INTRODUCTION
Song of Solomon is a very wonderful book. C H Spurgeon called it the holy of holies of the Bible. It is so sacred to the Jews that a person must be 30 years old before they are permitted to read it. The book is read every year at Passover. Like Esther, there is no mention of God. There are five main characters - the groom, the bride, the king, the daughters of Jerusalem and the brothers of the bride. In our present study the speaker is the bride.
1. A COLOUR
"I am black…I am black".
The young woman describes her physical appearance. She is dark-skinned and tanned from long days in the sun working as a shepherdess.
These words have a spiritual application. They speak of confession of sin. This is the starting-point for every sinner who desires forgiveness. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy"
(Proverbs 28:13). The Wordless Book has been a great tool for teaching the gospel to children. One of the five pages is black. The lost need to be constantly reminded of the blackness of their sin. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
2. A CONTACT
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth".
Literally, let him smother me with kisses.
This undoubtedly speaks of Christ’s spiritual kiss to poor, fallen mankind.
(a) Christ’s kiss speaks of the cross.
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
Heaven’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
(b) Christ’s kiss speaks of the canon.
The canon of scripture. The two lips of the Saviour are like the two sections of the Bible - the Old and New Testaments. Sinner, if you want Christ’s kiss you will find it in the Bible.
(c) Christ’s kiss speaks of the compassion.
We are reminded of the kiss given by the father to the prodigal son. The father welcomed his lost child back home again with a kiss.
I hear Thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to Thee,
For cleansing in Thy precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.
3. A COMPARISON
"Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth".
The Lord Jesus is compared to ointment/perfume.
(a) The aroma.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name!
Master, Saviour, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there’s something about that name!
(b) The anointing.
Ointment was used to anoint prophets, priests and kings. Christ is our prophet, priest and king. We need no-one else. The work of salvation is all His.
He is my Prophet, Priest and King,
Who did for me salvation bring,
And while I’ve breath I mean to sing
’Christ for me! Christ for me!’
(c) The antiseptic.
Ointment heals. Whether we have a cut or a burn, whenever we apply ointment the healing process begins. We live in a sin-sick world. But there is One who can heal this spiritual sickness.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
