Pesky Foxes
Friday, July 10, 2026 l Archie Engledow
Song of Solomon 2
The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love story filled with powerful imagery and poetic language. As I read through it, one verse always stands out to me because of the impact it has had on my marriage: “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom” (Song of Solomon 2:15).
Several years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of helping with Merge, Stonepoint’s premarital ministry for seriously dating and engaged couples. During one session on relational and sexual intimacy, we studied Song of Solomon and discussed the warning found in this verse. At the time, we were still working through challenges in our own marriage. I often felt like I was playing catch-up—patching holes instead of building strong walls around our relationship. I was not being intentional in pursuing my bride in a way that produced lasting fruit.
The lesson was simple: if you want a healthy vineyard, you must deal with the foxes.
Foxes may seem harmless, but they destroy vineyards. They eat the grapes, trample the vines, and dig holes that weaken the root system. In Song of Solomon, the foxes represent the small issues that threaten to damage a relationship before we even realize it. Left unchecked, they slowly erode the foundation of love and intimacy.
As I examined my own life, I began identifying the foxes that were damaging my marriage: selfishness, laziness, pride, comparison, social media, and unhealthy entertainment. These things seemed small at first, but they were stealing my attention and affection from the relationship God had entrusted to me.
My wife and I began using Philippians 4:8 as a filter for what we allowed into our home. We removed influences that were harmful to us and our children. At the same time, the Lord showed me that I had become passive in pursuing my wife's heart. I needed to be intentional—dating her, spending quality time with her, paying attention to details, and showing love without distraction or selfish expectations.
As we began removing the foxes, we started seeing fruit. The Lord used His Word, His Spirit, and His grace to bring healing, growth, and deeper intimacy to our marriage.
Every marriage has foxes. The question is: What foxes are threatening your vineyard, and what are you doing to catch them before they destroy the fruit God intends for your relationship?