Celebrating God's Gift Of Love
Song of Solomon 1-8
Again today we see more of the Holy Ghost inspired writings of Solomon.
The difference in these Scriptures is the fact that Solomon wrote this Book of the Song of Solomon, while he was still young and maybe even before he became King of Israel.
We know that the Book of Ecclesiastes was written after Solomon had gotten old and had experienced the sin of the humanistic world before returning to the wisdom of the Lord.
Solomon wrote many songs:
1Ki 4:32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
But it seems that this was Solomon's most loved song.
Modern day Bible Scholars may declare that this Book of the Bible was written by someone else, but all the evidence still leads us to Solomon.
In fact modern day Bible scholars are rejecting much of the Scriptures, but that does not make them right, and in all cases they are wrong.
The reign of Solomon was between 971 and 931 BC so we can be sure that we can date the writing of this Book near those years if not 970 BC.
This Song of Solomon was written to the Jewish nation where Solomon ruled.
This Song of Solomon shows us that the true love of Solomon's life was a Shulamite.
Most all of us will agree, that there is nothing wrong about a Book of the Bible that depicts the beauties of courtship and marital love.
After all the family was the first thing that God established:
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
God created the means of a perfect marriage, to be the union of one man and one woman with enough love to last until death parted them.
We should also not be fooled, in typology this account in the Song of Solomon must be considered as a "type" of the love that Christ has for the Church, the "Bride Of Christ"!
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Solomon will display this "type" of love for his first wife Naamah who was the mother to Solomon's only son Rehoboam.
Many disagree as to who this Shulamite was. but most all the evidence will lead us to Naamah.
It seems certain to most that the bride that Solomon loved the most was Naamah.
2Ch 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
Notice Rehoboam began to rule when he was 41 years old and we know that Solomon reigned for 40 years.
2Ch 9:30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Rehoboam was born before Solomon became King.
In actuality, the name Shulamite is the feminine, where Solomon is the masculine.
In other words, both names are derived from the name "Shalem" which means "peace".
There is great beauty in "Shalem" as it relates to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the "peace" that He brings to the Church!
We must also remember Shalem or Salem is the name of Jerusalem and the Church was born in Jerusalem!
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Melchizedek is said to have been king of Salem, which is "king of peace".
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
In typology, it is the Church who are the true Shulamites!
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
So keeping all these things in mind, let's begin with Chapter 2 and verse 1.
*****Son 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
These terms are often applied to Jesus Christ but in actuality it is the bride who is speaking in this Scripture.
In effect, this bride has humbled herself to be like two common wild flowers.
She considers herself unworthy in comparison to the King!
In the first chapter she had compared her King to a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.
Son 1:14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
These were beautiful aromatic plants.
Son 4:13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Son 4:14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Son 4:15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
BUT, She considered herself as no more than weeds that simply flowered.
"Sharon" was only a swampy plain south of Mount Carmel that produced heavy vegetation and wild flowers.
In that day of Solomon, the "lily of the valley" was not a flower as we think of now, it was just a common wild flower.
This young maiden was saying, "I may be pretty but I am nothing special as such my king deserves".
She considered herself to be just an average everyday wild flower!
Thank goodness for the love of God, who loved us while we were still sinners and we are all certainly unworthy of His love!
For God is the picture of Love in, His Son Jesus Christ!
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We know how this bride of Solomon saw herself but now we will how this King saw his bride.
*****Son 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
If she was just an everyday wild flower, she was assured by Solomon that the rest of the world were just a field thorns.
In fact, if she was just a lily, Solomon considered the rest of the women in his kingdom to be not flowers at all, but only thorns and weeds of no value.
As far as Solomon was concerned, there was not another like her in all the world!
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
We can be sure this new wife rejoiced with her King.
*****Son 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
There are may trees in the forest and they all have their uses, but if you are hungry you will have to find an orchard.
But if you are in the middle of the forest and you happen to find an apple tree, then you can find the refreshment that is needed to be satisfied.
What we see is, that as far as these two lovers are concerned, they have compared each other to the rest of the world and no one else comes close to how they feel for each other!
Just as the thorns referred to all the other women to Solomon.
Those trees referred to all the other men to this Shulamite.
This is the feeling every couple should have before they wed!
In typology we know that the world is no friend to the Church.
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
The truth is, that there is no other part of the body that is so wondrously created and so well guarded as the eye and we all realize the importance of our eye sight.
So God guards His Church as tenderly and as well, as we guard the pupil of our eyes and as He would His own eye!
The Church is that important to Our God, The Lord Jesus Christ!
Most people do not think too much of a shadow, until that are hot and trying to find a cool place.
AND, We all never seem to think of Christ, until we have a certain need but Christ always says, "come and I will forgive you".
BUT, Our Lord is not a God that we can just place on a shelf and take Him down as we need Him!
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
And the truth is, that the greatness and the goodness of the true "tree of life" will not only protect each sinner but He will also preserve the sinner throughout eternity!
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Of course this is the city of the New Jerusalem!
AND, The "tree of life" is always sweet to the taste!
And now we will see that this Shulamite, as she tries to describe to her friends how wonderful her future Husband truly is.
*****Son 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Son 2:5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Son 2:6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
We see that her husband had a special banquet where she, the bride was the honored guest.
This special banquet was to celebrate his engagement to his darling bride and to present her as the "bride" of the King.
We understand "a banner" as flag on a flag pole showing ownership and protection.
This bride considers Solomon's banner to be his great love for her!
As a humble bride, her fear is overcome by the presence of her King!
"Flagons" are "raisin cakes". These were known throughout Israel because they were considered to be aphrodisiac.
"Apples" were also shared by lovers and were thought to have aphrodisiac properties.
Remember this how the bride is describing this thing to her other female friends.
All these things, the King's praise, the King's public display of his love, and his eternal protection, had only made her to desire him even more.
She was certainly "love sick" as she described his left hand under her head and his right hand in an embrace of her.
She was seeking for her husband to revive her as she was dreaming and fantasizing about her wedding night, when she would totally belong to her husband.
The Apostle John describes the Lord when he first saw him in the Revelation of Christ:
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And Isaiah writes these things:
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
The Apostle Peter put it like this:
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
And of course the Church knows these things as the marriage supper of the Lamb:
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
And now this bride of Solomon has become very serious and very possessive:
*****Son 2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
This young bride seemed to be was stressing to all her friends that even with all these desires, she was going to save herself until the marriage.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
2Co 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as "a chaste virgin" to Christ.
This young Shulamite bride, cautioned all her friends to flee temptation as she had done.
A "roe" would be a "Gazelle".
A "hind" would be a doe, a "female Deer".
We know that both of these animals are very fast animals.
And her friends should flee temptation, as fast as they could.
God says:
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
This "soon to be bride" was excited about her wedding night because it would be a new, first time experience with this husband she had committed her love to.
We should remember most women are seeking protection, intimacy, and public displays and expressions of affection from their husbands.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Because this is the way the Jesus Christ loves His Church:
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
We can see that one way to end divorce, is to begin and continue in a marriage according to the Word of God!
Most men need their wife to respect him and then admire him for his stance on the Word of God!
Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
No doubt Solomon and his new bride had cultivated their love through a long dating relationship because they had grown to know each other so very well.
*****Son 2:8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
Son 2:9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
When a couple spends some time dating, they are able to determine if there is something more between them than just a physical attraction.
In verse 8 we see a young bride going back in her thoughts to the scenes of her home life, when her future husband would come calling as she intently listened for his arrival.
We also know there are many things we may forget in life, but the one thing that will always remain with us, is that period time when we first experienced our Savior and our salvation!
We see as she describes herself inside the home, while her future husband is outside the wall and maybe she sees him approaching from her window.
As Solomon approached, he may have cried out to her, as again she pictured herself as a shy gazelle and he as a young but powerful stag.
*****Son 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Son 2:11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
As Solomon approached the home of his beloved, she heard his call and rushed to be prepared to leave with him.
Our lesson is we of the church should remain in an instant notice to be prepared the calling of our Lord.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It will then be time to go home.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And just like at the end of Winter we maybe worn out by the dreariness of it, but at the first signs of Spring we have the joy of new life.
The Spring reminds us of our resurrected Christ.
*****Son 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Son 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
The flowers begin to bloom.
The birds are singing.
The turtle dove has returned to mark the arrival of spring.
The figs are beginning to ripen.
The vines are in full blossom.
The wonderful smell of Spring is everywhere!
And Jesus cries out "Come My Love What Are You Waiting For"!
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
The truth is, the Lord loves the sight of His people.
The Lord delights in our songs and prayers to Him.
God does not like secret Christians!
The Lord loves, and must have, a close and personal relationship with each of us!
*****Son 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
A dove was the only bird that could be offered in sacrifice.
It was the dove that was the sign of world peace to Noah.
It is the white dove that is the sign of purity.
David when he was distressed wished he had the wings of a dove so he could fly away from his toubles.
It was the dove that was the symbol for the Holy Spirit and proof to John the Baptist that the Lord Jesus was truly the Lamb of God!
And there truly exist a dove whose feathers, all except the wings, are literally as yellow as gold!
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
All these things should bring us encouragement as the Lord's return draws so very near!
For sweet is the voice of Jesus and His countenance is beautiful for He is Perfect!
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Anything that is not perfect will be lost in perfectness, when we have at last attained to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We will remain with the foolish when we reject the Lord, but if we bow before Jesus now and accept His salvation plan, we will one day soon be perfect with Him and we will be at home!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Song of Solomon 1-8
Again today we see more of the Holy Ghost inspired writings of Solomon.
The difference in these Scriptures is the fact that Solomon wrote this Book of the Song of Solomon, while he was still young and maybe even before he became King of Israel.
We know that the Book of Ecclesiastes was written after Solomon had gotten old and had experienced the sin of the humanistic world before returning to the wisdom of the Lord.
Solomon wrote many songs:
1Ki 4:32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
But it seems that this was Solomon's most loved song.
Modern day Bible Scholars may declare that this Book of the Bible was written by someone else, but all the evidence still leads us to Solomon.
In fact modern day Bible scholars are rejecting much of the Scriptures, but that does not make them right, and in all cases they are wrong.
The reign of Solomon was between 971 and 931 BC so we can be sure that we can date the writing of this Book near those years if not 970 BC.
This Song of Solomon was written to the Jewish nation where Solomon ruled.
This Song of Solomon shows us that the true love of Solomon's life was a Shulamite.
Most all of us will agree, that there is nothing wrong about a Book of the Bible that depicts the beauties of courtship and marital love.
After all the family was the first thing that God established:
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
God created the means of a perfect marriage, to be the union of one man and one woman with enough love to last until death parted them.
We should also not be fooled, in typology this account in the Song of Solomon must be considered as a "type" of the love that Christ has for the Church, the "Bride Of Christ"!
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Solomon will display this "type" of love for his first wife Naamah who was the mother to Solomon's only son Rehoboam.
Many disagree as to who this Shulamite was. but most all the evidence will lead us to Naamah.
It seems certain to most that the bride that Solomon loved the most was Naamah.
2Ch 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
Notice Rehoboam began to rule when he was 41 years old and we know that Solomon reigned for 40 years.
2Ch 9:30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Rehoboam was born before Solomon became King.
In actuality, the name Shulamite is the feminine, where Solomon is the masculine.
In other words, both names are derived from the name "Shalem" which means "peace".
There is great beauty in "Shalem" as it relates to Jesus Christ and His Church.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the "peace" that He brings to the Church!
We must also remember Shalem or Salem is the name of Jerusalem and the Church was born in Jerusalem!
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Melchizedek is said to have been king of Salem, which is "king of peace".
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
In typology, it is the Church who are the true Shulamites!
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
So keeping all these things in mind, let's begin with Chapter 2 and verse 1.
*****Son 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
These terms are often applied to Jesus Christ but in actuality it is the bride who is speaking in this Scripture.
In effect, this bride has humbled herself to be like two common wild flowers.
She considers herself unworthy in comparison to the King!
In the first chapter she had compared her King to a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.
Son 1:14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
These were beautiful aromatic plants.
Son 4:13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Son 4:14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Son 4:15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
BUT, She considered herself as no more than weeds that simply flowered.
"Sharon" was only a swampy plain south of Mount Carmel that produced heavy vegetation and wild flowers.
In that day of Solomon, the "lily of the valley" was not a flower as we think of now, it was just a common wild flower.
This young maiden was saying, "I may be pretty but I am nothing special as such my king deserves".
She considered herself to be just an average everyday wild flower!
Thank goodness for the love of God, who loved us while we were still sinners and we are all certainly unworthy of His love!
For God is the picture of Love in, His Son Jesus Christ!
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We know how this bride of Solomon saw herself but now we will how this King saw his bride.
*****Son 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
If she was just an everyday wild flower, she was assured by Solomon that the rest of the world were just a field thorns.
In fact, if she was just a lily, Solomon considered the rest of the women in his kingdom to be not flowers at all, but only thorns and weeds of no value.
As far as Solomon was concerned, there was not another like her in all the world!
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
We can be sure this new wife rejoiced with her King.
*****Son 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
There are may trees in the forest and they all have their uses, but if you are hungry you will have to find an orchard.
But if you are in the middle of the forest and you happen to find an apple tree, then you can find the refreshment that is needed to be satisfied.
What we see is, that as far as these two lovers are concerned, they have compared each other to the rest of the world and no one else comes close to how they feel for each other!
Just as the thorns referred to all the other women to Solomon.
Those trees referred to all the other men to this Shulamite.
This is the feeling every couple should have before they wed!
In typology we know that the world is no friend to the Church.
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
The truth is, that there is no other part of the body that is so wondrously created and so well guarded as the eye and we all realize the importance of our eye sight.
So God guards His Church as tenderly and as well, as we guard the pupil of our eyes and as He would His own eye!
The Church is that important to Our God, The Lord Jesus Christ!
Most people do not think too much of a shadow, until that are hot and trying to find a cool place.
AND, We all never seem to think of Christ, until we have a certain need but Christ always says, "come and I will forgive you".
BUT, Our Lord is not a God that we can just place on a shelf and take Him down as we need Him!
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
And the truth is, that the greatness and the goodness of the true "tree of life" will not only protect each sinner but He will also preserve the sinner throughout eternity!
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Of course this is the city of the New Jerusalem!
AND, The "tree of life" is always sweet to the taste!
And now we will see that this Shulamite, as she tries to describe to her friends how wonderful her future Husband truly is.
*****Son 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Son 2:5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Son 2:6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
We see that her husband had a special banquet where she, the bride was the honored guest.
This special banquet was to celebrate his engagement to his darling bride and to present her as the "bride" of the King.
We understand "a banner" as flag on a flag pole showing ownership and protection.
This bride considers Solomon's banner to be his great love for her!
As a humble bride, her fear is overcome by the presence of her King!
"Flagons" are "raisin cakes". These were known throughout Israel because they were considered to be aphrodisiac.
"Apples" were also shared by lovers and were thought to have aphrodisiac properties.
Remember this how the bride is describing this thing to her other female friends.
All these things, the King's praise, the King's public display of his love, and his eternal protection, had only made her to desire him even more.
She was certainly "love sick" as she described his left hand under her head and his right hand in an embrace of her.
She was seeking for her husband to revive her as she was dreaming and fantasizing about her wedding night, when she would totally belong to her husband.
The Apostle John describes the Lord when he first saw him in the Revelation of Christ:
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And Isaiah writes these things:
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
The Apostle Peter put it like this:
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
And of course the Church knows these things as the marriage supper of the Lamb:
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
And now this bride of Solomon has become very serious and very possessive:
*****Son 2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
This young bride seemed to be was stressing to all her friends that even with all these desires, she was going to save herself until the marriage.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
2Co 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as "a chaste virgin" to Christ.
This young Shulamite bride, cautioned all her friends to flee temptation as she had done.
A "roe" would be a "Gazelle".
A "hind" would be a doe, a "female Deer".
We know that both of these animals are very fast animals.
And her friends should flee temptation, as fast as they could.
God says:
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
This "soon to be bride" was excited about her wedding night because it would be a new, first time experience with this husband she had committed her love to.
We should remember most women are seeking protection, intimacy, and public displays and expressions of affection from their husbands.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Because this is the way the Jesus Christ loves His Church:
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
We can see that one way to end divorce, is to begin and continue in a marriage according to the Word of God!
Most men need their wife to respect him and then admire him for his stance on the Word of God!
Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
No doubt Solomon and his new bride had cultivated their love through a long dating relationship because they had grown to know each other so very well.
*****Son 2:8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
Son 2:9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
When a couple spends some time dating, they are able to determine if there is something more between them than just a physical attraction.
In verse 8 we see a young bride going back in her thoughts to the scenes of her home life, when her future husband would come calling as she intently listened for his arrival.
We also know there are many things we may forget in life, but the one thing that will always remain with us, is that period time when we first experienced our Savior and our salvation!
We see as she describes herself inside the home, while her future husband is outside the wall and maybe she sees him approaching from her window.
As Solomon approached, he may have cried out to her, as again she pictured herself as a shy gazelle and he as a young but powerful stag.
*****Son 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Son 2:11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
As Solomon approached the home of his beloved, she heard his call and rushed to be prepared to leave with him.
Our lesson is we of the church should remain in an instant notice to be prepared the calling of our Lord.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It will then be time to go home.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And just like at the end of Winter we maybe worn out by the dreariness of it, but at the first signs of Spring we have the joy of new life.
The Spring reminds us of our resurrected Christ.
*****Son 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
Son 2:13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
The flowers begin to bloom.
The birds are singing.
The turtle dove has returned to mark the arrival of spring.
The figs are beginning to ripen.
The vines are in full blossom.
The wonderful smell of Spring is everywhere!
And Jesus cries out "Come My Love What Are You Waiting For"!
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
The truth is, the Lord loves the sight of His people.
The Lord delights in our songs and prayers to Him.
God does not like secret Christians!
The Lord loves, and must have, a close and personal relationship with each of us!
*****Son 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
A dove was the only bird that could be offered in sacrifice.
It was the dove that was the sign of world peace to Noah.
It is the white dove that is the sign of purity.
David when he was distressed wished he had the wings of a dove so he could fly away from his toubles.
It was the dove that was the symbol for the Holy Spirit and proof to John the Baptist that the Lord Jesus was truly the Lamb of God!
And there truly exist a dove whose feathers, all except the wings, are literally as yellow as gold!
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
All these things should bring us encouragement as the Lord's return draws so very near!
For sweet is the voice of Jesus and His countenance is beautiful for He is Perfect!
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Anything that is not perfect will be lost in perfectness, when we have at last attained to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We will remain with the foolish when we reject the Lord, but if we bow before Jesus now and accept His salvation plan, we will one day soon be perfect with Him and we will be at home!
Questions?
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