A Flaming Love

A Flaming Love

Subject: Love

Theme: The Truth About Love Between a Man and Woman

Text: Song of Songs 8:6-7

Time: Sunday Morning February 18, 2001

Question: What does love btn man and woman Look Like in God’s eyes?

Introduction:

INSIDE OUT

The biggest lie you ever told - deepest fear about growing old

the longest night you ever spent - the angriest letter you never sent

the boy you swore you’d never leave - the one you kissed on new year’s eve

the sweetest dream you had last night - your darkest hour, your hardest fight

I wanna know you - like I know myself

I’m waiting for you - there ain’t no one else

talk to me baby - scream and shout

I wanna know you - inside out

I wanna get down deep - I wanna lose some sleep

I wanna scream and shout - I wanna know you inside out

I wanna take my time - I wanna know your mind

ya know there ain’t no doubt - I wanna know you inside out

The saddest song you ever heard - the most you said with just one word

the loneliest prayer you ever prayed - the truest vow you ever made

what makes you laugh, what makes you cry

what makes you mad, what gets you by

your highest high, your lowest low - these are things I want to know

I wanna know you like I know myself

I’m waitin for you - there ain’t no one else

talk to me baby - scream and shout

I wanna know you - inside out

Brian Adams song “I Wanna Know You” - a song of two people - man and woman - sharing everything - most intimate thoughts - the most passionate desires - knowing someone completely - taking the time to do it - losing sleep trying to achieve it - Some may shudder and think piously - “How can a Christian talk like that!!!” But when done in the right way - we can be open, intimate, honest, and desirous in our love relationships! It’s God’s gift!

I have yet to hear a Christian artist speak of love and intimacy between a man and a woman in this way!

Scene from Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” - “I greatly esteem him.”

As I watch our Young Adults grope around in the dark - having nothing to truly go on - few authentic examples of what is truly happening in their time of life - having grown up in a sexually stiffled atmosphere - I see their desire for what is real - for what they feel deeply.

In the Song of Songs - or essentially - The Greatest Song - is the story of a young man and young woman who fear God and love each other passionately - it is here that we see what courtship or dating and engagement should be between two young people.

The Story in The Song:

This is a story of faithful, passionate love. A beautiful virgin in love with a shepherd is brought away from her home to King Solomon’s court against her will [“I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. Before I realized it, I was captured into the royal chariot of my people and wisked away] She was taken away to be one of Solomon’s wives. Despite Solomon’s declarations of affection, his royal promises, and even the harem women’s encouragement to join herself to the blood line of David! the Shulammite maiden remains true to her betrothed lover (or fiancee) [“I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; only he browses among the lilies. 6:3 “I belong to my lover and his desire is for me” 7:10]. Her lover searches for her far away. When the mighty King’s sexual adnvances are rejected by the Shulammite virgin, the Shulammite and her lover come back home to renew their vows near the sweet smelling mountains: [“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal over your arm; for love is as permanent as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like the mighty flame of God. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would utterly be scorned.”] The lover pointedly concludes the story [8:12] -

“The thousands are yours, [King] Solomon!

....my single vineyard here before me is for me alone.”

The Song is a critique of the lustful advances and behaviour of King Solomon which had plagued Israel as many others followed his example. It is also a Song that encourages the truth of what God has created between a man and woman - and when lived out in reverence toward God and in passionate intimacy - it is the most wonderful and intimate relationships in all of life!