The Lover’s Kiss!

Temple Baptist Church - 2-24-2019

Song of Solomon 1:1

Introduction: 

A.  Much has been said in the Bible concerning the “kiss.”  The word “Kiss” in one form or another is found - 46x in the Bible.

1.  These instances portray both the proper and improper use of the kiss. 

2.  In some of the instances of a Bible “kiss,” our hug or handshake becomes the equivalent.  It is still a custom in the middle east for men to either touch cheek to cheek or to even give a brief kiss to the cheek of another.

B.  The kiss is a very important element of the love relationship!  It is not only a wonderful experience for the young married couple, but it is also something for the old as well.

C.  Often, Israel will meet with one of the Palestinian groups and exchange handshakes and I normally wonder what is behind the greeting. 

D.  I want to look at the “kiss” for a few minutes this morning.

1.  The Kiss of Deceit - Proverbs 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Luke 22:47-48   And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

2.  The Kiss of Forgiveness - Genesis 33:4  And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

3.  The Kiss of Separation - Genesis 48:10, 50:1  Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them…And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

Acts 20:37  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 

4.  The Kiss of Reuniting - Exodus 4:27  And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.  (Family reunions were times of great kissing in the days of my youth.  You had to “run the gauntlet” when you arrived.)

5.  The Kiss of Respect - 1 Samuel 10:1  Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?  (The recognition and respect of a person of position.  We are to respect those in authority, not speak evil of them. 

6.  The Kiss of Friendship - 1 Samuel 20:41  And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 

7.  The Kiss of Reconciliation - Psalms 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  (I call this one the “makeup kiss.”  The best part of arguing is making up!)

Luke 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

8.  The Kiss of Gratitude - Luke 7:38, 45  And stood at his feet behind himweeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

9.  The Kiss of Brotherly Love - 1 Corinthians 16:20  All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

1 Peter 5:14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

10.  The Lover’s Kiss, found in verse 1.  The kiss of love; the kiss of intimacy; the kiss of oneness

a.  The world has perverted the kiss.  The kiss has become something to be given casually or carelessly.

b.  Someone once said, “A kiss is the baby’s right, the lover’s privilege, and the hypocrite’s mask.”  Thus we find both the proper use of the kiss as well as the worldly perversion of the same.

c.  Another said it this way: “A kiss is two divided by none!”

d.  A beautiful type here in the Song of Solomon of the love shared between Christ and His Church.

How Do I Love Thee

Temple Baptist Church - 1-26-2014

Song Of Solomon 1:1-4

 

Introduction:

 

A. When I read these verses, I am once again reminded of the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning titled “How Do I Love Thee?”

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

B. These verses penned so long ago should express the love of the saints for their blessed and most wonderful Saviour! How can we not love Him who is altogether lovely and loving?

1. Never so dear a dowry was paid as was paid by Christ for His Bride! John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Graven upon the palms of His hands!)

a) He gave up glory for a manger.

b) He was despised and rejected of His own.

c) He suffered as a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.

d) He bore the shame and reproach that belonged to us.

e) He gave Himself to the will of the Father in the cross as He sweat as it were great drops of blood.

f) He was nailed to the cross after His visage was marred more than that of any man through the beatings and scourging.

g) He bore our sins in His own body on the tree and willingly died for you and I!

h) What a price He paid for His Bride!

2. He loved us before we ever knew Him! John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (We are ever dear to His heart.)

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

1 John 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.

3. We, as His children, are precious in His sight! Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Written upon His hands and loved with an everlasting love! Death severs the earthly marriage of a couple but only serves to unite forever Jesus Christ and His Bride!)

Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Psalms 78:36-39 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

C. How can we not love Him? Completely, honestly, boldly, and faithfully! In Mark 12:30, our Lord said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Verse 3 says, “Therefore do the virgins love thee.”)

1. We Love Him For His Great Salvation - Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2. We Love Him For His Marvelous Grace - Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

3. We Love Him For His Glorious Peace - Genesis 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

4. We Love Him For His Blessed Assurance - Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

5. We Love Him For His Infinite Wisdom - Ephesians 1:7-8 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (God knew our “frame” and provided our wonderful salvation and eternal security for us.)

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

6. We I Love Him For His Unspeakable Joy - 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

7. We Love Him For His Promised Eternity - Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 Thessalonians 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.

Conclusion: His wonderful love demands a wonderful love returned!

I Am His And He Is Mine

Temple Baptist Church - 8-9-2009

Song of Solomon 2:8-17

Introduction:

A. The “Song of Songs” is the title given to the Song of Solomon. What a wonderful and yet much neglected little book of the Bible. Its typology is the most beautiful of all types in the Bible: a man and his wife or wife to be.

Proverbs 30:18-19 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

B. In the Song of Solomon, we find Solomon—a type of our Lord and the Shulamite—a type of the Church exchanging words of love.

C. It was common practice in the days of Solomon for the wife to take the same name as the husband. Solomon is masculine while Shulamite in the feminine form means virtually the same thing.

Song of Solomon 6:13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

Solomon - To be safe; to rest; to be happy; welfare

Shulamite - To be safe; to be completed (Peace and Perfection)

Jeremiah 33:16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

D. In salvation, two things happen that related to these verses:

1. Jesus Christ becomes our Lord and or God - John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

2. We become the Lord’s children - 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

E. 1 Corinthians 7 describes the responsibilities of the marital relationship.

1 Corinthians 7:3-4 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

1. The wife belongs to the husband and her body is not her own!

2. The husband belongs to the wife and his body is not his own!

F. Thus our relationship with Christ is given in Song of Solomon 2:16: “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” What a glorious biblical truth! Jesus Christ is mine! I belong to Jesus Christ! As in the marriage union, two become one as I am in Christ and He is in me!

G. “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away!” Praise the Lord!

Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

H. I want to look at this statement, “I am his and he is mine,” in light of the husband-wife relationship and I believe that it will be a blessing to all of us.

1. Mutual Selection – Christ chose us and we chose Him! He does not force us to become His anymore than we force Him to become ours.

a. He Chose Us - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

b. We Chose Him - John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

2. Twain Become One Flesh – Jesus Christ lives within the believer and the believer lives with Jesus Christ.

Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

3. Eternal Companionship – as the marriage is until death, our relationship with Christ is eternal.

Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

4. Satisfaction In Companionship – the husband and wife are to find their satisfaction in each other.

a. He Is Satisfied With Us - Song of Solomon 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

b. We Are Satisfied With Him - Song of Solomon 5:16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

5. Separate And Distinct Responsibilities – the man and his wife each have a distinct responsibility in marriage.

a. We Have The Responsibilities of: I take thee to be my wedded husband...to have and to hold...from this day forward...for better or for worse...for richer or for poorer...in sickness as in health...to love, cherish, and obey...till death do us part.

1) Submission - Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

2) Desire - Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

3) Love - Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

b. He Has The Responsibilities of: I take thee to be my wedded wife...to have and to hold...from this day forward...for better or for worse...for richer or for poorer...in sickness as in health...to love and to cherish...till death do us part.

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

2) Provision - 1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

3) Understanding - 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.

Arise, My Love, My Fair One, And Come Away

Temple Baptist Church - 12-28-2008

Song of Solomon 2:1-13

Introduction:

A. In the Jewish marriage, after the payment of the dowry of the bride, the groom goes away and make preparation for taking care of the bride. When the father of the groom sees that proper preparation has been made, he then gives his permission for the groom to go and take his bride.

John 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.

B. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ has paid the dowry for His bride. On the cross of Calvary, our redemption was paid in full. Jesus paid it all; all to Him owe; sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

C. In the previous verses we find the fulfillment of this promise:

1. He loved me – vs. 2-3
2. He brought me – vs. 4
3. He stayed me – vs. 5
4. He embraced me – vs. 6

D. Thus we look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! The older I get, the more that my heart longs for Him and home! Certainly for us to live is Christ but, also, to die is gain and “far better!” I love this old song:

This World Is Not My Home

This world is not my home I'm just passing through my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue the angels beckon me from Heaven's open doorand I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like youif Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
They're all expecting me and that's one thing I knowmy savior pardoned me and now I onward goI know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like youif Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally the Saints on every hand are shouting victory their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like youif Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?the angels beckon me from Heaven's open doorand I can't feel at home in this world anymore

1. The Promise Of His Coming – vs. 7 John 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.

a. Before Jesus went to the cross, He promised His disciples that He would return for them - John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.

b. He later reaffirmed this promise to the Apostle John - Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

c. When Jesus ascended back into Heaven, angels told His disciples that He would return - Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1) It is eminent (Brand New Feeling In The Air!) 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

2) It is encouraging (hard times almost over forever) 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

3) It is exciting (just watching the Lord work and prophecy fulfilling) Revelation 22:20- He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

2. The Person Of His Coming – vs. 8-10 John 14:3a And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Thessalonians 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:

3. The Purpose Of His Coming – vs. 9-10 John 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 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: 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.

4. The Period Of His Coming – vs. 11 “the winter is past, the rain is over and gone” When The Winter Is Past – vs. 11

a. The Analogy of God's Time - 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

b. The Allotment of God's Time - Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

c. The Achievement of God's Time - Matthew 17:1-2 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

d. The Acknowledgment of God's Time - Luke 17:26-29 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

5. The Pronouncement Of His Coming – vs. 8 “The voice of my beloved!”

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 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:
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

a. The Meaning Of The Trumpet In Old Testament Days - Exodus 19:13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether [it be] beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. (It was used to gather Israel into the presence of God.)

b. The Meaning Of The Trumpet In Roman days, when a Roman legion moved, there would be three blasts from the trumpets

1. The first would tell the troop to take down their tents, and to prepare to move
2. The second would alert them to fall in and line up
3. The last trumpet would be the signal to move out
4. We are leaving at the "last trump"

Conclusion: Song of Solomon 2:10-13 My beloved spake, and said unto 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 the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 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 Majesty Of His Voice

Temple Baptist Church - 9-14-2008

Song of Solomon 2:8-17

Introduction:

A. Throughout the Song of Solomon, we find the conversing of the Bridegroom (Beloved) with the Bride (Love). In verse 8, we find the phrase “The voice of my beloved!” Notice with me the exclamation mark as the end of the statement. This is not just a voice among many, but a very special voice. The exclamation mark shows the thrill of excitement in the voice of the Bride at the sound of His voice.

B. Over the years, I have had many of God’s men call me and try to disguise their voices in jest. Some have claimed to be IRS accountants, the Vatican in Rome, some a liberal TV preacher, etc. As a norm, I can pick up their voices as soon as they begin to speak. I am good at recognizing voices.

C. Years ago, a blind evangelist came to be with us for a couple of years. He could instantly recognize most of us by our voice. The reason for his perception of voices is this: he cannot see us so, as we rely upon sight, he relies upon voice. When I see you, I recognize you. When he hears you, he recognizes you.

D. Thus it is with the voice of the Lord. We do not see Him but both we and the world can easily recognize His voice. Here, the Bride hears a voice like none other. As I can so easily recognize the voice of my wife, we can recognize the voice of our Beloved!

E. The voice of God or the word of God is heard speaking in many instances and different ways in the Bible. It is a voice like none other. A majestic voice! A powerful voice! An authoritative voice! A gracious voice (as a general rule)! Christ spoke as no other:

Luke 2:46-47 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Mark 10:24a And the disciples were astonished at his words.

Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.

F. I want to look at the Voice of the Lord for a few minutes tonight:

1. We Find The Voice Of God In Creation - Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (“God said” is found 10x in Genesis 1 alone as He spoke this world into existence. What power and majesty was this Voice of God in creation! A voice so powerful that from nothing it created the universe and all that is in it!)

Psalms 33:6-9 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

2. We Find The Voice Of God In Nature - Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (The Voice of God shouts from the stars overhead to the flowers of the fields! Everything in nature declares the glory of God to the point that “the fool hath said in his heart, There is not God!)

Psalms 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

3. We Find The Voice Of God in Inspiration - 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost. (When we read God’s Word, His Voice is heard on every page and in every word! A Book like no other is the Bible for it speaks to its reader the very mind and will of God!)

Romans 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

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: (Inspiration – breath)

4. We Find The Voice of God In Invitation - Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Do you remember that small, still Voice that spoke to you when you came to Christ? God spoke to my heart in an inaudible Voice that night, convincing me of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come! No one else in a congregation of over 1,000 heard Him speak to me that night but I heard Him distinctly and understood His Voice!)

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

5. We Find The Voice Of God In Communion - John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (My wife’s favorite song is “In The Garden” in which one verse goes like this: “He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing!” That Voice speaks to us all throughout our day as He seeks to guide, comfort, give peace, and fellowship with the believer! I so often speak audibly back to him and others wonder as I seemingly “talk with myself.”)

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

a. It is a Solitary Voice –It cannot be mistaken!
b. It is a Sweet Voice - There is none like His!
c. It is a Sure Voice – It will never lead you wrong!
d. It is a Sympathetic Voice – He is touched with the feeling of your infirmities!

6. We Find The Voice Of God In Gathering - Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (This Voice is one only to be heard by the redeemed of the Lord! A Trmpet as one “talking with me!” “Come up hither” it will say to the Bride of Christ! We will then be home at last and so shall we ever be with the Lord.)

1 Thessalonians 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:

7. We Find The Voice Of God In Judgment - Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (How awesome and fearful that Voice in the Day of Judgment! “Depart from me” instead of “Come unto me!” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!)

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

My Beloved Is Mine, And I Am His

Temple Baptist Church - 8-31-2008

Song of Solomon 2:8-17

Introduction:

A. What makes the Song of Solomon the “song of songs?” It is an analogy of young love! The Beloved and the Love seeking the fulfillment of love in intimacy ordained and blessed of God! The culmination of this love is found within the bounds of holy matrimony. Marriage is God given and God honored!

B. I have preformed several marriages over the years and count it a privilege to help unite a man and woman in this God ordained covenant. Marriage is a covenant! A covenant only to be sundered by death. It is much more than just a ritual; it is a uniting and binding of two lives that will become one. One desire, one hope, and one love.

C. I use the normal Wedding Vows when performing a marriage ceremony. As our nation’s laws are founded upon the Word of God, so are these sacred vows. They have been used in one form or another through the centuries and I find no reason to change them now. Weddings may vary in their ceremony but when the to be married couple stand before me, the vows are the same. I will not marry them without this vowing before God and man.

D. “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” The Institution of Marriage:

Genesis 2:18; 21-24 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him... And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall
upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and
brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God’s Word has declared marriage to be honorable in all. It is a divine institution, ordained of God in the garden of Eden between the first man and woman.

1. It was given in wisdom - because man needed a help meet.

2. It was given in kindness - because of man’s loneliness.

Our Lord honored the marriage festival at Cana with His presence and performed His first miracle there. Our Lord selected the marriage to be the emblem of the union that binds together Himself and His own ransomed Bride, the Church. ** (Eph 5:22-33)

1. The Preliminaries Of The Marriage - “Because you have freely and deliberately chosen each other as partners for life, would you please join your right hands.” (Once there were pre-arranged weddings but, in today’s society, the bride and groom freely choose each other.)

a. God Chose Us - Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen. (This verse does not support Calvinism. Much to the contrary as the “call” of God is to the “many.” Why would God call those who could not come? The call is to all and the choosing is for those who come.)

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely!)
b. We Chose God - Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

2. The Purpose Of The Marriage – “We are gathered here today to unite this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony.”

a. That Two May Become One - 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. (Not “two in one” but “one!” As man and woman are to be one, so must man and God be one!)

b. That Two May Become Many - Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (As the marriage is intended to bring forth children, so is our union with Christ to bring forth spiritual children!)

3. The Promises Of The Marriage – “Will you have this (man – woman) to be your wedded (wife – husband); will you love (her – him), honor and keep (her – him) in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto (her – him) so long as you both shall live----DO YOU SO PROMISE? (I DO)” “I take thee to be my wedded (wife – husband)...to have and to hold...from this day forward...for better or for worse...for richer or for poorer...in sickness as in health...to love and to cherish.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

a. A Vow Of Love – “Will you love her? Will you love him? To have and to hold. To love and to cherish.)”

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. (God never fails of love us.)

John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

b. A Vow Of Commitment – “Honor and keep… from this day forward...for better or for worse...for richer or for poorer...in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth”
Romans 8:35, 38-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...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. (He is there for us in the good times and in the bad! He is there for us in wealth and poverty! He is there for us in sickness as in health! He is there for us in our sorrows as well as our rejoicing! He never leaves nor forsakes!)

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: (So are we to stay with him in the bad times as well as the good! The sick times as well as the healthy! The poverty as well as the wealth! The sorrows of life as well as the rejoicing!)

c. A Vow Of Fidelity - Hebrews 13:5b For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (God will keep His vow!)

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (We are to keep ours!)

4. The Permanence Of The Marriage – “Till death do us part!”

Ring Ceremony

The ring, a token of their love for each other, is emblematic of marriage.

The circle, the emblem of eternity; and gold, the type of what is least tarnished and most enduring--it is to show how lasting and imperishable the faith now mutually pledged.
As the union now formed is to be sundered only by death, it becomes you to consider the duties you solemnly assume. If these duties be remembered and faithfully discharged, they will add to the happiness of this life.

It is the duty of the husband to provide for the support of his wife, to shelter her from danger, and to cherish her at all times. It being the command of God’s Word, that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave His own life for her.

It is the duty of the wife to reverence her husband, and to put on the ornament of meek and quiet spirit, which is, in God’ sight, as ornament of great price, His Word commanding that wives be subject unto their own husbands, even as the Church is subject unto Christ.

It is the duty of both to delight in one another. To remember that they are to be henceforth undivided. To preserve fidelity, and to see to it that what God hath therefore joined together, man never puts asunder.

As you place this ring on (his – her) ring finger, would you say to her...I love you...with a love as beautiful...and never ending as this ring.

Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (We are to be one with Christ throughout eternity.)

The Lighting Of The Unity Candle!

Conclusion: I normally leave this up to the bride and groom but will add this to the wedding ceremony if desired: “You man now kiss your bride!” (Keep the marriage warm and loving all of the days of your life. Our relationship with Christ must never “leave” the first love or else it will be characterized by “lukewarm” and then “cold” as in Laodicea.)

It’s Love In Salvation From Start To Finish

Temple Baptist Church - 8-24-2008

Song of Solomon 2:1-7

Introduction:

A. I fear that we have seen salvation in an unbiblical light in most of our lives. We do not see the whole picture because we are obsessed with living in this present world. The Bible says that dying is gain and I am glad that Heaven is going to be beyond our most wonderful expectation. We cannot comprehend with our wildest dreams what Heaven is going to be like.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

B. The Bible also says that Christ is our life here.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

1. Salvation is much more than just being saved from Hell and going to Heaven

2. Salvation is much more than being forgiven and our load of guilt removed.

3. Salvation is much more than just the blessings of the life through Christ

4. Salvation is a blessed, intimate relationship with the Lord of the universe who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscience.

C. Salvation is being under the loving umbrella of God’s providence, provision, and protection.

D. Salvation is experiencing the very Person of our Lord Jesus Christ with all that He can offer!

Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

E. In these verses that we have read tonight, we see the life of the Christian from Calvary to the Rapture. I do not want to look at the physical blessings of our salvation here as much as I do the spiritual.

1. The Lord Cleanses Me – vs. 1 “the lily”

a. Positionally, we are without spot or blemish! Absolute sinless perfection! Faultless!

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Romans 4:8 Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

b. Because of the sinfulness of our flesh, cleansing is a daily task based upon our confession and Christ’s faithfulness.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Spiritual cleansing is greater than our daily physical blessings.)

2. The Lord Protects Me – vs. 4

a. He certainly protects me physically - Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

b. He also protects me spiritually - Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (We are no match for demonic power! It is the Lord that keeps us safe in our spiritual warfare.)

3. The Lord Loves Me – vs. 4 (We will spend much time on this subject in the Song of Solomon.)

a. He loves me for who I am - 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.

b. He loves me for who I shall be - 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

4. The Lord Upholds Me – vs. 5, 6a,

a. He upholds me when I fail - 2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Psalms 78:38-39 But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they [were but] flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. (uphold or sustain me when my strength fails)

b. He upholds me when my strength is gone - 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

5. The Lord Comforts Me – vs. 5-6

a. He comforts me in sorrows - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

b. He comforts me in tribulations - 2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

6. The Satisfies Me – vs. 7 (I want the Lord to come but I will abide satisfied in the mean time.)

a. He satisfies my living - Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

b. He satisfies my longing - Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The Banqueting House

Temple Baptist Church - 8-17-2008

Song of Solomon 2:1-7

Introduction:

A. In chapter 1, we found the drawing of the Bride.

1. The Description Of God’s Love – vs. 2 “better than wine”

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (To know the unknowable and to comprehend the incomprehensible. God draws the unlovable and the undesirable. Greater love hath no man than this!)

2. The Drawing Of God’s Love – vs. 4 “Draw me”

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me. (In 1976, He drew me unto Himself! When I could not come to Him, He came to me! I will never understand what He saw in me but will forever praise Him for His love.)

3. The Desiring Of God’s Love – vs. 4 “we will run…we will be glad…we will remember”

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (You have to get thirsty before you drink. Our Lord said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink!” I remember the day I got thirsty and got hold of that living water.)

B. In chapters 1-2, we found the description of the Bride.

1. The Curse of Her Sin – vs. 5-6 “black”

Ezekiel 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee [when thou wast] in thy blood, Live.

2. The Comparison Of Her Saviour – vs. 5, 8-9 “but comely”

Ephesians 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.

3. The Comprehending Of Her Splendor – vs. 2:1 “rose…lily”

Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

THE BANQUETING HOUSE - There Will Be A Gathering - On many formal invitation, we find the letters “R.S.V.P.”

RSVP "Répondez s'il vous plaît", a French phrase that translates to "reply, please." or literally "reply, if it pleases you" [1]. It is with this meaning that invitation cards and similar documents are often marked with "R.S.V.P." It is standard practice to reply to an RSVP request whether confirming attendance or declining.

1. The Decision Of The Gathered - Luke 14:16-24 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Whosoever will and whosoever won’t! Eternal life and death are in the decisions of the lost!)

2. The Division Of The Gathered - 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,

1 Thessalonians 4:14-16 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive (to have been quickened – Ephesians 2:1) [and] remain (Not to have seen death) unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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:

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1. The Jewish Trumpet Was Blown To Start A Journey (Num 10:6)

2. The Trumpet Was Blown To Call Men To War (Num 10:9)

3. The Trumpet Was Blown To Signal Holy Days (Num 10:10; Lev 25:9)

4. The Trumpet Was Blown To Call The Camp Of Israel To A General Assembly (Num 10:7)

5. The Trumpet Will Be Blown To Inaugurate The Rapture (I Thes 4:16; I Cor 15:52; Rev. 4:1)

6. The Trumpet Will Be Blown To Announce the Beginning of The Tribulation (Joel 2:1, 2)

7. The Trumpet Will Be Blown To Sound The Judgments Of The Tribulation (Rev 8:1-9; 11:15-19)

8. The Trumpet Will Be Blown to Signal The Re-gathering of Israel To The Land (Mat. 24:31)

3. The Designation Of The Gathered – “His banner over me was love”

a. A Special Place Designated - Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (There’s no place like home! “man goeth to his long home.”)

b. A Special People Designated - Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Joel 3:17 So shall ye know that I [am] the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Billy Kelly used to sing a song which goes like this: “I’ll not be a stranger when I enter that city; I’m acquainted with folks over there!”)

c. A Special Purpose Designated - 1 Thessalonians 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.

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Home! I’m going home! Never more to roam!)

Conclusion: There will be a Gathering. There will be a Guest. There will be a Garnishing!

The Apple Tree

Temple Baptist Church - 8-10-2008

Song of Solomon 2:1-3

Introduction:

A. Last week, we saw the beauty of the bride in verse 1. “The Rose of Sharon” and “The Lily of the Valleys.”

B. I cannot emphasize enough how much Christ loves His Church and how beautiful that we are to Him. He sees none other! He desires none other!

C. In Christ, we find the faithfulness of the “Beloved” to His “Love.” God has been faithful in our unfaithfulness because He cannot deny Himself! His faithfulness is based upon His character and not ours!

D. In verse 3, the Bride compares the Bridegroom to an “Apple Tree.” Among the “trees of the wood,” the Apple Tree stands out. Though there are many beautiful abd useful trees in the woods, most are not life sustaining for us. I know that they help to produce products that make life more comforting and, also, help to produce oxygen for breathing, but the Apple Tree is different from them.

E. In this comparison, we find several different aspects that are mentioned. I will deal with them individually.

1. The Apple Tree Speaks Of Christ’s Protection – “Shadow”

a. The Shadowing of His Gathering - Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not! (Salvation brings protection! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!)

b. The Shadowing of His Loveingkindness - Psalms 36:7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Salvation brings the lovingkindness of the Lord. We have an old saying, “The Lord is good all of the time!”)
c. The Shadowing of His Grace - Psalms 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast. (Salvation brings grace to the believer. Grace abundant, manifold, and always sufficient for every concern and every need.)

d. The Shadowing of His Help - Psalms 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (I thank God for His grace and mercy but I also thank God for His being a “very present” help in time of need. His is able and willing to aid His children.)

2. The Apple Tree Speaks Of Christ’s Pleasure – “great delight”

a. The Pleasure of Our Heart’s Desires - Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Now physical wants or needs, but our spiritual wants and needs.)

b. The Pleasure of Our Encouragement - Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]. (A song says, “When the waves are over your head they are under His feet.” In the midst of valleys, God will help us to soar with wings as eagles.)

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

c. The Pleasure of Our Church - Psalms 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. (I thank God for this church and its people! Several times a week, I get a call from one of you to encourage me. I love God’s house and God’s people!)

Psalms 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company.

d. The Pleasure of His Presence - Psalms 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. (In His presence is fullness of joy. When I am with Him, the pleasures of this world certainly grow dim.)

1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

3. The Apple Tree Speaks Of Christ’s Provision – “his fruit”

a. The Promise of His Provision - Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (The unlimited provision of His riches in glory! Our economy runs off of “supply and demand” but God’s off of “supply and need.”)

b. The Peace of His Provision - Psalms 23:1-2 The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (He maketh me to lie down unafraid! He leadeth me into the stillness of my soul!)

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

c. The Performance of His Provision - Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

d. The Possession of His Provision - Nehemiah 9:15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. (What God promises God performs! He will take care of this preacher and his family until the day He either comes for me or calls me home.)

Conclusion:

a. You see, we are a Rose of Sharon and a Lily of the Valleys to Christ. These are important things because they are things of beauty but have little or no value outside of that beauty. God loves us for who we are and not for what we can do for Him!

b. Christ is our Apple Tree! Yes, we can consort with others trees of the woods but it is Christ that meets both our physical and spiritual needs. We are the Apple of His eye! He is the Apple of ours!