IT’S A LOVE STORY #1: FIRST LOVE
INTRO TO THE SONG OF SONGS:
“The song of songs, which is Solomon's.” (Song 1:1, NKJV).
• Three names to this book: Song of Songs, Song of Solomon, Canticles (Latin for song).
• Author: Solomon: “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore… He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.” (1 Kings 4:29,32, NKJV).
• Solomon was an amazing song writer, and this is like his greatest hits collection.
• This is a series of love songs between a husband and wife.
QUOTES ON INTERPRETING THE SONG OF SOLOMON:
• Is this 8 chapter book of the Bible merely a love story between a husband and a wife, or an allegory between God and Israel, or Jesus and His bride, the Church?
“The oldest documented interpretation of the Song of Songs sees it as an allegory. This position was well established by the first century of the Christian era…” (Denis Kinlaw, the Expositor’s Bible Commentary).
“Although there have been a number of interpretations of this book, the most obvious interpretation is no interpretation at all. That is, it is simply what it purports to be – a romantic love poem describing the love of young Solomon and a Shulamite maiden who became his first wife… In a secondary sense, the account may also be considered as a type of the love of Christ and His church.” (Henry Morris, the Defender’s Study Bible).
“(This book) furnishes the believer with language of holy love, wherewith his heart can commune with his Lord, and it portrays the intensity of Christ’s love to him. Love to Christ is the strongest, as it is the purest, of human passions, and therefore needs the strongest language to express it.” (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible).
“The church expresses her strong desires, and most ardent wishes, for some fresh discoveries of the love of Christ to her, and for communion with Him.” (John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible).
“(In this book) we have Christ and his church… expressing their esteem for each other.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible).
THE MARRIAGE METAPHOR:
“for your Creator will be your husband. The LORD Almighty is his name!” (Isaiah 54:5a, NLT).
“Jesus responded, "Should the wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Someday he will be taken from them, and then they will fast.” (Matt. 9:15, NLT).
“And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word.” (Eph. 5:25-26, NLT).
THE BIG IDEA: The Song of Solomon is a picture of a beautiful relationship between a husband and a wife, and it is also an allegory for our loving relationship with Jesus our Saviour. BOTH!
• God wants us to have happy, holy and passionate relationships in our marriages!
I. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CAST OF THE SONG:
“1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 2 The Shulamite Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-- For your love is better than wine. 3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. 4 Draw me away!” (Song 1:1-4a, NKJV).
• Three main characters:
o The Beloved – the man – is King Solomon.
o The Shulamite – the woman – is most likely his first wife.
o The Daughters of Jerusalem – the backup singers, her friends that doo-wop.
• Allegorically speaking: The King = Jesus, and the Shulamite = the bride of Christ = us.
• See the passion she has for her husband: “Let him kiss me… love is better than wine!”
• God wants to stir up husbands and wives to be passionate in their love for one another!
• TESTIMONY: When I was dating Liza, the love and passion – singing songs, climbing the wall behind her apartment and serenading her. We can’t lose that first love passion!
• I may do an evening Bible study sharing the lessons for husbands and wives sometime, but during our Sunday am services, will focus mainly on the allegorical interpretation.
II. A REVELATION OF JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD:
“(To Her Beloved) Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself By the flocks of your companions?” (Song 1:7, NKJV).
• First of all, note the bride’s longing to be where her husband is.
• In the same way as Christians, we long to be where Jesus is.
• What do we learn about Jesus here? Not only is He King, He is also Shepherd:
• “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3a, NKJV).
• Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NKJV).
“The Beloved If you do not know, O fairest among women, Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats Beside the shepherds' tents.” (Song 1:8, NKJV).
• How can we get to know Jesus better? “Follow in the footsteps of the flock.” The church!
THE NAMES OF JESUS IN THE SONG OF SOLOMON:
1. The King (1:4)
2. You whom I love (1:7) – we love because He first loved us. Preach the Cross!
3. The shepherd (1:7)
4. The Beloved (1:16) – 38 times in this song
5. The Rose of Sharon (2:1) – telling us that He is precious
6. The Lily of the Valleys (2:1) – telling us that He is beautiful
7. The one I love (3:1-3)
8. The Chiefest among 10,000 (5:10) – He’s the fairest, best, ultimate, awesome!
9. Altogether lovely (5:16)
10. My friend (5:16) – can you say that He’s your friend today?
III. OUR HEART CRY TO KNOW JESUS MORE:
1. JESUS REFRESHES US AT HIS BANQUETING TABLE OF LOVE:
“The Shulamite He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.” (Song 2:4-5).
• The first thing we need to learn about God is that He is love. “Jesus loves me!”
• Our cry, “Sustain me and refresh me” is answered by the Shepherd who restores our soul.
• Do you know what it is like to be lovesick for Jesus, longing to be with Him?
• “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).
• If you know and believe the love that God has for you, you will long to be with Him.
• At youth on Friday night, we had a Q&A session at the end of our meeting, and one of the youth asked me why I believe in Jesus. I know Him! He is so good to me!
2. JESUS PASSIONATELY PURSUES THOSE HE LOVES:
“The Shulamite The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice.” (Song 2:8-9).
• Have you learned to hear the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd?
• “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
• This is the passage the new worship song we sing is based upon: “Over the Mountains
• Over the Sea, Here You come running, my Lover to me.”
• See the Lord Jesus passionately pursuing and chasing us – He wants to know us!
• This is the whole story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation – God longing for us.
• But notice that He is a gentleman: Standing outside, waiting to be invited in:
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20).
3. JESUS IS CALLING US TO RISE UP AND COME AWAY WITH HIM:
“10 My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. 11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!” (Song 2:10-13).
• Jesus is calling and inviting us to have a personal relationship with Him!
• When we walk with Jesus, it is like spring – the snow is gone and flowers bloom.
• This doesn’t mean life is perfect, but when we know Jesus, it is definitely better!
“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” (Song 2:14).
• “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev. 2:4).
ALTAR CALL: For Salvation, and to return to your first love (SONG: SONG OF SOLOMON)
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
