1) Reading the Song of Solomon
a) We don’t normally talk about Song of Solomon at church.
i) It’s sort of the black sheep of the Bible. It can be embarrassing to read, you know.
ii) You see, this seems to be a beautiful love poem written from a man to a woman
(1) From Solomon to his wife
iii) It’s pretty intense and specific about their love and intimacy.
iv) But that is only on the surface of the text
2) What is Song of Solomon truly about?
a) A Love Song about Christ and His bride
b) The reference to the church (and the believer) being the bride carries across scripture.
i) The Bridal Paradigm (attachment if necessary)
(1) Many of the prophets used this symbol
(2) The Gospels use this symbol
(a) (both Jesus and John the Baptist speak of Jesus as the groom and believers as the bride)
(3) Paul and the other Apostles uses this symbol in their letters
(4) There is an amazing scene in Revelation with the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
c) Song of Solomon is the truest, deepest Worship
i) This is the love song that celebrates an intimate relationship between
(1) you and the lover of your soul
(2) The one that know you best and loves you most sings His love over you
ii) This a poem about how much God loves you
(1) It celebrates His love and the joy of the bride being joined with the groom
(2) In this book you can begin to feel the joy of the wedding of the Lamb
d) When speaking of the Song of Solomon Charles Spurgeon said: (read slowly)
If I must prefer one book above another, I would prefer some books of the Bible for doctrine, some for experience, some for example, some for teaching, but let me prefer this book above all others for fellowship and communion [with Christ]. When the Christian is nearest to heaven, this is the book he takes with him. There are times when he would leave even the Psalms behind, when standing on the borders of Canaan, when he is in the land of Beulah, and he is just crossing the stream, and can almost see his Beloved through the rifts of the storm-cloud, then it is he can begin to sing Solomon's Song. This is about the only book he could sing in heaven … praising him who is his everlasting lover and friend. – C.H. Spurgeon
3) As I read this, hear Jesus speaking over you:
Song of Solomon 4:7-10 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. 9 You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
4) If I asked you, “Do you know God loves you?” You would say yes.
a) If it were only a test of knowledge we would all pass.
i) If it were a true/false question you would all check true and be correct.
ii) You can barely walk through those double doors without someone telling you that God loves you.
iii) It’s the main message of our outreach and ministries at TMC: God loves you.
b) But do you get it? Really get it?
i) It’s one thing to understand that God loves the world
ii) That God loves the sinner
iii) That God loves children
iv) That God loves the people you are praying for
v) But YOU? Do you get that He actually loves you?
5) Let’s work our way back through this passage understanding that Jesus is speaking to each of us
a) You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. (v7)
i) One sin is all it would take, a single flaw. That’s all that is required to separate you from God.
ii) He is Holy, righteous, perfect and I’m none of those things.
(1) The first step to you coming to salvation was conviction of your sins
(2) You must come to terms with how short you fall before you understand that you need a Savior
(3) I’m not Holy, righteous, or perfect; Not on my own
iii) When he looks at you, Christian, he doesn’t see the flaws and mistakes.
(1) Those have been washed away by His blood.
(2) Jesus sees His own holiness, righteousness, and perfection.
(3) He has covered you with them himself.
iv) When he sees you he sees beauty.
(1) You are Beautiful in every way.
b) Come with me (v8)
i) Jesus calls to you, “Come with me.”
ii) He called you to salvation
Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
iii) One day he will call you home
John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to me, that where I am you may be also.
iv) But today he sends another call, “come closer”
c) Come down from where you are
i) This is a call to Christians as we walk through life
(1) Wherever you are, come to me, come closer
ii) Lebanon – the glorious mountain top
(1) Lebanon is known for its height and beautiful trees.
(2) Anything built that is impressive is made by trees of Lebanon
(3) It represents the spiritual mountain top
(4) Jesus calls, “You are getting close but come closer.”
iii) Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon
(1) These places are also mountain tops but they are difficult and dangerous
(2) This is the wilderness, the storm, the struggle
(3) Out in the sparse places where you feel so alone
(4) Is God even here? Does He hear me anymore?
(5) Jesus calls, “Come to me, I’m here.”
iv) The dangerous places haunts by lions and leopards
(1) In scripture wild animals always represent demonic activity
(2) The place where the lions and leopards live is the place where you are under attack or in the midst of temptation
(3) When the enemy attacks you Jesus calls, “Come closer. I can protect you.”
(4) When you are struggling against temptation Jesus calls, “Come with me. I am more lovely than your temptation.”
d) You have captivated my heart (v9)
i) You are the focus of His love, the reason He came to earth.
ii) How much does he love you?
John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
iii) As much as the Father loves the Son, Jesus loves you!!!
(1) Can you begin to imagine how much the Father loves Jesus?
(2) I’m not sure it could be measured.
iv) What does it mean to abide in his love?
(1) (The plant in the closet illustration.)
(2) Put the plant in the sun and let it live there continually.
e) My sister, my bride (v9)
i) My sister – Matthew 12 – Jesus says those who do the will of the Father are His brother and sister and mother.
(1) He considers you his family.
(2) Adopted and wholly accepted by the Father.
ii) My bride – Jesus has plans to cleanse his bride, presenting the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle; that we might be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5 25-27) robed in white which is His righteousness and the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev. 19: 6-8)
f) One glance of your eyes (v 9)
i) The glance of your eyes is like your worship, when you turn your attention only to God
ii) Worship is a discipline. It means you should do it even when you don’t feel like it.
iii) Some people wait to feel something on Sunday morning before they join in worship but He is worthy to be worshiped and you know it to be the right thing to do.
iv) Your worship invites Him to come and be where you are. You can initiate the experience.
(1) This is a powerful way to fight you battles and begin your prayer
g) With a single jewel of your necklace (v9)
i) Where do you think she got the necklace? It was a gift from Him.
ii) It delights Him when you use the gifts he gave you.
iii) Can you just see Jesus lean forward on His throne and shouting “Yes, look at her go!”
h) Your love is better than wine (v10)
i) Wine is symbol of the covenant; your obligation to him
ii) Everything you do out of love is better than what you do from obedience
John 14:15 If you love me, obey my commandments.
iii) It is love that creates obedience, not the other way around.
(1) Reading the Bible from a desire to learn more about Him
(2) Praying from a place of loving affection is better than just reading off a grocery list to God
(3) Fasting because you would rather get closer through any means, even suffering, is better than just joining in on a fast because everyone is doing it
(a) Or complaining about the fast the whole time.
i) Fragrance of your oils than any spice (v10)
i) Your fragrance is a reference to your prayers.
(1) Incense is a common symbol of prayer throughout scripture
ii) He longs to talk to you personally.
iii) He would rather have your prayers be a real conversation than just some flowery speech.
iv) Don’t pray to sound good; pray to do business with God
6) When love declares War
a) The title for tonight’s discussion is “When Love Declares War”
i) What war are we talking about?
ii) A war against whatever keeps you from getting closer to God
b) Tonight, what holds you back? What stands between you and a deeper, more intimate walk with Jesus
i) Sins and regrets?
(1) They have been washed away. He has declared you flawless
ii) Stuck in some wilderness; some struggle or suffering?
(1) He calls, “Come to me from wherever you are.”
iii) Do you feel unworthy or struggle with your confidence
(1) He calls you beautiful, a work of art, his craftsmanship
c) God’s love can break through those barriers inside you
i) All you have to do is decide that you want to get closer
(1) even it requires changes or struggle
(2) no matter the cost
7) Call To Action: Decide to get closer to God;
a) Ask Him to lead you closer
b) Ask Him make you want what He wants
c) Ask Him to declare war on anything that stops you from getting closer
Closing thoughts:
Revelation 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Song of Solomon 2:10-13 My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. 11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
