The Song Of Songs

Temple Baptist Church - 6-1-2008

Song Of Solomon 1:1-2

Introduction:

A. I want to begin a series today on the most beautiful of the Poetical Books. I may preach through it in a continuous manner or preach from it occasionally but I believe that this book is so marvelous in its approach to the beauty of our relationship with Christ.

1 Kings 4:32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

(Poetry and songs about love have reached the zenith of their particular areas throughout the ages. Poetry such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways…” Songs of love have stayed at the top of almost every area of music through the years.)

B. It is both a Book feared and revered

1. Feared by many for the explicit language of this “Book of Love.” I was once told by a man that I should not preach through the Song of Solomon in mixed company. I could not disagree more with that individual.

2. Revered by many. Ancient Jews revered the Song of Solomon as a valuable part of the sacred writings, calling it "the Holy of Holies." Tradition tells us that they forbad their children to read it, because of the sublimity and mysteriousness of it, until they were at years to understand it’s teachings. (I believe that our children need its teachings in order to understand the meaning and purity of the true love that God intended for them in marriage.)

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

C. There are several interpretations of this beautiful Song:

1. The Literal Interpretation – The Song glorifies marital love.

2. The Dispensational Interpretation – The Song glorifies Jehovah’s relationship to Israel.

3. The Redemptive Interpretation – The Song glorifies our Lord’s relationship to the Church.

D. Solomon was born to David and Bathsheba after David’s sin. David named him Solomon which is Hebrew for Peace as David was once again in complete harmony with God. It is generally agreed that this particular song was written in Solomon’s earlier years before his love for divers strange women turned his heart from the lord.

E. As the characters in the song speak, it heeds the reader to learn to distinguish the voices.

1. My Love speaks of the bride. (1:14) Then notice the change in verse 15.

2. My Beloved speaks of the groom. (1:15)

F. Let me set your hearts at ease today as I begin to preach through this blessed Song of Songs. It will be preached tastefully and scripturally. It will be a blessing! Let’s now begin to look at this sacred picture of the love of Christ for His church.

1. The Love Of The Song of Solomon Is A Peculiar Love

a. There are several different kinds of love mentioned in the Bible and all are different. To use these uses of love in the same sense can cause problems.

b. Probably the most notable misusage of a particular kind of love in the Bible is that of “charity” in 1 Corinthians 13. Charity is a “brotherly love” and is not to be confused with the love of a man for his wife! I have heard the word changed at weddings, etc. From “charity” to “love.” The love of “charity” is not the peculiar love that I am talking about today.

c. Song of Solomon speaks of the love reserved for a man and his wife! This is a love like no other and cannot be duplicated. It is a giving love whereas a man and a woman give to each other their complete love. A beautiful type of Christ and His Church!

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (This is not charity of the love of the world which is a selfish, self-gratifying love.).

In weddings, I use these words, “will you love her, honor and keep her in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live?”

2. The Love Of The Song Of Solomon Is A Purposed Love

a. It is a Forsaking and Cleaving love - Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

b. It is a Unifying love – Ephesians 5:31-32 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. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

1 Peter 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.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (The purpose of the Song of Solomon is the unifying of Our Lord Jesus Christ with His Church for all eternity.)

3. The Love Of The Song Of Solomon Is A Personal Love

a. ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN – It is a love not to be infiltrated. As our marriage is personal, so is our salvation and the relationship that corresponds. I tell newlyweds that marriage is a circle with the Lord, the man, and the wife inside. Never let anyone in that circle!

Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

b. ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN – It is a love not to be shared. It is Jesus Christ first and foremost! (I do not share my wife with anyone! She is mine and mine alone. I am hers. I also am Christ’s!)

John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

4. The Love Of The Song Of Solomon Is A Pure Love

a. Marriage is an intimate relationship that is completely pure and holy in the eyes of the Lord.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

b. Our intimate relationship with the Lord is wonderful.

Psalms 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.