1. Be personal with your praise. Tell your spouse he or she is loved. Communicate about the things you find attractive.
2. Be public with your praise. Powerful words always find their way back to their object with even greater power. A compliment...

Although most of the biblical writers were men, women often took the lead in ancient love poetry, and the Song is no exception. Of the Song’s 117 verses, 55 come from the lips of the Shulamite, and another 19 verses are attributed to her. “The...

1. Take the initiative. Like the Shulamite, do not be afraid to make the first move.
2. Humble your pride. Remember how much you love your spouse and that petty resentment is a dead-end street.
3. Acknowledge that you were hurt. Yes, it is difficult to...

The use of the superlative was common in ancient literature: Nebuchadnezzar was "king of kings" (Ezekiel 26:7), Yahweh was "God of gods and Lord of lords" (Deuteronomy 10:17), and Christ will return as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:16)....

The Shulamite's brothers reminisced about her childhood, when they anticipated the day when someone would speak for her. She would either be a "wall" and guard her purity—in which case they would honor her—or be a "door" of promiscuity, in which case...