
• Help for Fighting Lust: Recognizing Flattery (Chris)
• Help for Fighting Lust: A Meditation Plan (1 of 5)
• Help for Fighting Lust: A Meditation Plan (2 of 5)
• More help to come, Lord willing.