You Won’t Relent Series

Revelation 21:1-2 (NLT) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Revelation 21:9 (NLT) Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Marriage is an earthly institution that in itself images something greater than itself. Human marriage is an earthly institution designed to teach us about our intended eternal destiny. We are made for union with God; we are made for love.

And since we’re looking at THE POWER OF SONG…THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE MUSIC…what is a Bride and Groom without a LOVE SONG? What was or is your LOVE SONG? What is that song when you were dating that became YOUR song? What is that song that you danced to, or for you single ladies the SONG you are planning, for your first dance at your wedding reception? Ladies…what’s that song that gives you goose bumps and makes your heart flutter for your man? Guys…what’s that song that makes you wanna….

Dena and I: “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals (#1 4-15-1989), “Shower Me With Your Love” by Surface (#1 7-22-1989), “You Are My Ministry” by Shirley Murdock (TD Jakes Sacred Love Songs), “Through The Years” by Kenny Rogers (“Come Grow Old With Me, The Best Is Yet To Be”)

But SERIOUSLY…we just sang this morning…I’ll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm, For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy demanding as the grave, And many waters cannot quench this love, My heart is yours which comes directly from Song of Solomon 8:6-7 perhaps the greatest LOVE SONG ever expressed, spoken by a woman (of course), a BRIDE, to her GROOM… In all of human literature there are few passages on the power of love compared with these verses…

As you go there in your Bibles or on your Bible App (MIDDLE OF BIBLE Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes then SONG OF SONGS) …let me give you the context…

• WHOLE BOOK (117 verses): a WEDDING SONG honoring marriage!

• A SONG in praise of love for love’s sake and for love’s sake alone

• Been called a Collection of Ancient Hebrew Love Poems celebrating the experiences of a lover (Groom) and his beloved (Bride) as they taste the beauty, power, agony, and joys of human sexual love!

• Most EXPLICIT statements about SEX in the entire Bible! (SEX SERIES starts 8.14!)

• Criticized for its SENSUOUS, EROTIC language!

• God created sex & intimacy & they r holy & good within MARRIAGE

• physical love within that conjugal union is good, is God’s will, and should be a delight to both partners (Prov 5:15–19; 1 Cor 7:3).

• THEMES: Sex, Love, Commitment, Beauty and Problems

• 3 PURPOSES: 1) to tell of the LOVE between a Bridegroom (AUTHOR: King Solomon) & his bride, 2) to affirm the sanctity of marriage and 3) to picture God’s love for his people!

• Key Verse: 6:3a (NLT) SHE SAYS “I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine”