A loving sexual relationship is one of the benefits of marriage. God approves of sexual relations between married partners and views the married sexual relationship as beautiful.

The final verse of Genesis 1 is a summary statement of how God views His creation: "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). This was shortly after God had created the first two human beings as male and female (verse 26). God pronounced sexuality, the male and female bodies and sexual relations as very good. In the account of creation the only thing God said was not good was for the man to be alone. So God created a woman to be with him (Genesis 2:18).

Though the English word sex is not found in the Bible, the Bible is prolific with references to sexuality. Some references show that harmful consequences result from sex's misuse, but many others illustrate that God created sex to provide exquisite pleasure for married couples.

Notice these words of instruction to a young man: "Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in public, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Don't share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth ... Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love" (Proverbs 5:15-19, New Living Translation).

The Song of Solomon is a joyous account that uses poetic language to romantically describe the sexual interaction and the endearing words exchanged between devoted mates and includes a tasteful description of the sex act itself.

The old attitude of prudery that surrounded sex—especially in medieval religious circles—once caused scholars to search for alternate explanations for the purpose of this book. This has changed. "Only in the 20th cent(ury) has it (the Song of Solomon) come to be accepted again as a love song celebrating the sensual aspect of human life" (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1988, Vol. 4, "Sex," p. 435).

The Expositor's Bible Commentary adds: "The Song (of Solomon) is a song in praise of love for love's sake and for love's sake alone" (J. Stafford Wright, 1991, Vol. 5, p. 1207).

Some have wondered why this book about physical love should be in the Bible. It does not expound religious themes, and it contains no obvious references to God. Yet it is most appropriate to include in the Bible a love story that shows how sexual relations should be, in view of the fact that "history began with a wedding (Gen 2:18-25) and will climax with the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-10)" (ibid.).

God created sex and marriage. He created both for the purpose of love. The former should be reserved for and experienced only in the latter. When this happens, sex and love become the blessing that God intended them to be. GN