Sermon Central
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I Am My Beloved's & His Desire Is Toward Me
Contributed by Steven Cook on Jan 5, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Taken from S. of S. 7:10, we examine one of the most wonderful verses of Scripture in the Word of God.
“I Am My Beloved’s, and His Desire Is Toward Me”
By
Dr. Steven G. Cook
I. Introduction
A. One of the most intimate books in the Word of God is the Song of Solomon.
B. In this book, we learn something of the love of Christ for His Bride, the Church which is vividly portrayed by the love demonstrated a shepherd/king for his Shulamite bride.
C. I believe this verse is the KEY VERSE of the Song of Solomon – “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”
D. As we come to a close of 2002, let us embark upon 2003 with a renewed comfort and confidence in God’s Love for Us…
E. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that God loves us unconditionally – His love for us knows no limits, no bounds, and no end!
F. May God enable us to say, as did the Apostle Paul, “The love of Christ constrains us….”
G. John wrote in his 1st Epistle, “Behold, what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
H. As I first read this wonderful verse of Scripture, I was compelled to ponder upon it for days, then weeks, and now months!
I. “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me” – What depths of grace are hidden in this one verse alone!
J. My, how God stirred my heart as I meditated upon the meaning of this verse of God’s Word.
K. Maybe YOU need to be refreshed this evening as well.
L. No doubt ALL of us have enjoyed both good times and bad during this past year – times of sunshine and showers, of prosperity and pain, of victories and valleys.
M. God loves to comfort those in need – He delights in lifting up the downcast.
N. Again, look at Song of Solomon 7:10 and let God speak to your heart - “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”
O. We who have been born-again can say the same thing of Christ! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
P. Let us now examine this wonderful verse more closely and pray that God will refresh and enrich us for the upcoming year 2003.
II. “I Am My Beloved’s”
A. First we notice that there are four (4) distinct aspects of this statement:
1. It is Personal – Notice the words I and My – both of these are personal pronouns. Just as the Shulamite bride personalizes her beloved, so we must personalize Jesus Christ. Christ will be of no benefit to you unless you claim Him personally. No one can be saved ON your behalf – It is something that must be done individually – But everyone has this promise of Christ - “and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out” (Jn. 6:37)
2. It is Present – Notice the verb “AM” – The Shulamite did not say that she “was” or “would be”; She declared, “I AM” – that’s right now – in the present. The same can be said of every child of God – “There is therefore, NOW, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1) Salvation occurs the moment a person repents of their sin and places their faith in the finished work of Christ.
3. It is Possessive – Notice the word “MY” – a possessive pronoun. There is a relationship that existed between the Shulamite and her beloved. Our relationship with Jesus Christ began the moment that we received Him as our Savior! We were literally purchased from the slave market of sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Twice, in other passages in the S of S, we find that the bride also declares, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine”- (S of S 2:16; 6:3) Praise God! What a wonderful relationship between Christ and His own!
4. It is Passionate – The term, “Beloved” is a term of endearment. The Shulamite had been redeemed by her shepherd/king, just as the saved have been redeemed by Christ. Is not Christ “beloved” by us?
a. In His infinite mercy and grace, He came into this world in the likeness of sinful man, yet without sin, to purchase our redemption.
b. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, yet He willingly became our Substitute, He took our place in death, and He bore our sins upon Himself, nailing them to the Cross.
c. Can YOU not sing with the songwriter of old, “Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan…Oh, the grace that brought it down to man…Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span…On Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free…Pardon there was multiplied to me…There my burdened soul found liberty…at Calvary!”
