The Song of Songs - or, What's Chastity For?

There's a verse in the Song of Songs I love for its profundity. It's in chapter 8 and comes right after a discussion of chastity in young women. It's the Bride affirming her own virtue and she says, "I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I became in his eyes as one who brings peace."

I think this line sums up one of the great goods of chastity: it allows for peace and security. The Song of Song speaks of the bride as "a garden walled up". Within is all freedom and beauty and joy, but the boundaries are very clear.

In marriage, exclusivity brings peace. Our guard can come down because the guard has already been set. No one intrudes, no one watches, there's no one to judge but the lover and the beloved, and their judgment is that they find each other delightful. Who could find a garden wanting?

Married love is human love, and like all human loves, its goodness is guarded by boundaries. We're so fallible, we need the law. While we're still on Earth, law is a great gift and the boundaries are a good thing. The boundaries guard our joy.

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Links! themes on purpose, the Song of Songs, and the fashion of Star Trek

Shannon Hale writes about putting motifs and themes into her novels on purpose. An excerpt:

Many times I've been somewhere to speak and the introducer has talked about one of my books, outlining the themes and giving a really lovely review of the significance and resonance of the story. This is always very flattering, since most introducers just read my bio from my website or book jacket. But then so often she or he will turn to me and say congenially, "You probably didn't even know you put all that in the story, did you?" 

But of course I did.

This reflection, posted over on First Things, about the Song of Songs is both thoughtful and beautiful. (Hmm. Do you think a reflection about the Song of Songs could possibly be good and not beautiful? I doubt it.)

From the profound to the slightly-silly-but-still-fun, a post on fashion inspired by Star Trek.

Have a good weekend, folks!

Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell