What will you do for love?
Song of Songs 5
Marriages in the ancient Near East were usually sanctioned through civil contracts rather than through religious ceremonies
As Christians we enter a covenant with God to the marriage of the Lamb
Love between Israel and God, Jesus and the Church
Bride and Groom
Courtship and individual believer
But love grows cold or indifferent
He knocks, she doesn’t respond
Rev 3:20 he stands outside; not convenient at the moment
Her excuse, I’ve put off my coat
I sleep, he neither slumbers nor sleeps.’’
We should take notice of our own spiritual slumber
Look at it with sorrow and shame that we have fallen asleep when Christ has been near us, wanting to come in
Christ’s disciples, when he had come into his garden, the garden of his agony, were heavy with sleep, and could not watch with him
True Christians are not always lively and vigorous in their faith
You can neglect your duty and grow complacement
You indulge yourself in your ease and become secure and off guard
After a victory we need to be careful, your guard may be down
I’m too tired to do anything
I’ve laboured in vain, I see no results for my efforts Is 49
S of S 5:4 put his hand into the latch
She’s aroused but it’s too late
Calling card the fragrance left behind
It is the voice of my beloved; she knew it to be so, and was soon aware of it, which was a sign that her heart was awake
Church your heart needs to be reawaked to his voice
My sheep know my voice and they follow me Jn 10
She looked for him
He calls sinners into covenant with him and saints into communion
Those whom he loves he will not let alone in their carelessness, but he will find some way or other to awaken them, to rebuke and chasten them
When we are unmindful of Christ, he still thinks of us
Observe how moving the call is
She could not send someone else to open the door (it must be our own act to let Christ into our hearts)
Seek him before it’s too late
How far will you go to look for him again?
Will you put yourself out for him?
Are you really safe in him and do you really know him?
The 10 virgins, only 5 were ready and prepared
Ch 3 the watchmen helped her, this time Ch 5 they beat her, she’s suffering the lose of her protection
veil—a mantle to protect her
Her covering is taken
She was mistaken by the watchmen to be a harlot
The church like Israel plays the harlot
When we become lukewarm we are coming from under the protection of God
Why should he stand around waiting for you?
Has he walked away?
But God said he would never me!
No, but you have left first
Are we serious about him?
What makes him special to you?
Only after she thought she’d lost him did she re-acquaintance herself with his character and looks, she remembered him, Her lover and friend
She calls him as we should by prayer, calls after him, and begs of him to return
She not only prays but also uses other means, she seeks him in the ways she used to find him
Yet still she missed of him: I could not find him; he gave me no answer
She had no evidence of his favour, no comfort, but was in the dark, and in doubt, concerning his love for her.
"Speak a good word for me; tell him that I am sick of love.’’ Observe what her condition was
She loved Jesus Christ to such a degree that his absence made her sick, extremely sick, she could not bear it, and she was in pain for his return as a woman in travail
It is better to be sick of love to Christ than at ease in love to the world
Carnal hearts see nothing excellent or extraordinary in the Lord Jesus, in his person, in his doctrine or in his favour
It’s if there were no more in the knowledge of Christ, and in communion with him, than in the knowledge of the world and in its conversation
There is none like him, nor any can be compared to him
Every thing else is to be accounted loss and dung in comparison of him, Phil. 3:8
He is higher than the kings of the earth
Growth in love, knowledge, and understanding is essential for a satisfying marriage
How well do you know him or understand him?
The passage details a conflict within their relationship (indifference or apathy in the context)
The pain of separation as a result of selfishness, brokenness over the results of his turning away
She needed a rekindling of affection and a change of heart, which would eventually lead to a reconciliation
We say accept Jesus, it should be will Jesus accept me/us
If God’s in competition for your life with carnal things, he walks away when you choose the carnal
What kind of person walks away from Jesus or allows him to walk away from them?
The rich young ruler
God didn’t mean for him to give everything away
The rich don’t become poor!
Can you give up what he’s asking as an offering?
The kingdom people don’t walk away, but walk with him
They identify themselves as his
Let’s not make excuses:
· I’ve taken off my coat
· Washed my feet
· Can’t give what you ask
You need to want him
God is competing for our lives with:
· Sport
· Tv
· Family
· Church
· Careers
· Hobbies etc
Too busy for him, footy etc not willing to give it up
The biggest problem is people not seeing they have a need him
If you don’t know you have a need then you are in a dangerous place
…Are you tired of walking away sad like the rich ruler?
Are you tired of running around looking for him?
Then say, ‘I want to be free of the competition’
There is no competition, Christ must and will win every time
What’s mastering your soul? If not Jesus, then what, or who?
Open to your beloved and enjoy his presence every day, not just Sunday
