46: Song of Sexuality

In this episode of The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon and Brent Billings delve into the often-avoided topic of sexuality through the lens of the Song of Songs. Marty explains the book's placement within the Ketuvim and its role as a tool for understanding relationships in the wisdom literature tradition. He critiques the church's tendency to focus on the morality of sex rather than healthy sexuality, recommending Rob Bell's "Sex God" and a NUMA video called "Flame." The discussion explores three Hebrew words for love—Rayach (infatuation), Ahava (commitment), and Dode (erotic love)—emphasizing their importance in marital relationships. Marty laments the cultural problem of delaying marriage due to educational and industrial progress without addressing the resulting sexual tension, advocating for honest conversations about sexuality within a biblical context.