S.;.

wui

PART I: THE BRIDE'S INHERITANCE IN JESUS (1:1-4:16)

SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS FOR mE SONG .................................................•...............•.. 5 AN OVERALL OUTLINE OF THE SONG OF SONGS .....................•...........................•....•........ 7 DISCOVERING JESUS IN mE SONG OF SONGS .........•........•.........•....•.....•...•.......•.................. 9

INTRODUCTION TO rna SONG OF SONGS (1: 1) 13

INTRODUCING ras DIVINE KIss OF GOD (1 :2a) 15

THE KIss OF GOD AND mE BRIDE's LIFE PASSION (1 :2-4) 21

THE BEGINNING OF THE BRIDE's SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (1:5-11) 25

THE BRIDE'S IDENTITY IN mE BEAUTY OF JESUS (1:12-2:7) 31

CHAllENGING mE BRIDE's COMFORT ZONE (2:8-17) 37

DIVINE CORRECTION (3:1-5) 41

A REVELATION OF mE "SAFE" LEADERSHIP OF JESUS (3:6-11) 45

THE PROPHETIC AFFIRMATIONS OF mE BRIDEGROOM (4:1-8) 49

THE RAVISHED HEART OF JESUS (4:9-5:1) 53

PART II: JESUS' INHERITANCE IN THE BRIDE (5:2-8:14)

THE Two-FoLD TEST OF .MATURITY (5:2-8) 59

THE BRIDE'S REsPONSE TO THE Two-FOLD TEST (5:9-6:1-3) 63

THE .MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF JESUS (5:10-16) 67

JESUS' AFFIRMATION OF mE BRIDE AFTER HER SEASON OF TESTING (6:4-10) 73

THE VINDICATION OF mE BRIDE (6:11-7:9a) 77

THE BRIDE'S .MATURE PARTNERSHIP WITH JESUS (7:9b-8:4) 83

THE BRIDAL SEAL OF LoVE (8:5- 7) 87

THE BRIDE'S FINAL INTERCESSION (8:8-14) 91

Pp.,1;e.: _

4

Who is Speaking in the Song?

We are usually not told who is speaking at any given rime. If you have speaker assignments in your Bible, they have been supplied by the editor/publisher and originally were not a part of the Song of Solomon. Sometimes the Hebrew language appears indefinite regarding the gender of the pronouns. For example, the phrase in Song of Solomon 2:7 says, " ... until it pleases ... " (NKJV). The "it" could be translated ''he'' or "she." How it's translated is according to the understanding of the context by the translator. I only ask you to consider my assignments of who is speaking and see how they apply.

The Following Abbreviations Will Be Used:

HS = Holy Spirit (as Narrator)
BG = Bridegroom
B= Bride
DO] = Daughters of Jerusalem
LDRS = Leaders in the Family of God
HS Song 1:1 The song of songs ... BG Song 5:2b Open for me, my sister ...
B Song 1:2 Let him kiss me ... B Song 5:3 I have taken off ...
BG Song 1:8 If you do not know ... DOJ Song 5:9 What is your beloved ...
B Song 1:1 While the king is ... B Song 5:10 My beloved is ...
BG Song 1:15 Behold, you are fair ... DOJ Song 6:1 Where has your beloved ...
B Song 1:16 Behold, you are handsome ... B Song 6:2 My beloved has gone ...
BG Song 2:2 Like a lily among thorns ... BG Song 6:4 Omy love ...
B Song 2:3 Like an apple tree ... B Song 6:10 Who is she who.i,
BG Song 2:7 I charge you, 0 daughters ... B Song 6:11 I went down to the garden ...
B Song 2:8 The voice of my beloved! DOJ Song 6:13a Return ... O Shulamite ...
BG Song 2: lOb ... Rise up, my love ... LDRS Song 6:13b ... What would you see ...
B Song 2:15 Catch us the foxes ... DOJ Song 7:1 How beautiful are your ...
BG Song 3:5 I charge you ... BG Song 7:6 How fair and how ...
HS Song 3:6 Who is this coming out ... B Song 7:9b ... The wine goes down ...
B Song 3:11 Go forth, 0 daughters ... BG Song 8:4 I charge you, 0 daughters ...
BG Song 4:1 Behold, you are fair ... HS Song 8:5a Who is this coming up ...
B Song 4:6 Until the day breaks ... BG Song 8:5b I awakened you under the ...
BG Song 4:7 You are all fair, my love ... B Song 8:7b Ifa man would give ...
B Song 4:16 Awake, 0 north wind ... BG Song 8:13 You who dwell in the ...
BG Song 5:1 I have come to my garden ... B Song 8:14 Make haste, my beloved ...
B Song 5:2a I sleep, but my heart ...
5 PI4-U: Who Do the Characters Represent?

Solomon = Jesus

The Shulamite = Any individual believer on his/her journey to maturity Daughters of Jerusalem = Other members of the family of God not yet awakened to fervency for Jesus

The virgins = Same as the daughters of Jerusalem

The watchmen = Leaders in the family of God (there are good ones and bad ones) The keepers of the wall = Same as the watchmen

The mother = The family or congregation of God

My mother's brothers = Leaders in the family of God that were over the Shulamite

What Do the Symbols Represent?

Cheeks and temples = Neck =

Dove's eyes = Lips = Mouth =

Breasts = Myrrh = Wine =

Shadows = Day break = Vineyard, garden, beds of spices = Frankincense =

Spikenard (perfumes) = Silver = Gold = Wood = Cedar = Purple = Scarlet = Gazelle =

Stag = Teeth =

PII-te.: _

the emotions

the will

singleness of vision; focus speech

intimacy

the ability to nurture new believers crucifixion (His and ours)

the best that this life has to offer residual darkness in the heart Jesus' light in our lives

the inner life

prayer, intercession godly character, fruit redemption

Deity

humanity

Jesus in His humanity royalty

redemption

speed

strength

the ability to assimilate the Word

6

PART I: THE BRIDE'S INHERITANCE IN JESUS (1:1-4:16)

1. Discovering Jesus in the Song

2. Introduction to the Song of Solomon (1:1)

3. Introducing the Divine Kiss of God (1:2a)

4. The Kiss of God and the Bride's Life Passion (1:2-4)

5. The Beginning of the Bride's Spiritual Journey (1:5-11)

6. The Bride's Identity in the Beauty of Jesus (1:12-2:7)

7. Challenging the Bride's Comfort Zone (2:8-17)

8. Divine Correction (3:1-5)

9. A Revelation of the "Safe" Leadership of Jesus (3:6-11)

10. The Prophetic Affirmations of the Bridegroom (4:1-8)

11. The Ravished Heart of Jesus (4:9-5:1)

PART II: JESUS' INHERITANCE IN THE BRIDE (5:1-8:14)

12. The Two-Fold Test of Maturity (5:2-8)

13. The Bride's Response to the Two-Fold Test (5:9-6:5)

14. The Majestic Beauty of Jesus (5:10-16)

15. Jesus' Affirmation of the Bride After Her Season of Testing (6:4-10)

16. The Vindication of the Bride (6:11-7:9a)

17. The Bride's Mature Partnership with Jesus (7:9b-8:4)

18. The Bridal Seal of Love (8:5-7)

19. The Bride's Final Intercession (8:8-14)

7

p,..te.: _

Pp.,te: _

8

I. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY-TO REVEAL THE PATTERN OF JOHN 17:26

A. The Principles Necessary for Growing in Deep Passion With Jesus

1. This book sets forth all the divine principles essential for spiritual maturity.

2. This book helps us pinpoint our spiritual progress.

3. This eight-chapter love song develops the practical realities of John 17:26.

B. Identifying the Issues that God is Specifically Dealing with in Our Lives

1. This Song helps us realize that the Father is dealing with all of us according to the exact same principles. When we discover that the pressures and trials of life we experience are common to all Christians, we won't feel quite so isolated.

2. This book also helps us become better equipped to discern the seasons of our lives.

II. ENCOUNTERING JESUS-JOURNALING AND PRAYER-READING

A. Practically Giving Our Hearts to God and Receiving From Him

1. The purpose of this section is to show how to use this love song as a springboard of inspiration for our hearts. The following is a way to express devotion to the Lord.

a. As we read through the book, we should pray the actual Bible passages back to God.

For example, when the Bride says to the Bridegroom, ''Your love is better than wine" (Song of Songs 4:10), stop and say, ''Thank you Jesus that Your love really is better than the wine of this world's pleasures." We then need to take the next step and pray, ''Reveal this truth to me. Give me a spirit of revelation concerning the truth that Your love is better than all the wine this world has to offer." Be persistent. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart like Paul prayed.in Ephesians 1:17-18. The Holy Spirit will cause your insight to gradually .increase.

b. Write down the things that the Lord puts on your heart. Take time to record your thoughts, prayers and meditations as you "pray-read" through the Song. The idea is to turn these Bible passages into meaningful conversation and dialogue with Jesus.

c. Commit yourself to obeying Jesus in the way described in a particular passage. Specifically express to Him the .intent of your heart to obey.

d. Ask the Lord to empower your heart to obey the truth within a particular passage.

Such requests for divine assistance will eventually result in a growth in grace over time. For example, in the passage where the Bridegroom exhorts the Bride to arise in obedience and follow Him to the mountains of hardship and risk (Song of Songs 2:8-10), stop and pray, "I commit myself to obeying the challenge You have set before me. Empower me by Your Spirit to obey."

9

P",t;e: _

III. THE SEVEN REVELATIONS OF JESUS IN THE SONG

A. The Seven Different Facets of Christ's Personality

1. Each of the seven faces of Jesus in the Song of Songs reveals a unique aspect of His relationship with the Bride. They are as follows:

a. The Counseling Shepherd (1:8)

b. The Sovereign King (2:8-9)

c. The Safe Savior (3:6-8)

d. The Heavenly Bridegroom (4:1-15)

e. The Suffering Servant (5:2)

f. The Majestic God (5:10-16)

g. The Consuming Fire (8:6-7)

rv THE GREATEST PROPHETIC SONG

A. <The Song of Songs" (1:1)

1. Solomon wrote 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). He was a gifted songwriter. This is his best song, thus referred to as the Song of Songs.

2. \'\'hen the Holy Spirit describes this song as the Song of Songs, it conveys in the Hebrew language the "Highest of the Highest."

3. I believe this Song is the greatest prophetic song ever written by the redeemed in all of redemptive history.

a. The purpose of prophetic songs is to reveal the fresh heart of Jesus. These songs speak of the beauty, splendor and majesty of His personality. John said, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19: 1 0). The testimony of Jesus reveals the things pulsating in His heart.

4. In Revelation 15:2-3, the end-time saints are pictured as standing around the throne of God singing two songs-the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

a. The song of Moses is recorded in Exodus 15:1-21.

b. Jesus, the Lamb of God, has a song called the Lamb's song. Could the Lamb's song be recorded in the Word of God like Moses' song? It could very well be that the Lamb's song and the Song of Songs are synonymous.

5. Jesus sings many different songs over His Bride (Zephaniah 3:17; Hebrews 2:12).

a. He sings over His people through spontaneous prophetic songs.

b. He also sings over His Bride through the use of a previously written solo.

c. Since Jesus is described in Hebrews 2:12 as singing over His people in the presence of His Father, why should it be hard for us to imagine Jesus using the "Song of Songs" to cherish and romance His beloved Bride at the end of the age?

Pp.,1;e: _

10

V. THE UNIQUE FOCUS OF THE SONG

A. Four Key Distinctives Related to the Song

1. The Song gives us a concise revelation of the passionate affections in Jesus' personality, including His enjoyment and affection for weak, yet, sincere believers.

2. The Song gives us insight into the beauty of Jesus, specifically as a Bridegroom King.

3. The Song gives us a revelation of the unique beauty and loveliness of the individual believer.

4. The Song also gives us principles related specifically to growing in the first commandment, as well as mature bridal partnership with Jesus.

a. Our souls comprise many different emotions. Certain aspects of our hearts can only be touched through divine poetic romance. The idea that Jesus has strong and deep emotions of desire for us seems unrealistic. Many of us can only imagine an aloof God who always seems to be angry with us. Yet, we need to consider that the reason we have such strong and diverse emotions is because He has them.

VI. JESUS' THREE-FOLD INHERITANCE-PSALM 2:11-12

A. The Description of Christ's Inheritance

1. Psalm 2 is a famous messianic Psalm. In verses 7-9, David describes Jesus' prayer for His inheritance. Then in Psalm 2:11-12, he describes Jesus' three-fold inheritance: a people who would tremble, rejoice and kiss the Son of God. This is one of the most concise descriptions of the heart of the mature Bride.

B. The Three Sides of Redemption

1. TREMBLING-We tremble in awe by seeing the eternal majesty and splendor of Jesus as a Bridegroom, King, and Judge.

2. REJOICING-We rejoice by seeing who we are in Christ as we understand the legal and practical sides of our redemption. We rejoice in discovering the benefits of the Cross.

3. KISSING-There is the emotional and passionate side of our redemption when our hearts are enflamed by His loving beauty as he empowers us to fulfill the first commandment.

C. The Three Books That Focus on The Three Sides of Redemption

1. REVEL-\TION-This book portrays the majesty of our Bridegroom King which causes us to tremble in awe before Him.

2. R01-lANS-This book introduces us to the legal and practical sides of redemption which cause us to rejoice in the benefits of the Cross.

3. SONG OF SONGS-This book awakens us to the passionate, emotional side of God which empowers us to restore the first commandment to first place in our lives.

11

PA-1;e.: _

D. Summary

1. Most Christian groups typically focus on just one side of redemption-

a. Some unbalanced holiness groups seek to tremble before the Lord while neglecting the dements of rejoicing and kissing the Son. They can easily become tempted with legalism and a morbid approach to purity.

b. Some unbalanced charismatic groups focus on rejoicing in who they are in Christ while neglecting the trembling and kissing side of redemption. They are tempted with carnality and compromise as they pursue a life in God.

c. Some unbalanced groups, especially some of the monastic groups in medieval times, as well as certain puritan groups in the 17m century, focused on kissing the Son while neglecting the rejoicing and trembling sides of redemption. They were tempted with unbalanced isolation and asceticism as they pursued a life of union with God.

2. I believe the Holy Spirit will provide the sufficient revelation and release of power within the Church to equip the Bride to live in all three sides of redemption so that she might be the inheritance the Father promised His Son.

PA-te: 12

INTRODUCTION

In our first session, the purpose of our study primarily will be to provide a road map to help give us an overview of the book. There are several interpretations of the Song of Solomon. However, in our study we will be addressing the two main ones. These interpretations are extremely valid and edifying. We will also look at several key principles for interpreting this Song.

I. INTERPRETING THE SONG

A. The Natural Interpretation-This school of thought depicts a literal human love story between King Solomon and his bride, the Shulamite. It is a love story based on biblical principles written to honor and inspire deeper love within marriage. There is one basic story line that must be mentioned when viewing the book as a natural love story. It depicts a young maiden wooed by the handsome and rich King Solomon. He progressively wins her heart throughout the story.

B. The Allegorical Interpretation-This view suggests that Solomon was writing a love song to describe spiritual truth about the love relationship with the coming Messiah. This has been the most common interpretation of the book throughout Church history.

1. An allegory is a story that is totally symbolic. Allegorical interpretations are important and helpful as long as we only use them to illustrate a truth that is already clearly established throughout the Word of God. Allegories are also used to make a truth more colorful and easier to grasp (See Galatians 4:21-27).

2. \Vhile this love poem expresses the emotions related to an actual romance that took place in Solomon's life, we will, in this study, pursue the allegorical interpretation of the book.

II. THE THREE COMMON ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATIONS

A. The Relationship Between God as the Bridegroom and Natural Israel as the Bride

1. This interpretation is clearly taught throughout the Old Testament Geremiah 2:2; Hosea 2:16-20; Ezekiel 16:8-14, 20-21,32,38; Isaiah 54:5-6). This is how Old Testament believers interpreted this book, finding real strength in knowing God's deep bridal love for IsraeL

2. The Jewish rabbis for nearly 3000 years have been interpreting this book as symbolic of Yahweh's love for Israel, His Bride.

B. The Relationship between Jesus and the Corporate Church of Christ

1. One common allegorical interpretation of the Song is to see the Bride as the Church throughout history. This view is also a very valid way of interpreting the book.

13

PM;e.: _

C. The Relationship Between Jesus and the Individual Believer

1. The focus of this study will be to interpret the book as an allegorical love song between Jesus and the individual believer as His Bride. This approach will offer practical spiritual insight for our personal lives as we seek to grow in our passion for Jesus.

III. THE THREE MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK

A. King Solomon-Solomon is depicted in the allegorical interpretation as a type of the triumphant resurrected Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

1. Solomon is the writer of the Song. This Song was probably written between 900-950 B.C.

2. This beautiful Song could possibly have come out of his supernatural experience with God recorded in 1Kings 3.

B. The Shulamite Woman-The Shulamite is depicted as a type of the Bride of Christ who eventually experiences full spiritual maturity.

1. She is introduced in the book as a young maiden who is fervent but immature. By the end of the story she is the mature Bride who is full of glory.

2. The name "Shulamite" is mentioned only once in the Song (6:13). Shunam was a very small city in Israel located several miles north of Jezreel. The maiden lived in the city of Shunam; therefore, she is called the Shulamite.

C. The Daughters of Jerusalem-A group that appears regularly throughout the Song, depicting those who are genuinely born again, but who never attain to the same level of spiritual intimacy as the Shulamite.

1. This group seems to personify the condition of immature believers in a very general way.

IV. COMPARING ECCLESIASTES AND THE SONG OF SONGS

A. The Message of Ecclesiastes

1. Solomon wrote three books in the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Ecclesiastes was written to expose the vanity of life apart from a loving relationship with God. Ecclesiastes emphasizes just how impossible it is to truly be satisfied with even the most desirable external circumstances. The book also depicts the endless wanderings of man who cannot find true spiritual rest apart from God.

B. The Message of the Song of Songs

1. The Song of Songs, in contrast, reveals the true joy of life that can be experienced in God regardless of external circumstances. It highlights just how meaningful life can be when our one consuming passion is to know and love the magnificent Lord Jesus. If the Book of Ecclesiastes is properly understood, it will lead to an awakened passion for God.

2. Ecclesiastes is in many ways a vital preparation for studying the Song of Songs because it's difficult to fervently seek the fullness of life in Jesus without understanding how futile life is outside of Christ.

PIf.,U: _

14

INTRODUCTION

The most dominant theme in the Song of Songs is the affection of God A diligent study of God's emotional capacities is absolutely essential for our own emotional health. We will be transformed when we understand the way God thinks and feels about us, especially in our weakness. The revelation of His enjoyment of our lives awakens us to spiritual pleasure. This pleasure enables us to enjoy Jesus as we overflow with affection back to Him. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). In a similar way, we can enjoy Him because He first chose to enjoy us.

I. THE CRY FOR BRIDAL KISSES (1:2a)

A. Defining the Kiss of God

1. The ''kiss of God" is a metaphor speaking of intimacy with Jesus. It's God's invitation to go deeper with Jesus.

a. We must not tty and picture Jesus kissing us on the mouth. This is entirely outside the boundaries of the will of God. The divine kiss is only a metaphor speaking of the deepest affections that God can give the human spirit. How appropriate it is for God to write about the deepest expressions of His affection through the language of bridal love.

2. The "kisses of God's mouth" are associated with the words that proceed out of the mouth of God. They speak of the Scriptures themselves that tenderize and empower our hearts in the love of God.

a. For the last 3,000 years Jewish rabbis have referred to this verse as the "kiss of God's Word" or the "kiss of the Torah."

3. The entire eight chapters of the Song of Songs unfold the implications related to the divine kiss. The "kiss of God" is the passion and theme of the Bride's life. It should be the passion of everyone who loves the Lord.

II. THE DIVINE KISS AND HOW IT SATISFIES VARIOUS LONGINGS OF THE HUMAN HEART

A. The Longing to Be Fascinated

1. The longing to be fascinated is satisfied by the revelation of the beauty of the Bridegroom King (psalm 27:4; Isaiah 33:17). The power to be deeply moved is something we all long for.

a. Secular entertainment builds on this human need. It exploits and destroys our hearts if we partake of it in wrong ways.

b. There is nothing more exhilarating than when God reveals Himself to the human spirit.

15

p~u: _

B. The Longing to Feel Beautiful (Handsome)

1. The longing to feel beautiful (handsome) is satisfied by the revelation of the divine beauty imparted to the redeemed (Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 90:17).

a. Our culture has an obsession with physical beauty as it seeks to answer this longing in a wrong way.

C. The Longing to Be Successful

1. The longing to be successful is satisfied by the revelation of the redeemed as enthroned with Jesus at His right hand (Revelation 3:21).

a. We will live among the royalty of heaven. We have been married into royalty. We will be among the aristocracy of eternity. We will reign together with Christ. We will share His throne, ruling over the vast eternal empire called the Kingdom of God. We will fully experience the nobility and honor for which we long.

D. The Longing for Intimacy Without Shame

1. The longing for intimacy without shame is satisfied by the revelation of the tender affections of the heavenly Bridegroom (Ephesians 5:31-32).

a. These affections tenderize our hearts so that we feel some of what He feels (Ephesians 3:17-19).

b. These affections enable us to experience intimacy in all of our life's experiences. He understands all our secrets. He knows our sin and shame. He has walked us through every sin in our lives. He has treated us with honor and dignity. He forgives us, feels our pain in failure, and protects us by not disclosing the vast majority of our sins. He even believes in us.

E. The Longing for the Assurance of Being Enjoyed

1. The longing for the assurance of being enjoyed is satisfied by the revelation of the finished work of the Cross, and God's emotional capacities (Luke 15:4-5; 8-10; 20).

a. Many of us are not able to experience the fundamental reality that God enjoys us. He wants to give us the ability to feel enjoyed and delighted in by Jesus even as we are growing and maturing. He wants us to feel pursued, desired, and sought after (approved and forgiven).

F. The Longing to Be Wholehearted and Passionate

1. The longing to be wholehearted and passionate is satisfied by the impartation of divine love to our hearts Oohn 17:26; Romans 5:5).

a. We deeply long to be abandoned to God and know the joy of lovesickness. ~'hen the Bride prays to know the kisses of God's mouth, she is asking for help to give her whole heart to God By nature we detest being bored, passive, disloyal and compromising.

b. It takes God's power for us to love God. It's exhilarating when God gives us the capacity to love Him back. It's His pleasure to impart this divine love to. our hearts.

I>~te: _

16

G. The Longing to Make a Lasting Impact

1. The longing to make a lasting impact is satisfied by the anointing for service that results in eternal rewards (Matthew 10:42).

a. We delight in sharing things that cause others to be exhilarated. We enjoy making significant contributions in the lives of others.

b. Each of us longs to walk in mature bridal partnership with Jesus and run with Him.

He wants us to be yoked together with Him as a partner in service in the great mandate that the Father has given Him to disciple the nations.

III. THE BRIDAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

A. The Introducing of the Bridal Paradigm

1. John the Baptist was the first to speak of himself and his personal ministry in the context of the bridal perspective (John 3:29).

2. Jesus was the first to introduce the bridal perspective to His disciples in His last sermon before the Cross (Matthew 22:1-13).

3. The apostle John pointed to the universal prominence of the bridal perspective of the Kingdom in the generation of the Lord's return (Revelation 22:17).

a. The bridal perspective of the Kingdom of God has been strategically reserved by God for the coldest, most lawless, fearful, demonic, and sexually perverted generation in history. It will heal this broken generation and empower the Church to overcome.

rv THE DIVINE KISS AND CULTIVATING GODLY INTENTIONS

A. Godly Intentions Versus Spiritual Maturity

1. We must distinguish between our intentions to passionately seek the Lord and our attainment of spiritual maturity. Our intentions speak of the cry of our hearts or setting the course of our hearts. If our intentions are established according to the Word of God, then our attainment of maturity will follow in due time. The problem with many is that they focus their attention on trying to measure their level of maturity, whereas they should be focused on setting the intentions of their hearts. When we focus on measuring the level of our maturity; we become vulnerable to two common spiritual problems:

a. If we feel like we're measuring up, then we can end up feeling proud about our achievements.

b. If we fail to measure up, we then feel ashamed. ~'e feel like quitting; we feel condemned. The Lord doesn't want us focused on our attainments.

2. The primary focus in the Word of God is to get people to focus on the beauty of Jesus and setting the intentions of their hearts on Him.

a. ~'hen we meditate on the beauty of Jesus and set the intentions of our hearts to obey, then He, Himself, will work in us until we experience spiritual maturity.

3. God defines our lives by what we want, not by what we have attained. The way we understand how God defines our lives determines how we think and feel about ourselves. He

17

!>Me: _

hears the cry of a willing spirit even though it's in the context of weak flesh. We get focused on our weak flesh, and we lose sight of the precious work He's doing in us. But the Father sees our willing spirits and defines our lives by the intentions of our hearts (DavidPsalm 18:16-19).

V. THE THREE-FOLD NATURE OF THE CRY FOR GOD'S KISSES

A. The Prophetic Cry for God's Kisses

1. The Holy Spirit is awakening a new cry in the hearts of His people. The ability to minister to others is not able to fully satisfy our hearts. The Church will never be satisfied apart from the kisses of God's mouth.

2. According to Deuteronomy 30:6, God is going to have a people that will love Him with all of their strength. The cry for the kisses of God is the next agenda of the Holy Spirit. It's to make the first commandment first place in the Body of Christ.

B. The Philosophical Cry for God's Kisses

1. The cry for God' kisses answers the question as to why we exist. It's our destiny to be lovers of God.

2. Being successful doesn't depend on what we've accomplished or what someone else has done for us. If we are loved by God and are a lover of God, then we are successful in the most absolute sense.

C. The Psychological Cry for God's Kisses

1. God has so designed our hearts that the experience of the love of God is the most enjoyable and pleasurable thing available to us. All the counseling in the world will never bring us the wholeness we long for apart from the pursuit of passionate love for God. We were made to cry for the kisses of His mouth.

VI. THE IMPARTING OF THE DIVINE KISS

A. How Jesus Communicates His Kiss to Us

1. Personal meditation on the Word of God is primarily His way of communicating His kiss to us.

2. The second way His kiss is communicated to us is by the Word of God given through others. His kisses can come to us through sermons, songs, or the testimonies of others. When we feel our hearts being moved, we are experiencing the kisses of God's Word to us through someone else.

3. The third way His kiss is communicated to us is through prophetic revelation by the Holy Spirit. It may come to us in the form of a dream or vision, or it may just come to us as an impression to your heart. These encounters have a real cleansing effect as they usually touch significant areas of underlying pain in our lives.

4. A fourth way His kiss is communicated to us is through the ministry of other people

a. His kiss can be experienced as others pray for us. During these times we can often feel the Holy Spirit resting on us.

p~~------------

18

b. Sometimes people can reveal the love of God to us through acts of kindness.

c. We can also feel the embrace of the Lord simply in the context of genuine friendship.

19

PA-U: _

Pt4,~ _

20

INTRODUCTION

In this section of our study, we will see that the "kisses of God" become the consuming passion of the Bride's life. She discovers that there is no pleasure on earth like the pleasure of God's affection.

I. THE SUPERIOR PLEASURES IN THE GRACE OF GOD (1:2-3)

A. The Motivation for Wanting the Kisses of God's Mouth

1. Song of Songs 1:2b provides us with the reason why the Bride so desperately wants the kisses of God's Word. She sums up the desires of her heart in the phrase-" ... for Your love is better than wine." She even uses the word "for" to signify the purpose of the kisses.

2. The revelation of His enjoyment of her life awakens in her the ability to enjoy Him. We also can enjoy God when we know He enjoys us even in our weakness. When we enjoy God, it's much easier to obey Him. It's what we could call "affection-based obedience."

3. To better experience the impact of the divine romantic language of this book, it would be good to periodically exchange the word "love" in the Song with words like "affection," "pleasure," or "embrace."

B. The Use of WIDe as a Metaphor

1. Wine is used as a metaphor in verse two because it exhilarates the heart.

2. Wine in this context also speaks of other issues-

a. It speaks of the best that earthly experience has to offer, as well as God's blessings.

b. It also speaks of the wine of sin's inferior pleasures.

3. The Bride is comparing the Bridegroom (lesus) to the most exhilarating experiences in life. \,{'hile there are many different categories of pleasure known to man, there is only one pleasure that is greater than all-it's the pleasure of God's affection.

C. Affection-Based Obedience

1. Affection-based obedience is obedience that flows out of experiencing Jesus' love and affection for us. His affection is much better than any of the wine of this world's pleasures. The revelation of His love is what breaks the power of sin more than anything else.

2. Obedience by faith, without feelings, is required regularly in the Word of God. However, the strongest kind of obedience is based on the understanding and experience of God's affection. A lovesick Bride embraces and endures anything for love (Song of Songs 8:7).

D. The Perfume of God (v. 3)

1. The perfume or ointments of God speak of Jesus' lovely personality, especially His passion and pleasure for His people.

21

!>A-te.: _

2. His fragrance isn't speaking of His actions. It's speaking of who He is, His thought life, and His emotional beauty.

3. Throughout the Song, perfume is pictured as thoughts and feelings. It expresses the beauty of what's on the inside of one's personality.

4. Second Corinthians 2:14 talks about the fragrance of Jesus Christ. God literally has fragrance; it's not just a metaphor.

5. We are further introduced to the sweet perfume of God's personality through the five verbs used in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:20).

a. The father "saw" his son.

b. He "felt" compassion.

c. He "ran" toward his son.

d. He "embraced" his son.

e. He ''kissed'' his son.

6. We can rest in the running, embracing, kissing heart of God. We should begin to see the Christian life as a life of being loved! He wants us to be His eternal companions.

7. God doesn't just enjoy us after we mature spiritually. He enjoys us throughout the process.

The understanding of this principle is essential for our spiritual growth. (Notice the way Jesus lovingly dealt with His disciples just prior to the Crucifixion. He knew they would fail Him; and yet, in John 17, He spoke of His Father's incredible love for them (John 17:23,26).

E. The Pouring Forth of His Name (v. 3c)

1. . The phrase "His name poured forth"- speaks of His attributes being openly revealed.

2. This phrase also speaks of Jesus' lovely and wise acts in redemption, as well as human history. The Bride now begins to see how wise and good His dealings are in her own personal life, as well as in history.

II. THE BRIDE MATURING IN LOVE (1:3e)

A. Seeing the Potential in Others

1. The virgins speak of the daughters of Jerusalem. They represent genuine, yet immature, believers.

2. The revelation of God's love as described in Song of Songs 1:2-3 produces a loving response back to God even from the weak daughters of Jerusalem. To see Him is to love Him.

3. The Bride saw love in these immature maidens instead of only seeing their shortcomings.

III. THE BRIDE'S TWO-FOLD LIFE VISION(1:4)

A. The Expression of Her Fervency

1. Her life vision is expressed in the prayer, ''Draw me away! We will run after You (Song of Songs 1:4a,b).

2. "Draw me away." This is her heart's cry for deeper intimacy.

J)p..te.: 22

a. She is also acknowledging that it takes God to love God, so she's asking Him to draw her (Romans 11:36).

3. 'We will run after You." This is her heart's cry for partnership in ministry with Jesus. She wants to be a lover of God and a servant of people.

4. Our life vision should contain both aspects of "drawing" and "running." But our "running" must come out of a growing intimacy with our Bridegroom.

B. The Growth of Her Fervency (v. 4c)

1. "The King has brought me into His chambers." The chamber experiences describe the ways that God carries us by granting us special experiences in His grace. The King's chamber is a bridal chamber. It's her private place in the Lord. The Bride's personal testimony with God develops through these various "chamber experiences," i.e. personal revelations, personal encounters, and special impartations of the Spirit.

2. The King's chamber is also a preparation place for the Bride's future radical obedience to Jesus. Our initial experiences of being drawn near to God are His gifts to strengthen our faith. The Lord is preparing us in the chamber to live in deep love for Him and to run with Him in active service.

3. The two-fold life vision of the Bride speaks of the two Great Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

4. Four Types of Christians (these are very general categories)-

a. Mary of Bethany-In a general way, she represents one with a single pursuit of passion for Jesus while lacking the public ministry and servanthood that characterized Martha's life.

b. Martha-In a general way, she represents one with compassionate service while lacking the pursuit of passion for Jesus that characterized Mary's life.

c. Paul-In a general way, he represents one who combines passion (intimacy) with compassion (servanthood).

d. Laodiceans-In a general way, these believers represent selfish, "consumer-Christians" that neither pursue passion or compassion.

C. The Certainty of Fervency (v. 4d,e)

1. 'We will be glad and rejoice in You. We will remember Your love more than wine." This is a prophetic encouragement given by the Bride to the virgin daughters of Jerusalem that they would eventually experience the delight of His love.

2. She also commits to recalling His love as a primary source of strength and cleansing for her soul.

3. "Rightly do they love You." She affirms the impact of God's fragrance on other believers who are referred to as virgins. She declares that even when the devil lies to them, they will remember that it's right and just to be lovers of God.

23

PA-1;e.: _

PA-te.: _

24

INTRODUCTION

We have studied the theme of the Song, which has revealed the Bride's resolute determination to experience the deep affection of her Husband's heart. In this section, we now come to the actual beginning of her spiritual journey. Her first experience introduces her to the "paradox of grace." She discovers the reality of her weak flesh, but she also sees that she is lovely to God in her God-given passion for Jesus and in her position in the grace of God Her first revelation of Jesus is as the "Counseling Shepherd" who compassionately leads her forward in her weakness.

I. THE PARADOX OF GRACE-"DARK, BUT LOVELY" (1:5)

A. The Bride's Two-Fold Confession (v. Sa)

1. Her first spiritual crisis and her first confession of faith are both described here. "I am dark, but lovely." God reveals to her the dark areas of her heart, but He also speaks of how lovely she is to Him. Although she finds herself struggling with her flesh, she begins to understand that her willingness to obey Jesus is lovely to the Father.

2. It's important to note that this passage isn't describing a person who is continually rebelling against God. These verses, instead, speak of a sincere believer who is struggling with weakness and immaturity.

3. To consistently grow spiritually requires that we know we are lovely to God while we are in the process of discovering the darkness of .our hearts. It's a real paradox for young believers to discover their sin, but at the same time discover God's love for them and their beauty in Him.

4. The real issue at hand is one of understanding God's passionate affections for us and His imparted beauty to our lives in the midst of our spiritual weakness.

5. Many people fail to grow in grace because in time of struggle, instead of running to Jesus for help and mercy, they run from Him. They make the same mistake that Peter initially made (Iohn 21:3-17). They misunderstand the personality of God. They give up, resign themselves to failure, and give into a mindset of shame. Yet we need to understand that a life of shame leads to a life of sin. If we feel dirty, then we will live as one who is unclean. The Lord doesn't want us to resign ourselves to a second-class status. The very presence of sincere desires in our hearts to obey Jesus is the beginning of victory.

6. God is committed to revealing the weakness of our flesh to us, not to condemn us but to liberate us through the power of His grace. This truth is further reinforced by the phrase " ... like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon" (l:Sc,d).

a. The tents of Kedar were grayish black tents. These tents were common in the geographic area outside of Jerusalem. They were made out of the dark skins of wild goats. They speak of the darkness of the flesh.

b. Solomon's curtains were bright white curtains in the holy place in the temple. These

25

p~~-------------

curtains were not seen in the outer court but were hidden from the common person. They speak of the inward work of grace and of God's glory in the believer's life.

c. Outwardly, people saw the Shularnite as the dark tents of Kedar, but inwardly, God saw her as lovely as the white curtains of Solomon.

d. According to the first part of verse six, it's apparent that she's still struggling with being self-conscious about her darkness. "Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me" (1:6a,b). She is ashamed that others can see her weakness.

e. When the Bride cries " ... the sun has tanned me" she's speaking of the impact of being born under the influence of sin. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, "life under the sun" spoke about life without God in the natural realm. Her former life has impacted her, scared her and marked her.

B. Four Reasons Why We Are Beautiful and Lovely to God in the Midst of Our Spiritual Immaturity and Struggles

1. The Finished Work of the Cross-We are lovely in His sight because of His work, not because of what we do. Our loveliness is comprised of possessing the gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our Bridegroom has wrapped us in the robes of His righteousness.

2. He Has Given Us a Willing Spirit Through the New Birth-The work of the Holy Spirit to produce a "Yes!" in our spirits appears beautiful to God. It is called a "willing spirit." Many underestimate how powerful this is to Jesus.

3. The Nature of God's Personality-The passion of God's heart determines how God feels toward us. Beauty is in the eyes of the Beholder. It's because of the heart of the Bridegroom that we are beautiful to God. If He were an angry God, then we would not be beautiful by virtue of our willing spirits.

4. The Bride's Destiny Before God as His Son's Future Possession-The certainty of our destiny as an adorned, embraced and enthroned Bride with Jesus is a substantial reality of our beauty.

II. HER SPIRITUAL CRISIS-REJECTION AND SHAME (1:6-7)

A. Five Specific Problems Related to Her Spiritual Crisis (v. 6b,7b)

1. Other believers reject her-"My mother's sons were angry with me."

a. Throughout the Book, the mother speaks of the family of God. She is described as the agent that was used to birth the Bride through the Holy Spirit (Song of Songs 3:4; 8:2,5).

b. The angry sons speak of older, carnal believers who may have been angry with her over her misguided zeal. The untempered zeal of young believers sometimes makes bored believers upset.

2. She is overworked-" ... they made me the keeper of the vineyards."

a. The angry sons give her many responsibilities and she eventually burns out.

b. Leaders that lack discernment in passion for Jesus tend to overwork those who are redhot for God.

p~~------------

26

c. Embracing responsibilities outside of God's grace is the place of burnout. Burnout doesn't come from hard work as much as from a religious yoke. A religious yoke consists of caring for responsibilities that men give us that are outside of the will of God.

3. She is distracted from her first love for her Bridegroom-" ... but my own vineyard I have not kept."

a. The vineyard speaks of her heart and life.

b. Taking care of her own vineyard means nurturing her personal communion with God and doing His will. She is saying in all of this, ''I've served in many areas of ministry, but my own passion for Jesus has diminished."

4. She feels shame from sin-"For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of Your companions."

a. In the ancient world, a veiled woman was a prostitute.

b. The Bride is not only aware of her weakness and immaturity, but she also feels used by others within the family of God

5. She is serving her Bridegroom at a distance-" ... why should I be ... by the flocks of Your companions?"

a. She has lost the sweetness in her communion with Jesus.

b. She is describing herself as living at a distance from the Lord.

III. THE BRIDE'S DESPERATE CRY FOR MORE OF THE BRIDEGROOM (1:7)

A. Her Hunger for God in the Midst of Her Crisis (v. 7)

1. She wants to get back to where she Was when Jesus first touched her and romanced her heart. "Tell me, 0 You whom I love, where You feed Your flock, where You make it rest at noon." She is desperate to touch Him and not just fill up her life with religious activity.

a. Noon speaks of the heat of the day. God wants us to be able to rest in the heat of life by seeking intimacy with Him.

rv THE BRIDEGROOM'S GLORIOUS ANSWER (1:8)

A. Jesus As the "Counseling Shepherd" (v. 8)

1. He begins with a general answer that reveals how He sees her-"O fairest among women."

The word translated as "fairest" is translated in most other versions of the Bible as "beautiful."

a. The Bridegroom speaks directly to her shame and rejection. He says, ''You may despise yourself and appear unlovely in the eyes of other believers, but you are still beautiful to Me."

b. He speaks to her heart and not to her mind. He is helping her to remember His love.

He is focusing on her loveliness and not her darkness of heart.

c. The phrase "fairest among women" speaks of how He looks at her in comparison to

27

p~~------------

the vast majority of the world's population who have no interest in Him.

B. His Three-Fold Answer to Her Dilemma (v. 8b)

1. He wants her to stay committed to the family of God-" ... follow in the footsteps of the flock."

a. ~ben we feel rejection and shame, we are often tempted to isolate ourselves from other believers and become bitter. The devil wants to draw us into isolation so that he can destroy us.

2. He wants her to take care of her God-given responsibilities-" ... feed your little goats."

a. He is calling her to limit herself to only taking care of the ones He has entrusted to her, instead of accepting responsibility for every need that comes her way.

3. He wants her to stay submitted to the spiritual authority He's placed over her-" ... beside the shepherd's tents."

a. The Bridegroom wants her to have an open heart before her leaders.

b. When we see the faults of imperfect leaders that God has put over us, we're tempted to no longer dwell by their "tents." Yet God uses imperfect shepherds to mature us and do deep things in our hearts.

V. THE BRIDE'S SINCERITY IS REAFFIRMED BY HER LOVER (1:9-U)

A. Three 1bings That Highlight the Loveliness of Her Willing Spirit Before God (vv. 9-11)

1. Her lover sees her strong desire to follow Him in righteousness-''I have compared you, my love, to My filly among Pharaoh's chariots."

a. The horse is a symbol of strength and power in the Bible. Pharaoh had the most highly skilled and trained horses in the world.

b. He is saying to her, "I am training you to carry the King Himself,"

c. He is saying to her, ''You are equipped in righteousness more than you understand. You may feel like a failure, but to Me you appear like a strong mare. You are in need of further training, but you are not repulsive to Me."

d. Jesus is always speaking to our potential. He sees the end from the beginning (Gideon, Judges 6:12).

2. Her Bridegroom sees her emotions rekindled again for Him-''Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments."

a. The cheeks speak of emotion throughout the Song. ~'hen you look at someone's cheeks, you can usually pick up on the emotions they're feeling at the time.

b. Ornaments are created by the skillful work of an artist to beautify an object. God is saying, ''Your emotions are lovely to Me; I have skillfully worked in you a "Yes!" for My Son."

c. Although God sees imperfections within our emotions, He also sees the passion in our emotions to follow Jesus.

3. God sees her desire to submit to His authority and her resolute will to obey Him-" ... your

PIf,U: 28

neck with chains of gold"

a. The neck speaks symbolically of the will. The Bible describes people who are stiffnecked as rebellious and stubborn.

b. The neck also speaks of godly submission.

c. Gold speaks of divine character. God is aware of our shortcomings, but He sees our willing spirits as chains of gold around our necks.

B. A Prophetic Promise (v. 11)

1. The phrase "We will make you" is a promise from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to complete the work they have begun in her (philippians 1:6). She will become a lover of God and a deliverer of people.

2. The Bride is promised that one day she will be Christ-like in her character. The phrase "ornaments of gold" speaks of divine character.

3. She is promised that she will be used to bring redemption to other people. She will be equipped to deliver others. The phrase "studs of silver" speaks of redemption.

29

P~te.: _

PA-U: _

30

INTRODUCTION

During this season of her life, the Bride is beginning to experience the joy of knowing God's affectionate love and passionate desire for her. It's an exhilarating time for her as she experiences the superior pleasures of the divine romance.

I. A SECOND REVELATION OF JESUS, EXPRESSING THE FATHER'S HEART (1:12)

A. The Unveiling of the Bridegroom as King (v. 12a)

1. In verse twelve, the Bride has her first glimpse of Jesus as the King who has all authority.

2. He is not just the kind and tender Lamb of God; He is also the Lion that roars with great passion for her. The Lion and the Lamb come together here in this verse.

3. It's from this position of authority that He speaks of His affection. Therefore, we can trust that His feelings for us will eternally prevail because He is the King of .Kings.

B. A Fresh Revelation of God's Provision Through the Cross (v. 12a)

1. Jesus, the King, expresses the revelation of the affectionate heart of the Father-" ... the king is at his table."

2. His table is the revelation of the provision of the Cross. He feeds His Bride's spirit on the truths of who He is and what He did for her. He again embraces and affirms her at His table. She partakes of the free gift of redemption.

3. There is an abundance of food at His table. When we forget the King's table, then our spirits will starve. Shame and guilt will overtake us.

II. THE BRIDE'S THREE-FOLD RESPONSE TO THE KING'S PROVISION (1:12b-14)

A. Spontaneous Worship (v. 12b)

1. " ... my spikenard sends forth its fragrance"-spikenard speaks of her spontaneous worship.

The unfolding revelation of the King's provision at His table produces a response of worship that ascends before God as perfume.

2. \X'hen God smells the fragrance of our lives, he smells the literal fragrance of His Son (2 Corinthians 2:15). Jesus has a fragrance that is a part of His divine Personality.

3. When the unfolding revelation of His table touches our hearts, our perfume of worship will ascend spontaneously and effortlessly to the Lord.

4. Many Christians are overwhelmed with condemnation and accusation. They feel no security in the Father's presence. Therefore, they can't enter into worship with open hearts because they're afraid they're going to be judged by God. They're always guarded in the presence of the Father.

31

Pp.,te.: _

· B. Continuous Meditations Upon the Cross (v. 13)

1. '~bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, that lies all night between my breasts"-myrrh was an expensive embalming fluid that often spoke of suffering and death.

2. Jesus was buried with myrrh. The phrase '~ bundle of myrrh" speaks of Jesus' death as an abundant death that was extravagandy expensive to God.

3. This myrrh lies all night next to her heart and permeates her spirit as she meditates upon the costly death of Jesus (Galatians 6:14).

4. The night speaks of the rime of darkness that she experiences in her weakness. Yet, she never gets tired of meditating on the Cross.

C. Her Declaration of His Beauty (v. 14a)

1. "My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms in the vineyards of En Gedi"-Jesus is to her as a cluster of lovely henna flowers filled with sweet fragrances. He is not a burdensome Lover but, instead, is sweet and delightful to her.

2. Religion has led us to believe that our heavenly Father is continually angry with His children. Yet God's heart toward us is gracious and filled with kindness (Romans 2:4; 1 John 5:3; Matthew 11:30).

3. Even His commandments are not burdensome when we understand who He is.

4. The phrase " ... in the vineyards of En Gedi" speaks of His indescribable sweetness as being intoxicating to her. The vineyards of En Gem had the greatest fragrances in Israel, They depict the most intense fragrances imaginable.

5. This phrase speaks of the idea of worshipping God without a guarded spirit (1 John 4:17- 18). The knowledge of the love of God drives tormenting fear out of our relationship with Him. All fear of rejection must be abolished.

6. Worshipping God without a guarded spirit is vital to our spiritual growth. Many believers worship God with their hearts guarded. They are fearful that Jesus is condemning and rejecting them.

III. THE REVELATION OF HER BEAUTY TO GOD (1:15)

A. Her Beauty in His Grace (v. 15)

1. ''Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes"-the Bridegroom again emphasizes her beauty to Him in this season of her life.

2. He convinces her of her beauty even though she is still spiritually immature. God sees weak people as beautiful to Him through the grace of Jesus. As long as we feel dirty or full of shame, we will draw back from Him instead of running into His arms.

3. ''You have dove's eyes"-a dove speaks of singleness of purpose. A dove does not have peripheral vision; its focus is clearly set on the object in front of it.

4. A dove also speaks of singleness of devotion. Doves mate for life. If one of them dies, the other never mates again.

!>JI,f;e.: 32

5. Jesus views the Bride as having singleness of vision. He magnifies her desire to be totally devoted and faithful to Him.

IV. THE BRIDE'S THREE-FOLD RESPONSE TO GOD'S AFFECTION (1:16-17)

A. Her Revelation of Jesus' Beauty (v. 16a)

1. "Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasantl"-His loveliness penetrates her spirit. She is overcome with the wonder of His love.

2. When Jesus appears pleasant to the soul of a believer, then full obedience seems so reasonable. When we truly understand the fact that He enjoys us, we start to enjoy Him.

B. Her Abundant Rest in Jesus (v. 16b)

1. " ... our bed is green"-the bed speaks of rest and security with no fear of judgment or rejection from Jesus.

2. It is a green bed or a luxuriant couch. TIlls speaks of abundance. The Bride rests in the love of God because of the abundance of His love.

3. The phrase "our bed" speaks of the two of them being totally joined together in God's grace as co-heirs.

C. Her Assurance of an Eternal House of Intimacy and Security (v. 17)

1. "The beams of our houses are cedar, and our rafters of fir" -the beams and rafters provide the structure for their house. They are made of hard and strong wood. Cedar and fir trees were both used in the building of the temple.

2. Wood is symbolic of humanity throughout the Old Testament.

3. Jesus became a Man and provided a safe and permanent house for His Bride.

V. THE BRIDE'S IDENTITY AS JESUS' BEAUTIFUL INHERITANCE (2:1)

A. Her Discovery of Who She Really Is in Christ (v. 1)

1. "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" -this is her highest identity as the Bride of Christ. She now sees herself as the inheritance that the Father has promised His Son.

2. Some commentaries suggest that Jesus is the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley, but according to verse two, Jesus identifies the lily as the Bride. The rose and the illy have the same identity.

3. The Father has chosen and cultivated a Bride for His Son. TIlls rose is the fullness of everything that Jesus desires outside of the Godhead.

4. The phrase "lily of the valleys" speaks of the Bride's purity in contrast to the dark and lowly places in this fallen world.

33

PA-U: _

VI. THE BRIDE'S UNIQUE VALUE AND BEAUTY TO CHRIST (2:2)

A. Jesus Affirms Her Beauty (v. 2)

1. ''Like a lily among thoms, so is my love among the daughters"-thoms speak of sin. She is a breath of fresh air to Him, as she desires to live a life of purity while living in a world of SIn.

VIT. THE BRIDE'S UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS' UNIQUE VALUE AND BEAUTY (2:3)

A. Her Introductory Experience of Spiritual Enjoyment and Rest (v. 3)

1. ''Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste"-she now sees His unique value to her as the refreshing apple tree. In verse five, the apple tree speaks of that which refreshes.

2. The phrase "trees of the woods" speaks of all the other men of the world. She realizes that He is the most refreshing person in all of existence.

3. She is resting in the shade of who He is and what He did for her. She is not trying to motivate God to love her through her good works. She sits in His shade, relating to Him on the basis of the finished work of the Cross (His fruit), and not on her degree of maturity.

4. She's experiencing God's enjoyment of her. It awakens in her a fresh enjoyment of His presence.

5. Being enjoyed by God and, in turn, enjoying Him is essential for growing and maturing.

VIII. THE PROVISION THAT LEADS TO HER REST AND JOY (2:4)

A. The Nourishment That Sustains Her (v. 4a)

1. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love"-the Bridegroom takes the initiative and brings her to the wine house, the place of celebration. It speaks of the celebration of His love.

2. Sometimes the Lord brings us to the banqueting table by shutting doors. He hems us in and won't let us go our own way. This is one of His unique ways of drawing us closer to Him.

B. The Confession That Brings Healing (v. 4b)

1. His banner speaks of the flag that defines her life and experience in God. Ancient armies would march in battalions under a specific flag and color that described and defined who they were.

2. The banner of His love defines her life in at least three areas-

a. The banner of love over her means that she can have confidence in God's loving mercy even in her weakness. The banner over her life is not rejection when she stumbles. It's love.

b. The banner of His love enables her to see that Her Bridegroom will overrule all the

PI4-U: _

34

negative circumstances of her life and will eventually turn things around for her ultimate good.

c. She now finds her comfort in the banner of His love rather than in the comforts of sin.

IX. THE BRIDE'S CRY FOR A DEEPER EXPERIENCE OF INTIMACY (2:5)

A. Seeking to Enjoy More of the Depths of Jesus (v. 5)

1. "Sustain me with cakes of raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am lovesick" -she is praying, "Give me more of God"

2. The cakes of raisins speak of the Holy Spirit. Raisins are a form of grapes, which are used to make wine. This depicts the ministry of the Holy Spirit. She can't take the full 'wine of the wine house as of yet, but she does want more of His Spirit.

3. The phrase "Sustain me" reveals her confidence to ask for more. Her Lover isn't feeding her in a harsh manner. Therefore, she desires to be refreshed with more of His Spirit.

4. The phrase "for I am lovesick" speaks of two things-

a. «Feelings of love"-those times when He releases the sense of His presence upon our hearts.

b. "Spiritual hunger pains"-those unpleasant feelings of desperation as God appears to withhold His tangible, felt presence from us.

c. Both aspects are valuable to us. Although they are very different forms of lovesickness, they will eventually bring us to the same place.

X. EXPERIENCING GOD'S EMBRACE (2:6)

A. The Two-Fold Activity of God in Her Experience (v. 6)

1. "His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me"-there is a very powerful sequence of events taking place here. In response to her cry for more, her Lover is now releasing His embrace upon her.

2. The phrase "His left hand is under my head" speaks of the invisible activity of God. The left hand of God is away from her view because it is behind her head.

3. The Lord is sparing her from troubles and pains that she is not aware of The left-hand activity of God is something she accepts by faith, but it's really an important part of her worship.

4. There are so many things Jesus does for us behind the scenes that, if nothing else, we should experience an incredible security in His love.

5. The phrase "his right hand embraces me" speaks of the sweet, manifest presence of God that can be seen, felt and discerned. It's this cherished embrace that continues to tenderize her heart.

XI. JESUS GUARDS HER IN THIS SEASON OF HER EXPERIENCE (2:7)

A. The Necessity of the Bride Experiencing This Short Season of Personal Satisfaction (v. 7)

35

PIl-U: _

1. "I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it (she) pleases"-Jesus is solemnly charging other believers not to disrupt her during this strategic season of her life.

2. The phrase "daughters of Jerusalem" refers to immature believers who do not understand the various operations of the Spirit or the different seasons one can experience in the Lord. There are seasons in believers' lives when the Lord seeks to establish them in the revelation of His love, and He doesn't want them doing a lot of religious activity.

3. The phrase "by the gazelles or by the does of the field" speaks of the importance of gendeness in relating to the young Bride in this season of her life. A gazelle or doe can be very easily starded and scared. Jesus is concerned that the harshness of religious opinions and legalism will be detrimental to the Bride's spiritual growth because she's still not grounded in the love of God the way she's going to be in the future.

4. In the phrase "until it pleases" the Hebrew can be translated as "it," "he" or "she." The New American Standard Version translates the phrase as "don't awaken love until she pleases." I believe the NAS puts it best. The Lord is talking to the daughters; the Bride is not talking to the Lord.

5. If the Hebrew word was translated "He," then it would refer to the Lord being awakened or stirred to action by the daughters of Jerusalem. Yet the Lord doesn't need to be awakened. The Lord doesn't need to be protected from harsh treatment by immature believers.

Pp.,1;e.: 36

INTRODUCTION

In Song of Songs 1:5-7, the Bride experienced her first spiritual crisis as she faced the "paradox of grace." Now in 2:8, she confronts her second spiritual crisis. Her Bridegroom is seeking to awaken her to bring her out of her "comfort zone" and into mature partnership with Him. Yet, she's afraid and doesn't want to be disturbed. She's still not sure she can completely trust Him. However, the Bridegroom continues to call to her as He seeks to reveal Himself to her as the Sovereign King.

I. THE THIRD REVELATION OF JESUS-THE SOVEREIGN KING (2:8-17)

A. The Bride's Fresh Revelation of Her Bridegroom (vv. 8-9)

1. "The voice of my bdoved"-Jesus is now awakening her heart with His voice. He wants her full and undivided attention.

2. ''Behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills"-Jesus is seen as the King who overcomes human and demonic obstacles.

a. Mountains are symbolic of human and demonic hindrances. They also speak of natural and spiritual governments.

b. These spiritual governments represent principalities and powers. Jesus is seen here easily triumphing over all demonic powers (See Isaiah 2:2).

c. Hills speak of personal difficulties in the believer's life. They are much smaller than the mountains of oppression in the nations.

3. "My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag"-a gazelle is an animal that can easily run in high places.

a. This phrase speaks of Jesus as a triumphant leaping gazelle with boundless energy who has no problem leaping over all mountains (enemies, obstacles and demonic strongholds).

b. The "heavenly Stag" depicts Jesus fearlessly conquering all of His opposition.

B. The Bride's Wall of Isolation and Self-Protection (v. 9b)

1. ''Behold, he stands behind our wall; he is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice"-Jesus is standing, ready for action. Normally throughout the Bible, Jesus is pictured sitting at the right hand of His Father.

a. When the Lord is pictured as standing, very powerful things usually happen (See Acts 7:55-56; Revelation 3:20).

2. " ... he stands behind our wall"-the Bride is sitting in security behind a wall. It's a wall of self-protection that shuts out the world with its problems and the needs of others.

a. She refers to the wall as "our" wall. It was a wall they had built together. Initially, He

37

PJ4-U: _

had isolated her behind the wall in order for her to be nurtured in His love. However, at this point in her spiritual experience, Jesus is trying to draw her out of her private world of self-concern.

3. " ... he is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice"-Jesus built the wall with strategic openings so He could deeply touch her. He is wooing her in love. He knows how to touch her in a way that will bring her out of her isolation.

C. The Bride Called Out of Her Comfort Zone to Co-Labor With Him (v. 10)

1. " ... Rise up, my love, my fair one"-Jesus continues the divine romance as He trains His Bride.

a. Many believers are content to do the work of ministry without continually being drawn into the divine romance. They serve in a task-oriented way, instead of a loveoriented way. Ministry without intimacy produces bumout.

b. Bridal partnership is totally different. As we adore the Lord in our obedience and service, we become free from striving.

2. " ... Rise up, ... and come away"-Jesus calls her to arise in order to come with Him on the mountains. I t's time for war. He's ready for action. He wants her off the bed and out from behind the wall.

a. She doesn't want to take the risks associated with walking by faith.

b. She doesn't like the struggles of spiritual warfare.

c. God challenges the comfort zone in our lives in many different ways. He uses new ministry opportunities, new relationships, new jobs, new moves, as well as new issues in church life.

d. Jesus' actions in wooing her are necessary to bring her to mature partnership. He does seven distinct things: He comes, He leaps, He skips, He looks, He stands, He gazes, and He speaks.

D. The Bride Encouraged by Signs of the Harvest (vv. 11-13)

1. "For 10, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone"-Jesus reminds her of His faithfulness to her in the past. The winter speaks of trials and tests (4:16). The fruitfulness from the winter season of her life is now apparent.

a. It's as if Jesus is saying to her, <'1 helped you in your trials. Why do you think I'll forget you when we go up the mountain together? Why are you so afraid?"

b. The "winter': rain also speaks of the trials and tests that try to chill our faith.

c. Jesus is also clearly suggesting that harvest time is close at hand (See John 4:35).

2. "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land"-the flower appears on the vine just before the fruit comes. These flowers are prophetic signs of a soon coming harvest.

a. The winter is over. There is singing as the celebration of the harvest begins.

b. The voice of the turtledove was heard in the land of Israel at harvest time.

3. "The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away"-figs grow even in the winter season.

P~te.: 38

The fig puts forth the green figs just before the mature figs.

a. The signs of the promised fruitfulness are in abundance for all who are looking for evidence of the harvest.

b. The fragrance of the tender, immature grapes is starting to come forth. Harvest time is cOmlng.

c. Jesus urgendy calls to her again to come out of her "comfort zone" in order to experience the coming harvest.

E. The Bride Embraced in Her Weakness (v. 14)

1. "0 my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely"-the Lord reveals His tender heart of affection for her even in her struggle with fear. He calls her to confidence in her time of weakness.

a. He still calls her His dove even though He knows she's going to give into fear. He still sees the sincerity of her heart and her devotion to Him.

b. Jesus sees her through the finished work of the Cross. The "cleft of the rock" was the place where God hid Moses when He manifested His glory. It was a place of protection for Moses so that the light of God's glory would not consume him.

c. The cleft of the rock is a symbol of salvation through the Cross. The Bride was being hidden in her Bridegroom's redemption.

d. Jesus also sees His Bride through His resurrection. The "secret places" speak of the mystery of the resurrection.

e. The New King James Version translates this phrase "the secret place of the clif£" The cliff ascends upward (resurrection life).

f. The Bride is to come to Jesus with confidence even in the midst of her weakness. She is to find her safety in His grace-the cleft and the cliff

g. God wants to hear her worship even in this time of crisis. He wants her to run to Him and not from Him. Her voice is sweet to Him and her face lovely. He knows that she's going to compromise for a period, but He also knows that it's because of fear and not rebellion.

F. The Bride's Prayer for Deliverance From Compromise (v. 15)

1. "Catch us the foxes, the litde foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes"foxes were cunning litde animals that destroyed the vineyards in Israel under cover of night.

a. The foxes speak of the little areas in her life that are still holding her in bondage-fear etc.

b. The phrase "Catch the foxes" expresses the cry of her heart as she realizes that she can't overcome these areas of her life on her own. She's appealing to her Lover to deal with these areas of compromise in her life.

c. She now is beginning to see that these small areas are important because they are destructive to her life of deeper intimacy with her Bridegroom.

d. Her "tender grapes" speak of her immature spiritual life. She's not mature, yet she has a

39

P~te: _

sincere desire to go after the deeper things that Jesus will give her.

G. The Bride's Sincere Love Expressed (v. 16).

1. "My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies"-her sincere love for Jesus is expressed in the midst of stumbling.

a. She has confidence that she has not lost her place in God's heart. She knows the Lord did not cast her aside because of her struggle. She isn't rebellious; she isn't a hypocrite. She's committed, yet not fully victorious and mature.

b. In Song of Songs 1:13-14, her initial focus was only on her own spiritual pleasure. This was acceptable to Jesus as a beginning place in the grace of the Father. But now, according to 2:16, she's realizing more than ever before that she belongs to Him. She adds a new dimension of His ownership to her life. She sees the necessity of loving Him because she's His inheritance.

c. The lilies depict pure white innocence (2:1-2; 5:3,13; 6:2-3). The word "lilies" is also in the plural. This speaks of those within the family of God, outside the wall of isolation, who are also seeking the life of extravagant love for Jesus.

d. In Song of Songs 1:7, she asks her Lover, 'Where do you feed your flock?" In verse sixteen of chapter two, she realizes more than ever before that she'll be fed among the family of believers who desperately want the Lord. She knows they are weak like her, yet willing to go all the way with God. Therefore, they're pure before God as lilies.

H. The Bride's Painful Compromise (v. 17)

1. ''Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether"-her compromise is seen in that she tells Him to turn and go to the mountains without her.

a. She's saying, ''Until I'm more mature, and I've dealt with all the areas of my life that are weak, I don't fed I'm qualified to partner with you in ministry."

b. How many of us have felt the same way.

c. The word ''Bether'' in the Hebrew literally means "the separation." The Bride understands the coming sense of separation she'll fed in their relationship because of her unwillingness to follow her Lover to the mountains. She knows in her heart that she was made to live on the mountains with Jesus in radical love and bridal partnership. Yet, she tells Him to be like a gazelle and young stag and conquer His enemies without her. She knows that she still loves Him, but she's not ready to venture out with Him.

p~~------------

40

INTRODUCTION

In Song of Solomon 2:8-17, the Lord challenged the Bride to come out of her comfort zone and partner with Him in ministry. This was part of the answer to her prayer, ''Draw me away! We will run after you" (1:4). Yet, she doesn't want to face the challenges that await her. She's too comfortable experiencing the pleasures of the Lord's presence. Therefore, her Lover disciplines her by removing His manifest presence from her. He is not angry with her; He's jealous for her. He wants her to share in deeper partnership with Him.

I. THE LORD'S MANIFEST PRESENCE IS WITHDRAWN (3:1-3)

A. The Young Bride Experiences Divine Discipline (v. 1)

1. "By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him"-the Bride stays behind the wall of isolation and continues to pray on her bed, eating raisin cakes instead of leaving the comfort zone. Jesus refuses to manifest Himself to her until she obeys Him, because He loves her too much to leave her in the position she finds herself

2. The Lord's withdrawal of His manifest presence in her life depicts her inability to feel His presence.. It has nothing to do with the security of her salvation but, instead, her ability to discern His nearness to her heart.

3. There are times when the Lord strategically lifts the sense of His presence from our lives to communicate various things to our hearts-

a. He humbles us by causing us to be aware of our need for Him.

b. He alerts us to problems in our own hearts.

c. He awakens in us deeper hunger for Him.

4. The Lord's fiery, passionate love for us compels Him to discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-12).

God's jealousy for us is a "good" jealousy. His affections for us are like a fire that consumes everything in our lives that keeps us from experiencing more of Him.

5. The holiness of God has several unique dimensions to it. God's holiness is more than just His hatred of sin. The word "holy" is derived from a word that is often used to convey the ideas of "distinction" or "uniqueness." When understood properly, the very subject of holiness reveals God's unique, distinct passion for weak, broken people. He is completely "other than" anyone else. His mercy and love are holy or unique from all others (Isaiah 55: 7-9).

B. The Nighttime of Her Spiritual Life (v. 1)

1. ''By night on my bed I sought the one I love"-night seasons are in the divine plan of God.

2. St. John of the Cross, in the sixteenth century, spoke of the "dark night of the soul." He was referring to a time of spiritual affliction or difficulty that occurs when the Lord appears to withdraw His presence from our lives.

41

PA-U: _

3. The "nighttime" can also refer to a season of failure in one's life and the desperation that follows in trying to seek the Lord.

C. The Breach in Their Relationship (v. 1)

1. ''By night on 'my' bed ... "-it is now her bed instead of their bed (1:4,16). It was their bed or couch at one time. They are not in deep bridal partnership at this time. There is a breach in their relationship.

D. The Young Bride Earnestly Seeks the Lord (v.. 1)

1. ''By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him but I did not find him-she's using all the proven spiritual principles from her past in order to find Him.

2. Her Lover wants her to find Him by rising up in the dark season of her life. It's easy to give up in the dark times. He wants her to rise up, not give up.

3. He wants her to seek Him, but not like she had done at other times. He wants her to stir herself up, not out of hype or legalism, but out of desperation in order to take hold of Him ill a new way.

4. The Bride is still sincere in her love for her Bridegroom. She's not a hypocrite because she's given in to fear. She's still a lover of God.

5. Many Christians believe they are hopeless hypocrites every time they encounter their weak flesh. Yet, it's important for us to understand that we can still call Him "the One I love" before every area of our lives is spiritually mature.

E. The Young Bride Adds Obedience to Her Prayers (v. 2)

1. "I will rise now," I said, '''\nd go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but I did not find him" -she rises up to obey the command given her in Song of Songs 2:10,13.

2. The disappointment of losing the sense of His presence motivates her to leave her comfort zone.

3. She adds obedience to her spiritual disciplines. She saw that prayer alone would not solve her problems in this situation.

F. The Young Bride Seeks Help From the Family of God (v. 3)

1. "I will rise now ... and go about the city"-the city speaks of the family of God (Hebrews 12:22-23).

2. Going to the city speaks of involvement with others because the city is where corporate life and activity occur in the greatest measure.

3. She feels vulnerable, but she seeks to go where her Lover can be found. She knows there are risks involved in pursuing Him (spiritual warfare, conflict and danger).

4. "The watchmen who go about the city found me"-the watchmen were responsible to oversee the affairs of the city, as well as to ''watch'' so the city was not attacked by their enemies. The watchmen refer to the leaders within the family of God. They noticed that

!>A-U: 42

the young Bride was troubled.

5. I said, "Have you seen the one I love?"-the Bride humbles herself before her leaders and asks for their help and assistance. Her humility expressed in recognizing her need of help from others is a new discipline in her life that is quickly rewarded with the return of the sense of His presence.

II. THE LORD'S PRESENCE RETURNS IN RESPONSE TO HER OBEDIENCE (3: 4)

A. She Finds Jesus as She Rises up to Seek Him in the City (v. 4)

1. "Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me"-the Lord suddenly renews His presence in response to her obedience.

2. She discovers a new holy embrace that results from her painful season of spiritual struggle. 1bis tender place in God is part of the divine romance. 1bis was God's main purpose in withholding His presence from her. He knew her struggle would ignite a deep fire in her heart.

3. The blessing of the Lord returns quickly to her because of her new depth of obedience and humility.

4. " ... I. .. brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me"-her obedience extends to the service of others.

5. Her mother is another picture of her spiritual family. In Revelation 12:5, the people of God are represented as a mother that births the man-child. The Bride is bringing Jesus, and the insights she's experienced in her journey with Him, to those who are the closest to her. She is now an anointed ambassador of her Lover.

6. The chambers speak of the intimate places of life. The Bride is now effectively serving those within the family of God. They respect her by giving her access to the chambers of their hearts because they trust her heart and wisdom in the Lord.

III. JESUS GUARDS HER IN THIS SEASON OF HER EXPERIENCE (3: 5)

A. The Lord's Admonition to Other Believers (v. 5)

1. "I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it (she) pleases"-the Lord's admonition to other believers is to not pressure the Bride to move on until she is prepared.

2. The Lord has each of us on a spiritual course that is tailor-made just for who we are and where we are going. Her Lover doesn't want other believers to disturb her. He doesn't want her disrupted from this particular season of her life by unsanctified mercy and false comfort that would undermine His discipline.

3. Spiritually insensitive and immature people sometimes foolishly talk fervent, young believers into various forms of compromise in the name of grace. They end up distracting these young believers from the work of discipline the Spirit is trying to accomplish in their lives. Jesus is solemnly telling other believers not to disrupt her in this strategic season.

43

/)14-1;e.: _

p~~------------

44

INTRODUCTION

This is the fourth revelation of Jesus in the Song. In this section of our study, the Bride teaches the daughters of Jerusalem her new discoveries of the safe leadership of Christ.

I. THE AJL.IMPORTANT QUESTION (3:6)

A. The Rhetorical Nature of the Question (v. 6)

1. <CWho is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the merchant's fragrant powders?"-this is a rhetorical question asked by the Bride to highlight to the daughters of Jerusalem the ascension of Jesus after His

incarnation and crucifixion. .

2. The Bride is proclaiming to the daughters (immature believers) her new discoveries of Jesus' safe leadership. She wants them to realize that Jesus' incarnation and death prove that He has their good in mind. Jesus is their triumphant King and has great power and wisdom.

B. The Necessity of the Wtlderness in God's Plan (v. 6)

1. <CWho is this coming out the wilderness ... "-the wilderness speaks of several things:

a. The wilderness speaks of life in this fallen world

b. The wilderness speaks of times of intense testing.

c. The wilderness speaks of a season of spiritual warfare against Satan.

d. The wilderness also speaks of the place of encountering God.

2. Jesus spent thirty-three years in the wilderness of this fallen world. He laid aside His divine privileges and fully identified with humanity.

3. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness encountering His Father's presence, as well as the onslaughts of the Devil.

C. Jesus' Victory Over the Wtlderness (v. 6)

1. "Who is this coming out of ... "-Jesus ascended back to the Father in total victory. This was illustrated in His resurrection from the dead. The host of heaven witnessed Jesus coming up out of the wilderness of this fallen world after the resurrection as He took His position at the Father's right hand.

2. Jesus' victory over this fallen world makes Him a sympathetic High Priest who understands the temptations of those who belong to Him (Hebrews 4:15).

3. Jesus doesn't stand at a distance, commanding us to come up to His level. He feels what we're going through in our quest to come out of the wilderness victoriously. He experienced human life in this fallen world.

45

p~u: __

4. Jesus came out of the wilderness in victory. Therefore, we do not have to be afraid of trusting Him and obeying Him. We are yoked together with the One who conquered the wilderness.

D. Jesus Ascends to Heaven in the Glory of God (v. 6)

1. "Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke ... "-smoke speaks of the glory and wonder of God

2.. Smoke is a manifestation of God's holy presence (Exodus 19:18; Isaiah 6:1-4; Revelation 15: 8).

3. The Bride describes Jesus as being like a pillar of smoke, manifesting the wonder of God's glory.

E. The Fragrance of the Ascended Christ (v. 6)

1. " ... perfumed with myrrh and frankincense ... "-He is perfumed with two very significant things:

a. Myrrh speaks of the fragrance of Jesus' suffering and His finished work on the Cross.

b. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His intercession for those who belong to Him (Hebrews 7:25).

2. If Jesus suffered for His Bride, how much more will He protect her.

F. Jesus' Commitment to the Bride (v. 6)

1. " ... with all the merchant's fragrant powders?"-the Bride describes a third aspect of His divine fragrance. He was perfumed with all the merchant's fragrant powders.

2. There are two applications in interpreting the "merchant" in the parables of Jesus (Matthew 13:44-45).

a. First of all, Jesus is the merchant who saw the beautiful pearls and sold all that He had to obtain them. The pearls speak of those who make up His Bride.

b. Secondly, we are the merchants who sell everything to follow Him.

3. The merchants were scented with perfume as a result of handling the expensive powders in the marketplace. This refers to the fragrance of Christ to God as He embraced the Cross.

4. Jesus did everything to secure our eternal safety. He's presently doing everything necessary to bring us ''home'' safely. As believers, we're protected by His work on the Cross (myrrh), as well as His continued intercession (frankincense). He is a "safe" Savior because He is the merchant who gave up everything to redeem us. \V'e have no need to be afraid to follow Him.

II. THE BRIDE'S FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF JESUS' PROTECTION (3:7-8)

A. The Startling Announcement of His Royal Procession (v. 7)

1. ''Behold, it is Solomon's couch, with sixty valiant men around it, of the valiant of Israel"Solomon is a type of King Jesus throughout the Song.

PA-U: 46

2. Solomon's couch speaks of Jesus resting on His couch, triumphant over all His enemies.

3. The sinner may find rest on His couch through the finished work of the Cross. It's the place where we're seated with Him. Our eternal destination is to sit on Jesus' wedding couch with Him as His Bride.

B .. The Believer's Extravagant Security in the Gospel (v. 7)

1. " ... with sixty valiant men around it, of the valiant of Israel" -the guards speak of security for those on His couch. Sixty guards speak of extravagant protection.

2. In viewing this Song as an actual love story, the guards are coming to escort the young bride through the wilderness to the King's palace.

3. In viewing this Song as an allegory, which depicts Jesus' love for His Bride, we see the young Bride in the wilderness of this fallen world surrounded by heavenly "guards" escorting her to heaven.

4. In the times of Solomon, a royal wedding party would be surrounded by bodyguards because enemies who wanted to harm the royal family and steal the gold from the wedding ceremony would often try to ambush them.

5. " ... of the valiant of Israel"-the native-born bodyguards were true Israelites who loved the King. They were not mercenaries who would flee if the pressure was too great.

6. "Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night"-an officer with sword girded on the thigh is a soldier ready for action. This speaks of diligence and effectiveness in warfare.

7. In Psalm 45:3, Jesus is asked to gird His sword on His thigh. This depicts His intercession for us, as well as His absolute power over all the forces of darkness. The Lord promises to keep us with great power (Jude 24).

8. The phrase " ... because of fear in the night" speaks of the powers of darkness. The swords of the guards are drawn ready for the attacks of the enemy during the night season in the wilderness.

III. JESUS' REDEMPTION OF THE BRIDE (3:9-10)

A. Her Redemption Described (vv. 9-10)

1. "Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King made himself a palanquin: He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple; its interior paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem"-our spiritual safety is established in the divinely orchestrated plan of God to accomplish eternal redemption for us through the death of His Son.

2. " ... Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin"-Solomon is a type of Christ throughout the Song. A "palanquin" was a portable chair or couch. It was enclosed with curtains and carried on poles by royal attendants. The couch was used for a queen-to-be on her wedding day. It was very luxurious and comfortable. It varied in size and splendor according to the wealth of the king.

47

!>p.,te.: _

3. The phrase " ... Made himself" speaks of Jesus' finished work on the Cross.

4. "Of the wood of Lebanon ... "-wood throughout the Old Testament speaks of hwnanity.

The couch wasn't made by a distant God. It was made by a God who was willing to become flesh and pay the price Himself.

5. "He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple"-Jesus' redemption of the Bride is further described here.

a. "Silver" in the Word of God speaks of redemption. The supporting structure of the chair that would be used to carry the Bride to her wedding was firmly supported by the wisdom and power of God Himsel£

b. "Gold" depicts divine character. The protective railings around the seat were of gold. In other words, the security of the Bride is established in the character of God. His protective railing is around the "Gospel couch." The Bride can't fall out of the chair because of the protection provided for her in the wisdom of God.

c. " .. .its seat of purple" speaks of royalty and authority. The seat the Bride is sitting on has been established on the Father's authority. Therefore, she can rest on the Gospel, knowing that nothing can overthrow it.

d. " ... its interior paved with love (for) the daughters of Jerusalem"-the affections of Jesus are foundational to His redemptive work on the Cross. It's the work of Jesus for the daughters, not the work of the daughters for Jesus. The King James Version is a better translation here.

rv THE BRIDE'S EXHORTATION (3:11)

A. The Bride's Encouragement to Young Believers (v. 11)

1. "Go forth, 0 daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart"-the daughters of Jerusalem are referred to as the daughters of Zion. The Bride is using the same method in encouraging their growth as was effective in encouraging her own growth. She speaks prophetically according to who they will become through the grace of God.

2. The Bride also admonishes the young believers to gaze on their King. It's the revelation of Jesus as a "safe" Savior and King that will always make the difference in the lives of believers ..

3. " ... with which his mother crowned him ... "-the phrase "his mother" refers to the family of God (the Church). The people of God crown Jesus as King when they respond to His lordship in their lives.

a. Revelation 19:12 says that Jesus is crowned with many crowns. Yet, there's a crown that He wants more than all other crowns. He wants the crown of the voluntary love of His Bride (Isaiah 62:3).

4. " ... on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart"-Jesus is pictured as receiving His Bride with the happiness and joy of a Bridegroom (Isaiah 62). If there's any doubt about how Jesus feels about us and the day of His wedding, this phrase in the Song should dispel it. It will be the day of the gladness of His heart, as well as ours.

INTRODUCTION

In this section of our study, we are introduced to the first words the Bridegroom speaks to His Bride after her season of discipline. Jesus prophetically affirms eight developing virtues in the young Bride's life. These affirmations are a part of the Lord's strategy to protect His Bride against Satan's accusations. Jesus calls forth these developing virtues in her life in order for her to fearlessly obey Him. Very few of us understand this concept. Jesus nourishes and cherishes His Bride in order to remove the stain of sin from her heart. He nourishes her by affirming her willing spirit. He doesn't define her life by her external struggles; instead, He defines her life by the longings He put in her. It's not that He doesn't see her struggles; rather, He chooses to speak to her potential and deal with her accordingly. The only proven way that a husband can lead his wife into her full potential is by nourishing and cherishing her.

I. THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE IN HER IMMATURITY (4:1a)

A. The Revelation Necessary for the Young Bride's Maturity (v. 1a)

1. "Behold, you are fair (beautiful), my love ... "-the Lord is speaking to the Bride for the first time since her season of correction. He uses the word "behold" twice in this verse to reinforce His feelings for her. It is important to Jesus that she understand His heart. He wants her to realize that loving correction is never to be viewed as rejection.

2. There is nothing more important to our future maturity, security, and encouragement than the revelation of God's love for us. If we understand His affection for us, we will run to Him in times of weakness and struggle, instead of running from Him.

B. The Basis of the Bride's Beauty (v. 1a)

1. The gift of righteousness through the work of the Cross-the Bride is lovely to God because of the work of His Son, and not because of what she has done. The Father has clothed the Bride with the same beautiful garments that Jesus possesses. She has the same right standing before the Father that Jesus has. It's awesome to imagine that weak, broken people are beautiful to the Father because of the gift of righteousness that has been given to them.

2. The nature of God's personality-the passions of God's heart determine how He feels about us. Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder. It is because of His heart that we are beautiful to Him.

3. The Bride's destiny before the Father-the certainty of her destiny as the adorned Bride of Christ reinforces her beauty in the eyes of God.

II. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MATURE BRIDE (4:1b-5)

A. Jesus' Eight Prophetic Affirmations of the Bride's Character (vv. 1b-S)

1. " ... You have dove's eyes behind your veil"-the phrase "dove's eyes" speaks of singlemindedness and devotion.

49

J)p.te: _

a. A dove has no peripheral vision; it cannot focus on two objects at the same time. The Bride is pictured here as being single-minded in her devotion to Jesus. Her focus is on Him instead of the things of this world

b. A dove never mates again after the death of its partner. TIlls depicts the Bride's loyalty and faithfulness to her Bridegroom,

c. The phrase "behind your veil" speaks of the Bride's humility, as well as her secret life in God Her veil also represents her submission to her Lover.

2. " ... Your hair is like a flock of goats going down from Mount Gilead"-"hair" in Scripture speaks of consecration and dedication (Numbers 6). When Samson cut his hair, he compromised his dedication to God, and lost his power.

a. The phrase ''like a flock of goats" speaks of the Bride's majestic and stately walk before the Lord. Proverbs 30:29-31 teaches us that goats are majestic and orderly in the way they walk and pace themselves. The Bride's dedication is compared to a flock of goats because her consecration to God flowed from godly wisdom with dignity and order.

b. Mount Gilead was an extremely fertile area where goats were known to feed. There were many places in the region where goats could eat in abundance. Mount Gilead depicts the Bride's dedication as being abundant because she is well fed on the love of God.

3. ''Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep, which have come up from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them"-the teeth speak of the ability to chew (receive) the meat of God's Word. Here in verse two, we have a four-part description of the Bride's teeth from an agricultural perspective. This is the background from which the Shulamite maiden came.

a. The phrase ''like a flock of shorn sheep" speaks of the Bride's life as being spiritually balanced, free of fleshly zeal. "Wool" in Scripture represents fleshly zeal. The priests of Zadok (Ezekiel 44:15-18) were forbidden to wear wool because wool made them sweat. "Sweat" is a result of man's fall into sin and represents man's own human, fleshly efforts. The Bride is depicted in this verse as being spiritually balanced through her meditation of the Word of God, growing in true passion and zeal for the Lord.

b. The phrase " ... which have come up from the washing" speaks of the Bride's motives being cleansed by the Word of God so she can walk free from fleshly zeal and performance.

c. The phrase " ... every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them" depicts the Bride's abundant fruitfulness in life and ministry. The sheep that bore twins were a double blessing to their owners.

4. ''Your lips are like a strand of scarlet"-the lips speak of the Bride's speech and communication. "Scarlet" depicts the blood of redemption (Joshua 2:21; Hebrews 9:19). The grace of God is on the Bride's lips. Her speech is wholesome and edifying to those around her; her words are sweet to God in worship and prayer.

5. " ... Your mouth is lovely"-the mouth speaks of the Bride's intimacy and communion with Jesus. Throughout the Song, the mouth always refers to the ''kiss'' or the intimate things of God. According to this phrase, Jesus is actually delighted because of her communion with Him. This transcends all human comprehension!!!

f)1I-U: 50

6. " ... Your temples (cheeks) behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate"- the Bride's cheeks speak of her emotions. The cheeks are the windows of a person's emotions. Emotions such as anger and embarrassment can actually be seen on one's countenance.

a. The phrase" ... like a piece of pomegranate" speaks of the Bride's emotions as being sweet to God. The pomegranate was a common fruit that was sweet to the taste and red on the inside. The color "red" signifies her modesty and her sensitivity to shameful things (red from blushing).

b. The phrase " ... behind your veil" represents the Bride's hidden life of modesty. Her spiritual life is not just an outward show for others to see.

7. '<Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men"-the Bride's neck speaks of her will. The "neck" throughout Scripture speaks of the human will. For example, a person who is "stiffnecked" has a stubborn will.

a. The phrase "neck ... like the tower of David" depicts the Bride's will as being strong. She is resolute in her determination to obey her Lord.

b. The phrase " ... built for an armory on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men," speaks of an abundant defense and protection against the enemy. The resolute will of a believer is an incredible key to spiritual victory. The determination to say "yes" to God protects us like a mighty shield,

8. '<Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies"-the Bride's two breasts depict her ability to feed and nurture others.

a. The phrase" ... like two fawns, twins of a gazelle" speaks of a double ability to nurture others through the milk of the Word.

b. The phrase " ... which feed among the lilies" reinforces what has already been stated in the first part of the verse. The Bride is seen here feeding other believers (lilies) out of her love for Jesus.

III. THE BRIDE'S DECLARATION OF HER CONSECRATION (4:6)

A. The Life of Total Commitment (v. 6)

1. "Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense"-the Bride determines to continue in her spiritual journey until all compromise is gone.

a. ''Day'' speaks of a time of victory that comes through living in greater light.

b. "Shadows" refer to the grey areas of weakness and compromise.

c. The phrase " ... 1 will go my way to the mountain of myrrh" speaks of the Bride's willingness to embrace the call of the Cross, denying herself "lesser lovers" in order to experience greater intimacy with Jesus. Myrrh throughout Scripture signifies suffering and death.

d. The phrase" ... the hill of frankincense" speaks of the Bride's prayer life. Our prayers in Scripture appear as incense before God (psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8). Prayer empowers the heart to embrace the demands of the Cross. The mountain of myrrh is too steep without living on the hill of frankincense.

51

J)1I(,t;e.: _

rv JESUS CONTINUES TO AFFIRM HIS BRIDE (4:7)

A. A New Expression of Love (v. 7)

1. "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you" -here Jesus sums up the Bride's life as He sees it. This phrase does not imply that the Bride is without sin. Instead, the Lord is defining her life in terms of her willingness to obey Him, and not in terms of her weak flesh. Although she is not yet fully mature, she is still lovely to Jesus.

V. THE BRIDEGROOM'S CALL TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE (4:8)

A. The Revelation of the Bride (v. 8a)

1. "Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse ... "-this is the first time that Jesus actually calls her His Bride. She is no longer just an immature maiden. She is now beginning to function as a Bride. After she said, "1 will go," Jesus said, '<You are all fair (altogether lovely)." Notice, He affirms her just prior to the two of them partnering in spiritual warfare against the enemy.

B. Two Types of Spiritual Activity (v. 8a,b)

1. "Come with me from Lebanon"-this speaks of the Bride coming to Him in intimacy and partnering with Him on Lebanon's mountain peaks where there are lions and leopards (spiritual warfare). Jesus calls His Bride to war from a place of intimacy and security that can only be found in Him.

2. " ... Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon"-this speaks of the Bride being seated in heavenly places with Christ. He is calling her to see things from His perspective. If we only view our circumstances from a natural point of view, we will eventually lose heart. We must look at things from His point of view if we are going to prevail in spiritual warfare.

a. "Senir" and "Hermon" are actually two different names for the same mountain. Mount Hermon, which is on the east side of the Jordan River, was also called Mount Senir by the Amorites (Deuteronomy 3:8-9).

b. ~'hen Israel conquered the Ammonites on the east side of the Jordan River, they climbed to the top of this mountain to see the land of Canaan.

c. "Amana"-Mount Amana is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but many believe it's actually next to Mount Hermon.

3. "From the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards"-this is a picture of spiritual warfare. Satan is called a roaring lion in Scripture. The leopards also speak of demonic principalities and powers.

a. Jesus is calling His Bride to take her place as a loving, worshipping warrior.

b. Habakkuk 2:17 speaks of plundering the beasts on the mountains of Lebanon.

c. In Psalm 57:4, David referred to his enemies as men who were like lions, poised to do violence against him.

p~~------------

52

INTRODUCTION

In this part of our study, we again see Jesus romancing His Bride. However, His wooing of her is much more intense than what she's ever experienced before. He expresses His incredible passion and desire for her with poetic language that is "out of this world."

I. INTRODUCING THE RAVISHED HEART OF JESUS (4:9)

A. A Working Definition (v. 9)

1. The definition of the Hebrew word for "ravished" is to overwhelm with emotions of delight because of one who is unusually beautiful.

2. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary suggests that the word "ravish" means to overcome with emotions of joy or delight.

B. A God With Deep Feelings (v. 9)

1. God is filled with emotion. His heart is overcome with delight for those who belong to Him. He even feels these emotions for young and immature believers.

2. An understanding of God's emotional make-up is essential for a strong foundation in grace.

It's not enough for us to know what He has done for us on the Cross. We need to experience how He feels and know what He longs for deep within His heart.

3. False ideas about the heart and character of God have damaged our intimacy with Him.

Greek philosophy (Stoicism) has so infiltrated the Church that many picture God as One who is emotionally distant from them. The Stoics believed that no one was able to move God emotionally because that would make an individual greater than God. They reasoned that because God could not be controlled, He could not be impacted emotionally. Therefore, He could not have deep feelings for His children.

4. The Song of Songs, more than any other book, reveals to us the passions of God's heart.

Meditating on God's emotional make-up will enable us to mature and grow in holy passion quicker than anything else.

II. JESUS' EXTRAVAGANT AFFECTION FOR HIS BRIDE (4:9-10)

A. The Romance of the Gospel (vv. 9-10)

1. '<You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace. How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love"-here Jesus reveals just how lovely His Bride is to Him. Holy emotion has overwhelmed His heart. No one loves like God loves. He is ravished over weak, foolish and despised people (Luke 16:20-22).

a. Notice the phrase, '<You have ravished my heart." Jesus is overcome by the Bride's

53

p~~------------

heart, not by her track record or ministry accomplishments. Her desire to love and obey Him is what moves His heart.

b. The phrase" ... my sister, my spouse" speaks of two powerful realities. To call us His "sister" means that we're in the same family. It speaks of His identification with us as human beings (Hebrews 2:17). To call us His "spouse" emphasizes His longing for bridal partnership with us.

c. Notice the phrase, " ... with one look of your eyes." The New American Standard Version translates this phrase " ... with one glance of your eyes." Jesus can't even resist one look from the eyes of a weak believer who sincerely desires to obey Him. If one glance stirs His heart, what will a fixed gaze do to Him?

d. " ... with one link of your necklace." The necklace around the Bride's neck speaks of her surrendered will. Each link of her necklace represents each individual response of sincerity that comes from her heart. Jesus remembers every movement of our hearts toward Him. His heart is ravished by each new area of dedication in our lives. God will not overlook even one act of obedience (Matthew 10:42; Hebrews 6:10).

e. Notice the phrase, "How fair is your love." It's as if Jesus is saying to His Bride, "You're all I want. Your love is beautiful to Me." Jesus wants her love even more than her work. He desires love more than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6).

f. The phrase "How much better than wine is your love" is the same statement the Bride spoke to Jesus in Song of Songs 1:2b. Now Jesus is telling His Bride that her love for Him is better than all the wine of this world. 'Wme" speaks of the best things the world has to offer. It's as if the Lord is saying to her, "Your love is more precious to Me than everything My hands have created I would rather have your love than anything in the universe."

III. JESUS AFFIRMS HIS PLEASURE OVER HER CHARACTER (4:10h-ll)

A. Jesus Commends Her Thought-Life (v. lOb)

1. " ... and the scent of your perfumes than all spices!"-perfume is a fragrance that is invisible; yet, it expresses the inner essence or quality of a certain plant. The Bride's thought-life is depicted here as a fragrance. It's what's on the inside of her (her sincere thoughts and intentions to obey) that's released as a sweet aroma before the Lord. To Jesus, the scent of the Bride's perfumes is better than all the fragrances in heaven.

B. Jesus Commends Her Speech (v. 11)

1. " ... Your lips, 0 my spouse, drip as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue"-the Bride's lips refer to her speech (Song of Songs 4:3). Her words, according to this phrase, are described as sweet as honey. The word "drip" stands out in stark contrast to the word "gush." In other words, the Bride's speech is seasoned with the grace of God. It's balanced, wise, and not excessive (compare Proverbs 16:24 with Proverbs 15:2).

a. " ... honey and milk are under your tongue"-honey and milk are two things that bring nourishment. This phrase reinforces the fact that the Bride desires to live for the good of others and to feed them from the milk of the Word

b. The phrase " ... under your tongue" speaks of the harmony between her speech and the meditations of her heart It paints the picture of the Bride pondering the truth of God's

PA-te: _

54

Word "under her tongue" so that when she does speak, her words will be sweet as honey and as nourishing as milk.

c. " ... and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon"-the Bride's garments speak of her righteous acts (Revelation 19:6-8). In Scripture, "garments" symbolize acts of service. Jesus counseled the Laodicean Church to buy from Him white garments so that the shame of their nakedness would not be exposed (Revelation 3:18).

d. Notice the phrase, " ... like the fragrance of Lebanon." Mount Lebanon was filled with fragrant cedar trees and flowers. Here the Bride's deeds are compared to the fragrance of Lebanon. In other words, instead of living for herself, she seeks to serve others from a pure heart in order to be pleasing to the Lord

rv THE BRIDE'S DEEP DEVOTION TO JESUS (4:12)

A. Her Life as a Source of Pleasure to Jesus (v. 12)

1. '~garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed"-the Bride is described first as a "garden" from which comes fruitful and diverse ministry.

a. The purpose of a king's garden was to provide him with a place of enjoyment and rest.

Its fragrances gave the king extreme pleasure and delight.

b. The Church has been set apart as God's garden (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). God has cultivated His garden at a great personal cost. It's the garden of His delight.

c. A king would normally "enclose" his garden with a stone wall. This wall would prevent strangers from stealing from it, as well as keep beasts from polluting it.

d. The Bride is described as an "enclosed garden." She is "enclosed" in the sense that she continually guards her heart from the defilement and pollution of the world. She is

also an "enclosed garden" in the sense that the Lord is protecting her. Her life is a private place of special pleasure for the King. She has become a place of refreshment for Him.

e. According to this verse, the Bride is also compared to "a spring sealed up, and a fountain sealed." In Israel, during the time of Solomon, springs and fountains were extremely rare. They were sealed or protected so that they would not be polluted by wild beasts. This is a beautiful picture of the Bride not wanting to become polluted by the

spirit of the world She wants Jesus to drink from the pure waters of her life.

V. A DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDE'S LIFE (4:13-14)

A. Her Life Compared to an Orchard (vv. 13-14)

1. "Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, fragrant henna with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices"-the Bride's life is compared to an orchard filled with all kinds of trees and plants. Her life stands out in stark contrast to the sparse greenery found in a desert climate. This phrase speaks of a fruitful ministry with great abundance and diversity.

a. Pomegranates-this speaks of her ministry as being sweet to the Lord

55

!>A-U: _

b. Pleasant fruits-this refers to the fruit of her life and the pleasant impact she has on the lives of others.

c. Fragrant henna with spikenard-this speaks of the precious and costly work of the Spirit in her life.

d. Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon-this phrase depicts the diverse graces at work in her life that enable her to walk in holiness and in loving relationship with Jesus.

e. Trees of frankincense-this speaks of a life of prayer.

f. Myrrh and aloes-this refers to the Bride's cross and her death to "sel£"

g. The chief spices-this speaks of the grace of God flowing from her inner life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

VI. A DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDE'S MINISTRY (4:15)

A. The Three-fold Work of the Spirit (v. 15)

1. '~fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon"-these are three types of water supplies which represent different operations of the Holy Spirit working in the Bride.

a. The phrase ''A fountain of gardens" speaks of Jesus living in her as a hidden fountain. A fountain is a supply of water that is hidden below the surface of the ground. The indwelling Christ is the Bride's inward source of supply that enables her to refresh the lives of others.

b. Notice the phrase, "a well of living waters." Welled water is water that is stored. This speaks of the Bride's history in God. As she draws from her past experiences with the Lord, she is able to provide refreshment to others during their seasons of spiritual dryness.

c. " ... and streams from Lebanon"-Lebanon is a high mountain. This water supply comes from "on High." These "streams" speak of an abundance of grace that flows from the Holy Spirit through the life of the Bride. It's this grace that makes the Bride fruitful and productive.

VII. THE BRIDE'S CRY FOR A GREATER ANOINTING (4:16)

A. Her Prayer for Maturity (v. 16)

1. ''Awake, 0 north wind, and come, 0 south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits"-the Bride is asking for a deeper work to be accomplished in her heart so that her life can continue to be a blessing to others.

a. ''Awake, 0 north wind"-her first request is that Jesus would allow the cold north winds of adversity to mature her. This prayer is answered in Song of Songs 5:3-7. There are areas in each of our lives that can only mature as we endure seasons of difficulty Games 1:2-4).

b. " ... and come 0 south (wind)"-the Bride's second request is that her Lover would also

PA-U: _

56

send the refreshing south winds of blessing to nurture her. The Bride understands that the north and south winds are both necessary for her to become a fragrant garden for God's pleasure.

c. " ... Blow upon my garden"-the Bride longs for Jesus to come and empower her life and ministry. He answers her prayer in Song of Songs 5:1. She trusts Him. She realizes that He is the only One who knows her emotional make-up, as well as her destiny. She understands that He will always send the right combination of both north and south winds to produce the greatest impact in her life.

d. " ... that its spices may flow out"-the Bride desires a life so filled with God's presence that it automatically spills over into the lives of others. She knows that even though Jesus may allow difficulties to come her way, He promises that they will always produce a life rich in love.

e. " ... Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits"-for the first time the Bride sees her life and ministry as "His garden" instead of hers. She is crying for a greater anointing in order to become totally His. This is the dividing line in the book. She is now beginning to see herself as the Lord's inheritance. She wants Him to enjoy what the Holy Spirit has produced in her and through her. She wants Him to take pleasure in her.

VIII. JESUS ENJOYS HIS INHERITANCE (5:1)

A. His Full Ownership of Her Life (v. 1)

1. '<J have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; J have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, 0 friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, 0 beloved ones!"-this is the turning point in the Bride's spiritual development. Jesus is really enjoying His Bride as His inheritance.

a. Nine times in this verse Jesus uses the word "my" to emphasize His ownership of her life.

b. The phrase " ... J have gathered my myrrh with my spice" speaks of both the work of the Cross in her life, as well as the grace she experienced as she surrendered to His will.

c. The phrase "J have eaten my honeycomb with my honey" refers to the delightful fruit that Jesus feasted on from her life and ministry.

d. Notice the phrase, " ... J have drunk my wine with my milk." WIDe is for celebration and milk is for nourishment. Jesus is celebrating the work His Spirit (wine) has done in her life which, in tum, has enabled her to nourish and strengthen others (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

e. ''Eat, friends! Drink, yes drink deeply, 0 beloved ones!"-Jesus wants others to enjoy the fruitfulness of His mature Bride. This phrase speaks of the principle of nourishing one another with the grace God has given us as individual believers. In a very real sense, there are things that each one of us lacks that can only be provided by the grace that rests upon the lives of others.

57

PP"te: _

p~~------------

58

INTRODUCTION

In the first four chapters of the Song, the focus is on the Bride's inheritance in Jesus. The last four chapters of the book emphasize Jesus' inheritance in the Bride. The reality that she truly belongs to Jesus begins to permeate her heart and mind. Her pleasure is even more enhanced because she is now living for His pleasure. Her one desire is to love and obey Him. In this section of our study, the Bride's devotion to Jesus is tested like never before. She is invited to join Him in the fellowship of His sufferings.

I. THE FEllOWSHIP OF SUFFERING (5:2-5) A. A Sovereign Call (v. 2)

1. "I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night"-Jesus wants His Bride to see Him as the One who endured the agonies of Gethsemane and the sufferings of the Cross.

a. "I sleep, but my heart is awake." The word "sleep" speaks of being in a place of rest.

The Bride has complete confidence in the Lord because she knows He is a "safe Savior." It's as if she is saying, "The north winds can blow against me, but I trust Him." Her heart is "awake" in the sense that she is walking in obedience without any conscious area of compromise.

b. Notice the phrase, "He knocks, saying, open for me." The "knock" refers to the initiative God takes in bringing His Bride into new dimensions of His Spirit. In this case, the knock on the door of her heart is in answer to her prayer for the north winds (Song of Songs 4:16). Jesus' purpose in knocking is to get her to open up completely to Him. He wants all of her.

c. " ... Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect (mature) one." Jesus uses four powerful affirmations to reinforce His love for her so she can open her heart to the tests that are coming. The greatest motivation Jesus could ever use to lead us into a deeper dimension of His Spirit is His love.

d. Notice the phrase, "For my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night." This is a graphic picture of what Jesus experienced the night he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. His head and hair were covered with dew because he stayed outside all night.

B. The Bride's Instant Obedience (vv. 3-5)

1. "I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; how can I defile them? My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock"-some Bible translations and commentaries make it appear as if the Bride is compromising by refusing to get out of bed. However, the

59

Pp.,te.: _

context suggests that she is in a place of mature obedience.

a. Notice the words, "I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again?" Her robe (garments) speaks of her own works. She's simply saying, "I'm not standing before You on my own merits. I've taken off my robe and I've put on Your robe of righteousness."

b. " ... 1 have washed my feet; how can I defile them?" This is not a statement of her refusal to obey Him but, instead, a commitment to avoid spiritual defilement, How could she defile herself by disobeying Him in light of the great love He had for her? She is simply saying, "I've done it my way. My feet were dirty with my own walk, but now they have been cleansed by the Lord."

c. "My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him." His ''hand'' refers to the grace of God (See Acts 11:21-23). The ''latch of the door" speaks of the door of her heart. There's a release of grace upon her life that is preparing her for the tests that are still to come. It always takes God's help for us to love Him in every season of our lives.

d. "I arose to open for my beloved" The Bride instantly responds to open the door of her heart to Him. This depicts her full obedience. Her response is the exact opposite of compromise.

e. "and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock." Her hands and fingers speak of her works of ministry. ''Myrrh'' in Scripture represents suffering and death. This is a picture of the Bride opening her heart so that the Cross will touch every area of her life.

II. THE FIRST TEST OF SUFFERING (5:6)

A. The Withdrawing of the Lord's Manifest Presence (v. 6)

1. "I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer"-the Bride experiences a withdrawal of the Lord's manifest presence while pursuing a deeper obedience. She has never gone through anything like this before. This season of her life is totally different than what she experienced in Song of Songs 3:1-2, when the Lord withdrew His manifest presence because of her disobedience.

a. "I opened for my beloved. My heart leaped when he spoke." This phrase clearly indicates there is an immediate response to the Lord on the part of the Bride. There is no resistance. When He invites her to come, she responds immediately.

b. Notice the phrase, " ... but my beloved had turned away and was gone ... I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." The Bride's greatest desire has been to experience the presence of her Bridegroom. Yet, now He hides His face from her. He never leaves her. It's just that the discernable sense of His presence is withheld from her. This is a God-ordained test because of her desire for full maturity. The issue here is whether or not she will fervently obey Him without feeling His presence. Will she be faithful to obey regardless of how difficult the circumstances become? Is she seeking the Lord primarily for her own spiritual pleasure, or will she obev Him for His sake alone?

c. "I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer." Her

PI4U: _

60

test can't be cut short by more urgent seeking. More prayer and fasting can't even remove this difficult situation because the Lord and not the devil has initiated it. The "silence of the Lord" is part of His training to cause the Bride's heart to become more lovesick.

III. THE SECOND TEST OF SUFFERING (5:7)

A. Rejection and Persecution (v. 7)

1. "The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil away from me"-the Bride encounters rejection at the hands of her leaders.

a. ''The watchmen who went about the city found me ... the keepers of the walls took my veil away from me." The watchmen, as well as the keepers of the walls, speak of leaders within the family of God. There are godly watchmen who help her find deeper intimacy with the Lord (Song of Songs 3:3), but there are fleshly, jealous watchmen who seek to wound her. The language in this phrase clearly suggests that some of her leaders had a hidden agenda. They may have been jealous of her intimate relationship with the Lord. Or they may have misinterpreted the season she was in and thought that what she was going through was a result of sin. In either case, some of her leaders "went about the city" seeking anything they could find to discredit her.

b. "The watchmen ... struck me, they wounded me." The Bride is rejected and unjustly persecuted by the spiritual authorities over her. She is wounded in the house of her friends just as Jesus was (See Zechariah 13:6). The people that she committed herself to are now rejecting her. She is experiencing the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.

c. " ... the keepers of the walls took my veil away from me." The Bride's veil speaks of her spiritual covering. It's an outward sign of being properly related to spiritual authority. Her spiritual covering is being taken away from her. Those who should be watching over her life and nurturing her in the things of the Lord are rejecting her. The test for the Bride is whether or not she will remain faithful to Jesus and walk in humility before her persecutors.

B. The Bride's Response of Humility (5:8)

1. "I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick"-the Bride's humility is seen in her commitment to be faithful to both Jesus and His body.

a. "I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved," The "daughters" represent immature believers. Out of deep humility, the Bride asks immature believers to help her find the Lord. She doesn't retreat into bitter isolation.

b. " ... tell him that I am lovesick." The Bride is lovesick for Jesus instead of being offended.

She's letting the Lord do a deeper work in her heart during this season of testing. She's not mad at Him for withdrawing His manifest presence and allowing other people to severely mistreat her. She reminds herself that "His banner over me is love." She understands that all of the Lord's dealings with her will eventually reveal His deep love for her.

61

p,..~------

J)p.,te: _

62

INTRODUCTION

In this section of our study, we see that the Bride's tests clearly reveal her motive for serving the Lord is to please Him. Her responses to the questions asked by the "daughters of Jerusalem" only reinforce this fact. Out of her own pain and suffering, the Bride seeks to answer the questions of these "immature believers" by introducing them to a deeper intimacy with the Lord.

I. THE DAUGHTERS' BEWILDERMENT OF THE BRIDE'S RESPONSE (5:9; 6:1)

A. The Daughters' First Question (v. 9)

1. "What is your beloved more than another beloved, 0 fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you so charge us?"-the "daughters" are perplexed by the Bride's response mentioned in Song of Solomon 5:8. They can't understand how the Bride can be so passionate for Jesus even in the midst of her rejection and pain. They are amazed that she can be so devoted to Him when He has seemingly treated her so harshly!

a. Notice the phrase, <'\Vhat is your beloved." The "daughters" don't ask, <'\Vho is your beloved," because they already know His name. However, they don't know Jesus as intimately as the Bride does. Many people in the Church lack a deep experiential knowledge of Jesus. This affects the way they respond during seasons of testing. They easily become offended at the Lord because they don't understand His heart for them.

b. <'\Vhat is your beloved more than another beloved." It's quite obvious that these "daughters of Jerusalem" have learned to become somewhat satisfied with other "lovers" (career, money, ministry, hobbies, etc). It's not that they don't love the Lord; they just haven't caught a glimpse of who He really is. However, instead of condemning them, the Bride reveals Jesus to them. Instead of cutting them off, she leads them to the heart of her Lover.

c. " ... 0 fairest among women." This phrase emphasizes the deep respect the "daughters" have for the Bride. To them, she is beautiful in her devotion to Jesus. The fragrant aroma of the knowledge of God is so emanating from the Bride's life that it's creating hunger within these immature believers.

d. <'\Vhat is your beloved ... that you so charge us?" The "charge" mentioned here is referring to the Bride's appeal for the "daughters" help in finding Jesus during her "dark night of the soul" (Song of Songs 5:8). It's as if these immature believers are asking her, ''Why are you appealing to us to help you find Him?" ''What do you know that we don't know?"

B. The Daughters' Second Question (v. 1)

1. <'Where has your beloved gone, 0 fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with you?,,-the Bride's love for Jesus is causing the "daughters" to seek the Lord with greater passion.

63

P",u: _

a. '~ere has your beloved gone ... that we may seek him?" The "immature believers" want to know where they can find Jesus in a more intimate way. They no longer want to serve Him from a distance. The Bride's positive response to her tests provides an opportunity for others around her to grow in the Lord. The "daughters" see how she has continued to love the Lord in spite of the pain and rejection she has experienced, and they want to be like her. Her faithfulness awakens in them a deeper hunger for Jesus, and now they want practical instruction on how to seek Him.

II. THE BRIDE'S RESPONSE TO THE DAUGHTERS' QUESTIONS (5:10-16; 6:2-3)

A. Her First Answer (vv. 10-16)

1. "My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand ... "-the Bride's first response to the daughters' questions focuses on the beauty of Jesus. It's the knowledge of Jesus' beauty that empowers her to be an extravagant worshipper even during severe testing. The Bride is focused on the majestic personality of Jesus instead of being preoccupied with her own problems. *(We will look at this in more detail in our next section of study entitled, THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF JESUS).

B. Her Second Answer (6:2-3)

1. "My beloved has gone to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies"-the Bride answers the daughters' second question by showing them how to find intimacy with Jesus.

a. ''My beloved has gone to his garden." Jesus is doing what He always does. He's feeding His people in the midst of His garden. The word "garden" (singular) refers to the family of God (the Church) as a whole. The word "gardens" (plural), mentioned later in this verse, refers to individual congregations. His garden is His place of enjoyment. He will never depart from His Church. He may temporarily withdraw His manifest presence from individuals, but He will never leave His Church.

(1) The phrase ''My beloved has gone to his garden" may also have a double meaning. According to Song of Songs 4:12 and 5:1, the Bride is also the Lord's garden. This phrase may be referring to the Bride's confidence that, ~ spite of what she is going through, Jesus will not withhold His manifest presence from her forever.

b. Notice the phrase, " ... the beds of spices." The "spices" refer to the different manifestations of God's grace on individual believers or ministries within the Father's family.

c. " ... to feed his flock in the gardens." Jesus is deeply committed to feeding His people in the midst of the corporate family of God. Everything He does is for the purpose of nurturing them and enlarging their hearts in His love (Romans 8:28).

d. " ... and to gather lilies." "Lilies" speak of individual believers who live in purity and faith. Jesus is always drawing to Himself those who belong to Him.

e. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." The Bride is fully committed to the Lord's purpose and pleasure. More than ever before, she sees herself as His inheritance. This statement is so different from the one she made in chapter two. In Song of Songs 2:16, she said, "My beloved is mine, and I am his." At the time, she was more interested

PII-te.: _

64

in what He meant to her than what she meant to Him. Now, the order is reversed. The Bride has matured to such an extent that she now realizes she belongs to Jesus. He owns her!

f. "He feeds his flock among the lilies." This phrase is a reinforcement of what the Bride has already said in verse two. Even though she has just experienced a time of severe testing, she is communicating her confidence to other believers that Jesus can always be trusted to feed His flock.

65

Pp.,te.: _

Pl'-U: _

66

INTRODUCTION

As we come to this section of our study, we are introduced to one of the most powerful descriptions of Jesus, as well as one of the most amazing expressions of worship in all of the Word of God. This part of the Song is an incredible poetic picture of the majestic beauty of Jesus. The Bride uses ten parts of the human body to describe ten attributes of Jesus' personality *(the Bride is describing the beauty of Christ's personality, not His physical features). There is nothing more important to the life of a believer than to know the depths of God's personality!!! Meditating on the splendor of Jesus brings great pleasure and delight to the human heart (psalm 145:5).

I. THE BRIDE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAUTY OF JESUS (5:10-16)

A. A General Statement of Christ's Majesty (v. 10)

1. "My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand"-the knowledge of Jesus' beauty enables the Bride to worship Him even in the midst of her "dark night of the soul." Instead of being offended at the Lord for what He has allowed her to endure, she responds by magnifying His incomparable superiority over everything this world has to offer.

a. The Hebrew word translated "white" means radiant, dazzling, brilliant, or "shining white." The idea is that Jesus is stunning and dazzling to the Bride, radiant in His splendor. Psalm 104:2 says that God covers Himself in light like a garment. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:16 that God dwells in unapproachable light. He's not unapproachable because of His anger over our sin. Neither is He unapproachable because of His lack of desire for intimacy with us. God is unapproachable in the sense that our human capacity is limited in its ability to receive of His fullness.

b. "My beloved .. .is ruddy." The word "ruddy" means red or a red complexion. The Bible says that King David was ruddy in appearance. This spoke of his reddish hair and complexion. When a person is healthy, his cheeks and complexion are usually "ruddy." When the Bride says her beloved is "ruddy," she's describing the Lord's perfectly balanced personality. All of Jesus' attributes are in healthy balance, working together in harmony. He is the only ''whole'' person who ever walked the earth. For example, the Bible says that Jesus was full of both grace and truth (Iohn 1:14).

c. The phrase " ... white and ruddy" also speaks of Jesus being both fully God and fully man. ''White " refers to His divine nature. ''Ruddy'' depicts His human nature.

d. " ... chief among ten thousand." The Bride uses this phrase to declare the incomparable superiority of Jesus over everyone. He is distinguished as One who stands out among the masses. He is the most indescribably lovely Person that the human heart can expenence.

B. His Head-His Sovereign Leadership (v. 11a)

1. "His head is like the finest gold"-this phrase speaks of Jesus' absolute sovereignty and headship over all creation (refer to Daniel 2:32-38). The head, the most prominent part of

67

P/4,U: _

the human anatomy, sets the direction for the rest of the body.

a. "Gold" also speaks of the divine nature and character of Jesus. When the Bride says that "His head is like the finest gold," she's declaring that His leadership is so perfect and excellent that the only thing it can be compared is the finest gold imaginable. There is no imperfection or impurity in His leadership.

C. His Locks-His Dedication to His Bride (v. llb)

1. "His locks are wavy, and black as a raven"-the New International Version translates "His locks" as "His hair." "Hair" in Scripture usually refers to one's consecration and dedication to God. Samson made a Nazarite vow of consecration to God that prevented him from cutting his hair. When Samson cut his hair, it meant that he had violated his dedication to God.

a. " .. .locks ... wavy and black." Thick, wavy black hair speaks of the hair of a young man in the prime of his life. The Bride understands that the Lord's dedication to her will always be vibrant and fresh. She is secure, knowing that His commitment to her will never grow old and fade away. Jesus is forever dedicated to His Bride. He will never lose heart for His people.

D. His Eyes-His Faithfulness and Singleness of Vision (v. 12)

1. "His eyes are like doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set"-the Lord's eyes speak of His ability to see and discern everything. He has perfect insight into every area of our lives. His perspective is absolutely pure.

a. The phrase "His eyes are like doves" speaks of the Lord's singleness of vision. In other words, His eyes are loyal to His Bride.

b. " ... by the rivers of waters." This phrase is speaking of the waters where the doves would bathe themselves and become clean. This depicts the Lord's ability to see things through the purity and innocence of His own heart.

c. The phrase " ... washed with milk, and fidy set" reinforces what we've already noted from the previous phrase. Milk speaks of that which is white and nourishing. This is poetic language describing the Lord's purity of discernment. The phrase "eyes ... fitly set" refers to a gem that has been set in a very expensive piece of jewelry by the most skillful craftsman. Again, this speaks of the Lord's great skill and ability to see perfectly everything about our lives. For example, He sees the longing in our hearts to obey

Him even when we faiL He interprets things about our lives through the cleanness of His own heart because His motives are always pure. His skillful discernment enables Him to know where we are spiritually at every stage of our lives. He always knows exacdy what we need to grow in our love for Him. Even small acts of obedience and mercy don't go unnoticed by the Lord.

E. His Cheeks-His Emotional Make-up (v. 13a)

1. "His cheeks are like a bed of spices, like banks of scented herbs" -the Lord's cheeks reveal His emotional beauty. The cheeks are the windows of the emotions. They enable us to see whether a person is happy or sad

a. "cheeks ... like beds of spices." As a garden is filled with a variety of fragrances, so is the Lord's emotional make-up. His affections for us are fragrant and refreshing to our

Pp.,te: _

68

hearts. Yet, in order to experience the reality of His affections, we have to have a right image of God We have to understand the passions of His heart for us. Many Christians believe God is perpetually angry with them. Yet, His emotions toward us are passionate and delightful, and His longing for us is stronger than our longings for Him will ever be.

b. The phrase " ... like banks of scented herbs (spices)" speaks of the incredible fragrance in Jesus' affections. His sweet affections for us aren't just like beds of spices; they're like banks (heaps) of scented spices. In other words, His emotions and feelings for His Bride are extravagant. He is the most pleasant person we could ever be around.

F. His Lips-His Word (v. 13b)

1. "His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh"-this phrase speaks of the power of His words.

This can refer to the affirmations of His heart through the Scriptures, as well as the words spoken directly to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As our Bridegroom, Jesus has the uncanny ability to speak lovingly and precisely to the needs of our hearts (psalm 45:2; John 6: 63; 7:46).

a. The phrase "His lips are lilies" describes the words of Jesus as being tender and sweet like a illy.

b. The phrase " ... dripping liquid myrrh" speaks of His words being motivated by the incredible sacrificial love that He has for His Bride. Everything Jesus says to us comes from a heart of kindness. Even when He corrects us, we must see it as coming from His heart of sacrificial love. Loving correction is never to be taken as rejection.

G. His Hands-His Divine Activity (v. 14a)

1. "His hands are rods of gold set with beryl"-His hands (arms) refer to the way He accomplishes His work. His hands are skillful in doing everything perfectly.

a. " ... rods of gold set with beryl." This phrase speaks of God's specific activities in our lives as being "set" like beautiful jewels on gold. Nothing happens to us by accident. His perfect wisdom is orchestrating every detail of our lives. His promise to us is that everything will eventually work for our good!

H. His Body (Belly)-His Tender Compassion (v. 14b)

1. "His body is carved ivory inlaid with sapphires"-the Bride is magnifying the Lord's tender mercies toward weak, sincere believers.

a. The phrase "His body" is translated "His belly" in the King James Version. The Hebrew word used here conveys the idea of yearning for someone or having compassion on them. This word is also found in such passages as Isaiah 63:15 and Jeremiah 31:20. In other words, the belly of a person speaks of one's tender compassion. The Bride is using poetic language to describe Jesus' extravagant mercy and compassion

(psalm 103:10-14; Exodus 34:6).

b. "His body is carved ivory." Ivory was very expensive and rare during the time of Solomon. These words describe Jesus' mercy and compassion as rare. So many people are intolerant of the weaknesses of others. Yet, Jesus is so different!!! He delights in showing mercy toward His people.

69

PPrte:, _

c. " ... inlaid with sapphires." Sapphires are such precious stones that they are used in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19). These stones depict the precious and rare quality of the Lord's compassion. Some of the great revivals in history were centered around the truth of God's rich mercy.

(1) Mounting sapphire stones in ivory \ook great skill and creativity. Likewise, the Lord always demonstrates great skill and wisdom in the way He administers His mercy and compassion to us. His mercy toward us is never haphazard or unplanned His mercy is never unsanctified mercy; instead, His mercy and compassion lead us to greater purity and godly wisdom.

I. His Legs-The Administration of His Purposes (v. 15a)

1. "His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of fine gold"-the Lord's plans are always executed with dignity, order and strength.

a. "His legs are pillars of marble." The "legs" depict the way to walk in order to fulfill one's purpose. This phrase describes God's plans (ways) as enduring and permanent. In other words, God's plans will never fail! His strong legs, like marble, can't be overpowered by anything (Deuteronomy 32:4).

b. The phrase " ... set on bases of fine gold" speaks of His plans being rooted in His divine character. According to Revelation 15:3, the Lord's ways are always just and true. Psalm 25:10 also tells us that the paths of the Lord are truth.

J. His Countenance-His Impartation to His People (v. 15b)

1. "His countenance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars"-this phrase speaks of the impartation of the Lord's presence to His people. In Psalm 4:6, David prayed, ''Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us." This prayer is for a discernible manifestation of the Lord's presence to His children. When the light of God shines on the human heart, the Lord is imparting His graces upon a person. Only the Lord has the unique ability to leave a godly deposit on the human heart.

a. "His countenance ... like Lebanon." Lebanon is symbolic of that which is glorious and honorable.

b. " ... excellent as the cedars." Cedars are tall, strong trees that have a rich fragrance. The strength and pleasure that corne from the presence of God is pictured here as strong and fragrant as the cedars. There's nothing more pleasurable to the human spirit than the countenance (presence) of the Lord.

K His Mouth-Intimacy With Jesus (v. 16a)

1. "His mouth is most sweet"-the Lord's mouth speaks of the communication (kisses) of intimacy. It does not refer to His speech.

a. "His mouth is ... sweet." Nothing delights the heart of the Bride like spiritual intimacy with her Bridegroom. It's not a coincidence that this phrase comes immediately after the Bride describes her Lover's countenance. It's as if she's saying, ''When you impart Your presence to me, it's the sweetest thing I could ever experience." In times of spiritual dryness, one of the best things we can do is withdraw from all of the activities around us and get alone with the Lord. If we'll give Him time to manifest Himself to us, we'll discover that His mouth is the sweetest thing our hearts could ever imagine.

Pp.,te: _

70

L. His Comprehensive Beauty (v. 16a,b)

1. " ... he is altogether lovely TIlls is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem"-after describing the ten characteristics of the Lord's beauty, the Bride now expresses her final thoughts about Him.

a. " ... he is altogether lovely." In this one phrase, the Bride clearly indicates that it's impossible to fully comprehend the Lord's matchless beauty. To her, He is the loveliest Person imaginable.

b. " ... TIlls is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem." TIlls phrase conveys the longings of the heart of the Bride for the "daughters" (immature believers) to experience the majestic beauty of her Lover. She wants them to understand that the ''Jesus'' of religion is so different from the ''Jesus'' that she knows. She wants to present Him as the glorious '~swer" to their question expressed in verse nine. There is no condemnation in her approach to the "daughters of Jerusalem." Their lack of dedication has not offended the Bride. Instead of rebuking them, she chooses to reveal Jesus to them. She seeks to capture their hearts for Jesus by magnifying His beauty!

71

PA-U: _

pp.,1z.: _

72

Testin~ (b:4-fO

INTRODUCTION

In this part of our study, Jesus finally breaks His silence and answers the heart cry of the Bride. He has not spoken to her for some time (5:2). As the Bride is talking to the daughters of Jerusalem, the Lord suddenly interrupts her to communicate His feelings for her. He affirms her in a very extravagant way. He shares His impressions of her following her two-fold test.

I. JESUS' PORTRAYAL OF HIS BRIDE (6:4)

A. A Three-Fold Description of Her Beauty (v. 4)

1. «0 my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah ... "-nine times in the Song of Songs the Bridegroom affirms the Bride's beauty. The revelation of Jesus' affections for her and her loving obedience to Him in time of testing has enhanced her beauty.

a. The word ''Tirzah'' literally means beautiful or delightful. Tirzah was a capital city of the Canaanites before Israel captured Palestine. It was one of the most beautiful cities in the Gentile world.

b. In comparing the Bride's beauty to the city of Tirzah, Jesus is telling her that her beauty would be enough to win the hearts of unbelievers around her.

2. «0 my love, you are .. .lovely as Jerusalem ... "-Jerusalem was the spiritual capital of Israel.

God chose Jerusalem as the national center of worship.

a. Jerusalem symbolizes worship, or inner beauty that comes from worshipping God.

b. Some commentaries suggest that the city of Tirzah represents unbelieving Gentiles nations while Jerusalem symbolizes true, believing Jews. It appears that Jesus is comparing His Bride to these two cities in order to suggest that her beauty would be sufficient to win both unbelievers and believers to wholehearted love and devotion to Him.

3. «0 my love, you are ... awesome as an army with banners"-this phrase depicts the beauty of her spiritual victory that she experienced out of her season of testing.

a. An army with banners speaks of a victorious army. When an army returned home victorious in battle, it marched down the streets waving its banners. The defeated king, along with his men, were marched in chains behind the procession.

b. The Bride came through her two-fold test as a victorious army with banners. She didn't give in to the enemy by blaming her Lover for her negative circumstances. She didn't give up on the Lord when everything went wrong. Instead, she responded to Him in love even in the most difficult test of her life. She is likened to a victorious army because she gained victory over her own soul during this time of extreme pain and confusion.

73

PA-te.: _

c. In the beginning of the Book (2:4), the Bride declared, ''His banner over me is love." We now see her marching in victory with the banner of the love of God waving above her. It was the revelation of God's love for her that strengthened her during her hour of testing.

II. JESUS' PORTRAYAL OF HIS PASSION FOR HIS BRIDE (6:5a)

A. The Overwhelmed Heart of God (v. 5a)

1. "Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me"-Jesus is overcome by the irresistible love of His Bride. This is one of the most incredible passages in all of the Bible.

a. The Holy Spirit uses Solomon's words of love for the Shulamite maiden to convey Jesus' passion for His people. Think of it--God is overwhelmed by weak people who have a heart to submit to His Spirit.

b. The Bride didn't understand the impact that her eyes (devotion and faithfulness) were having on the Lord's heart because she felt little or nothing during her test of faith.

c. Jesus isn't asking the Bride to literally turn her gaze away from Him. He is simply speaking in poetic language. He is using love language to illustrate the hold the Bride has upon His heart. This same feeling was conveyed to Moses when the Lord said to him, " .. .let me alone" (Exodus 32:10). Moses had a hold on the heart of God.

d. The irresistible love of the Bride overwhelms the heart of God This is the ravished heart of God in full manifestation (4:9).

e. Our love for Jesus in the midst of severe testing is more precious to Him than we will ever understand. For example, the Syro-Phoenician woman had no idea that Jesus was lovingly taken back by her heart when He seemingly was refusing her (Matthew 15:22- 28).

f. Nothing in all of God's creation overwhelms His heart like the love and devotion of the Bride.

III. JESUS' PORTRAYAL OF THE BRIDE'S MATURITY (6:5b-7)

A. A Three-Fold Description of Her Character (vv. 5b-7)

1. " ... Your hair is like a flock of goats going down from Gilead"-the following character descriptions of the Bride are the same ones mentioned early in her spiritual journey in Song of Songs 4:1-3 (see previous notes entitled "The Prophetic Affirmations of the Bridegroom''). However, these same character traits have now come to maturity as a result of the period of testing that she endured

a. This verse speaks of her dedication to God, which results in good works of service that are orderly and plentiful.

2. "Your teeth are like a flock of sheep which have come up from the washing; everyone bears twins, and none is barren among them"-this phrase speaks of the Bride's long and loving meditation on the Word of God. As a result of her love for the Word, the Bride's life is abundantly fruitful, as well as free from fleshly zeal and wisdom.

3. ''Like a piece of pomegranate are your temples behind your veil"-this phrase speaks of her emotions as being sweet to God. It also refers to her life of modesty as being genuine and not just a show before people.

J)pt,1;e.: 74

rv THE ROYAL COURTS OF THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM (6:8-9)

A. The Bride's Unique Honor in the Courts of Heaven (vv. 8-9)

1. "There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number"-Jesus is comparing the attendants in a Iring's court to the angelic hosts of heaven. The courts of heaven include a host of glorious attendants, symbolized as queens, concubines and virgins. They represent the various degrees of glory and honor in the courts of God. Jesus, as King, is surrounded by a host of glorious creatures that are filled with divine splendor. Yet, He declares to His Bride in verse nine, ''You transcend all of them."

2. The Bible clearly describes the angelic hosts of heaven as inferior in glory to the Bride of Christ.

a. In Hebrews 1:14, the angels are pictured serving the saints.

b. In 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Paul states that the saints will judge angels in the age to come.

c. Throughout the Book of Revelation, the angels are described as servants of Jesus and His Bride.

3. The numbers mentioned in verse eight (sixty, eighty and a group without number) symbolize the different degrees of glory in the courts of heaven. These numbers are not to be taken literally, but instead, represent different ranks within the King's court.

4. ''My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The daughters saw her and called her blessed, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her"-this verse speaks of the Bride's unique honor before Jesus.

a. The phrase "My dove" speaks of her purity and singleness of heart.

b. The phrase " ... my perfect one" could also be translated "my undefiled one." God's ultimate purpose for the Bride is that she would be filled with all of the fullness of Christ.

c. " ... the only one of her mother"-the Bride is the "unique one," the "unrivaled one" in all of the courts of heaven. She is Jesus' inheritance!!! He has no other. The Bride is Jesus' magnificent obsession.

d. The phrase" ... the favorite of the one who bore her" is translated" ... she is the pure child of the one who bore her" in the New American Standard Version.

e. "The daughters saw her and called her blessed"--this phrase suggests that even immature believers will be able to understand what God is doing to mature the Church. They will esteem what He is doing and not dismiss it as legalism or fanaticism.

f. " ... the queens and the concubines, ... they praised her"--the hosts of heaven will rejoice as the Bride comes into her eternal position next to her Bridegroom and King. The courts of heaven will honor the Bride.

V. THE BRIDE'S CROWN OF GLORY (6:10)

A. The Four-Fold Nature of Her Glory (v. 10)

1. ''Who is she who looks forth as the morning"--this phrase could also be translated, ''Who

75

p~~------------

is this who breaks forth like the dawn?" The light of dawn appears on the horizon every morning and gradually increases' into a noonday sun. This speaks of the Bride's progressive spiritual growth, as well as her gradual spiritual ascent and victory over the flesh

(proverbs 4:18).

a. "The morning" or new start of every day speaks of God's mercy as the foundation of everything the Bride accomplishes (psalm 130:1-3; Lamentations 3:22-23).

2. " ... fair as the moon"-the New American Standard Version translates this phrase " ... beautiful as the full moon."

a. The moon does not have its own light. The moon only reflects the light of the sun, thus providing light in the night.

b. The mature Church is to be a source of light in a dark and fallen world. The beauty of the Bride comes from the light (glory) of Jesus Christ, which is freely imparted to her.

3. " ... clear (bright or radiant) as the sun"-Jesus is the "sun" in the eternal city (Revelation 21: 23). "While the sun has more brilliance and power than the moon, the moon reflects the "glory" of the sun. This phrase portrays the authority and power that the Bride is going to share with the "Son." She will have His authority. She will be seated at His side, reflecting His glory throughout eternity!

4. " ... awesome (terrible, majestic) as an army with banners"-m Song of Songs 6:4, the Bride was victorious over her own heart during a time of severe testing. As a result, she conquered the Lord's heart in a very unique way (6:5). Here in this phrase we have a picture of the Bride now victorious over the powers of darkness as she shines like the moon in the darkness of this world. The mature Bride will be like a majestic army that eventually experiences great victory over the kingdom of darkness.

a. The word "awesome" can be translated "terrifying." The Bride will one day be seen as a terrifying, conquering army. The powers of darkness will be terrified of her because of the authority and glory the Lord has placed upon her. She will be the weapon in God's hand over all His enemies.

Pp.,te.: _

76

INTRODUCTION

As we come to this part of our study, we are introduced to four distinct themes. First, the Bride is overcome with love and concern for the entire family of God. Second, she finds herself faced with persecution as she seeks to fulfill the Great Commission. Third, the Bride is vindicated by the daughters of Jerusalem as they express their deep appreciation for her. Finally, the Bride is vindicated by the Bridegroom Himself as He endorses her as His partner.

I. THE BRIDE'S COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE FAMILY OF GOD (6:11)

A. The Family of God Compared to a Garden (v. 11)

1. "I went down to the garden of nuts (walnut grove)"-the garden is mentioned nine times in the Song. The first three times it's mentioned, it symbolizes the Bride's own personal life (4:12,15,16b). The last six times the garden is referring to the remainder of the family of believers (4:16b; 5:1; 6:2,11; 7:12; 8:13).

a. The phrase «I went down to the garden of nuts (walnut grove)" depicts the Bride's determination to serve their purposes of God among the people of God

b. In this phrase, the body of believers is portrayed as a grove of walnuts.

(1) The walnut tree, with its dense shade, provided a place of refreshing during the hot summer.

(2) Walnut trees were a main source of oil, which was used for cleansing (making soap).

(3) Walnut trees had fragrant leaves that were medicinal in value.

2. " ... to see the verdure of the valley, to see whether the vine had budded and the pomegranates had bloomed"-Webster's dictionary defines the word «verdure" as the fresh vibrant greenness of flourishing vegetation. This phrase speaks of the flourishing work of God in other places. The Bride desires to visit the Lord's vineyard in places outside her own sphere. She's committed to help other believers grow and mature in their love for the Bridegroom.

a. The vine speaks of the Word of God The Bride's desire is to see God's Word produce fruit in the people of God throughout the nations of the world.

b. The blossoming pomegranates speak of immature believers. The Bride wants to nurture and embrace those who are not yet mature in the things of God.

II. THE BRIDE'S LOVE FOR THE FAMILY OF GOD (6:12)

A. A Love That Overwhelms Her (v. 12)

1. "Before I was even aware, my soul had made me as the chariots of my noble people"-this phrase depicts the zeal and passion that the Bride begins to feel for others.

a. "Before I was even aware"-the Bride is surprised by the new desires and burdens that

77

PI4-te.: _

she feels in her heart. Before she is even aware of it, her soul starts moving swiftly towards others like a king's chariot.

b. The New International Version of the Bible translates the phrase "the chariots of my noble people" as "the royal chariots." The best chariots belonged to the royal family or members of nobilitv.

c. The most expensive chariots possessed the greatest speed and traveled with the greatest ease. The Bride's enthusiasm moves like a chariot as she experiences deep feelings for other parts of the Lord's vineyard.

d. One of the greatest characteristics of the end-time Bride will be her fiery passion for other believers. The heart of the Bride will be swift to move forward in love and concern for other parts of the Body of Christ. This will be in answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17.

III. A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM (6:13a)

A. The Daughters' Desire to Seek the Lord (v. 13a)

1. ''Return, return, 0 Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon you"-the daughters express their desire to seek the Lord with her. The repeated use of the word "return" strongly communicates their desire to be near her. They want to follow her example as she follows her Bridegroom. The daughters loved her ministry because the fragrance of Jesus was with her.

rv A SARCASTIC RESPONSE FROM SOME OF THE BRIDE'S LEADERS (6:13b)

A. Warring With the Watchmen (v. 13b)

1. "What would you see in the Shulamite-as it were, the dance of the two camps?"-the watchmen who struck the Bride in chapter five have a sarcastic response to the heart cry of the daughters of Jerusalem.

a. The phrase "the two camps" is translated "the camp of Mahanaim" in the New International Version of the Bible. The Hebrew word "Mahanaim" can be translated "two camps," "two armies," or "two companies." Mahanaim was the town where Esau pursued Jacob. Jacob divided his company into two groups at Mahanaim so that Esau could only destroy one of the groups if he attacked. While running from Esau, Jacob experienced a visitation from God. As a result, Jacob was supernaturally strengthened by the Lord in the midst of his conflict with Esau.

b. The phrase "the dance" speaks of the interaction between two parties. In this case, it's a negative interaction. It's a "dance of spiritual warfare." ''The dance" refers to a conflict between two armies and the corresponding supernatural intervention of God to deliverHis anointed.

c. Spiritual warfare is often manifested as division between jealous people and godly people. The Lord uses the "Esau's" to train the '::Jacob's" in righteousness.

d. Jesus always brings division between the sincere and the insincere (those who are rebellious against God).

e. The passionate Bride will always disrupt the agendas of politically motivated leaders.

The leaders' jealousy for the Bride's purity and devotion to Jesus will cause them to view her as a troublemaker, implying that she brings division wherever she goes.

Pp.,te: _

78

V. THE BRIDE'S VINDICATION (7:1-5)

A. The Daughters' Defense of the Bride (vv. 1-5)

1. "How beautiful are your feet in sandals, 0 prince's daughter! The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman. Your navel is a rounded goblet, which lacks no blended beverage. Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus. Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by its tresses"-jealous leaders have just asked the question, ''Who is this Shulamite anyway?" The daughters of Jerusalem respond by speaking up and affirming ten godly characteristics in the Bride's life.

a. "How beautiful are your feet in sandals, 0 prince's daughter!"-the Bride's success in evangelism impacts the daughters. The phrase " ... feet in sandals" speaks of evangelism (Isaiah 52:7; Ephesians 6:15). This is the first activity of the Bride noticed by these immature believers.

(1) The phrase "in sandals" speaks of prosperity and honor. Soldiers and aristocrats of Solomon's day were the only ones to wear shoes. In contrast, bare feet symbolize poverty, shame, and humiliation.

b. ''The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman" -this phrase speaks of the Bride's walk of purity and devotion adorned by the grace of God

(1) ''Thighs'' speak of the strength behind her walk.

(2) The phrase ''The curves of your thighs" speaks of the muscular definition in her legs, giving her the strength in her walk. The definition in her legs was developed through hard work and discipline.

(3) "The curves of your thighs are like jewels"-this phrase speaks of the muscular features of her thighs as being rare and costly like jewels.

(4) " ... the work of the hands of a skillful workman"-The Bride has been strengthened and prepared by Jesus' skillful workmanship in her life (Ephesians 2:10).

(5) God has strategically charted a course of preparation for our lives. His work in . each of us isn't haphazard. He trains us in His perfect wisdom and forms us in His hands.

c. "Your navel is a rounded goblet which lacks no blended beverage"-the Bride's early spiritual foundations were good because God nourished her properly.

(1) The "navel" speaks of the nourishment of a child in a mother's womb. It represents her inner life.

(2) The phrase " .. .is a rounded goblet which lacks no blended beverage" speaks of a well-balanced diet that brings strength and maturity to the inner life. In other words, her inward life is balanced and wholesome.

d. ''Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies"-this phrase depicts the coming of a harvest that is birthed out of the womb of the Bride.

(1) The word "waist" should be translated "womb."

79

PII-U: _

(2) ~'heat is a picture of a coming harvest. The Bride is about to give birth to an abundant (heap) harvest.

(3) "Lilies" speak of purity and innocence. The Bride's converts will be like lilies in innocence and purity before the Lord.

e. ''Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle"-the Bride's ability to feed and nurture others is highlighted here in this phrase.

(1) "Breasts" speak of the power to give nourishment and refreshment to others. (2) The phrase " ... like two fawns" refers to the Bride's youthful ability to bring nourishment to those who are immature.

(3) " ... twins of a gazelle"-this phrase speaks of a double ability to nurture other believers through the milk of the Word

f. ''Your neck is like an ivory tower"-this phrase refers to the Bride's resolute commitment to her Bridegroom.

(1) The phrase ''Your neck" speaks of the Bride's will.

(2) " ... like an ivory tower"-this phrase refers to a place of protection and strength that is rare and costly. The Bride's resolute commitment to her Lover is a powerful protection against the onslaughts of the enemy.

g. " ... your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim"-this phrase speaks of the Bride's spiritual insight and focus (Ephesians 1:18).

(1) " ... like the pools in Heshbon"-Heshbon was once a royal city where the Amorite King Sihon lived (Numbers 21:25-26). The pools of Heshbon were incredibly clean. They were not muddy at all.

(2) " ... by the gate of Bath Rabbim"-Bath Rabbim was a resort area that was known for its clean water.

h. ''Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus"-this section of the verse refers to the Bride's discernment in matters of spiritual warfare.

(1) The "nose" symbolizes spiritual discernment.

(2) ": .. which looks toward Damascus"-Damascus was the capital of Syria, Israel's greatest enemy.

(3) " ... like the tower of Lebanon"-the Bride's discernment is like a tower that guards the king's property from its enemies. The tower of Lebanon faced in the direction of Damascus. This phrase speaks of the Bride's ability to discern the dangers that could come from the fiercest enemy of God's people.

1. "Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel"-this phrase speaks of the wisdom and purity of the Bride's thought-life.

(1) The phrase ''Your head" refers to her thoughts.

(2) " ... like Mount Carmel"-the wisdom and purity of her thought-life is likened to a fruitful and beautiful mountain.

(3) The mind is one of the most significant targets of the enemy in spiritual warfare. Satanic attacks normally begin as an attack against our thoughts. ~en our image of God is wrong and our hope is undermined, then we are spiritually vulnerable.

p~~------------

80

j. " ... and the hair of your head is like purple"-this phrase beautifully depicts the work of the Holy Spirit in the Bride's life that enables her to be fully dedicated to her Bridegroom.

(1) The phrase " ... the hair of your head" speaks of the Bride's dedication and commitment to the Lord (Numbers 6).

(2) " .. .is like purple"-purple speaks of royalty. The Bride's dedication (hair) comes from the King Himself "Hair ... like purple" speaks of the power of her dedication being the work of God in her life.

k. " ... a king is held captive by its tresses"-this phrase speaks of the Bride's impact on the heart of King Jesus.

(1) The phrase " ... a king" is translated "the King" in the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

(2) The phrase " ... by its tresses" refers to the locks of the Bride's hair.

(3) " ... a king is held captive"-King Jesus is held captive by the Bride's strong resolve to do the will of God regardless of what it costs her. Her love and obedience captivates the heart of her Bridegroom.

VI. JESUS VINDICATES HIS BRIDE (1: 6-9a)

A. He Affirms Her Beauty (vv. 6-9a)

1. "How fair and how pleasant you are, 0 love, with your delights" -there is nothing more delightful to Jesus than the love that flows from the heart of His Bride.

2. "This stature of yours is like a palm tree"-Jesus affirms the Bride's spiritual maturity.

a. Her stature speaks of her spiritual maturity.

b. " ... stature ... like a palm tree "--during Solomon's day, the palm tree was used as a sign of victory and conquest. The palm tree also grows exceptionally high and straight because its roots go very deep. This is a picture of tremendous perseverance under pressure. The winds can come but the palm tree doesn't break. It's as if Jesus is saying to His Bride, "You are like a palm tree. You don't move during times of storm. You are a sign of victory."

3. " ... and your breasts like its clusters"-this phrase speaks of the Bride's abundant capacity to feed and nurture others.

a. ''Breasts'' speak of the power to feed others.

b. The phrase " ... like its cluster" refers the Bride's incredible ability to nurture others through the Word of God.

4. "I said, 'I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches"'-Jesus is promising to rel~se His power and presence in and through His Bride.

a. " ... 1 will take hold of its branches"-Jesus will release power through the branches (ministries) that truly glorify His Father.

5. "Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine"-Jesus is saying to His Bride, "Let your ability to nurture others be inundated with the wine of my Spirit."

81

P14-f;e.: _

6. " ... the fragrance of your breath like apples"-Jesus commissions His Bride to an inner life that is wholesome, clean and delightful-a life that is filled with the refreshing (anointing) of the Holy Spirit.

a. The phrase " ... your breath" speaks of the Bride's inner life.

b. ''Apples'' refer to that which refreshes.

c. The Bride's inner life is refreshing and delightful to Jesus.

7. ''And the roof of your mouth like the best wine"-this phrase speaks of divine intimacy.

a. The phrase " ... the roof of your mouth" speaks of the Bride's intimacy with Jesus.

b. The Hebrew word for "roof" can also be translated "taste." This word also magnifies the Lord's desire for intimacy with His Bride.

c. The ''best wine" is that which is most refreshing and delightful. The best thing that Jesus can experience in His created order is intimacy with His Bride. This is the most pleasurable thing to Him outside the Godhead.

P",te: _

82

INTRODUCTION

As we come to this section of our study, we are introduced to four unique features of the Bride's partnership with Jesus. In verses 9-10, bridal partnership is expressed in mature obedience to Jesus. In verses 11-13, it's expressed in her prayer for more power. Bridal partnership is also demonstrated in the Bride's boldness in public ministry (8:1-2). Finally, in verses 3-4, bridal partnership is expressed in the Bride's communion with the Lord.

I. BRIDAL PARTNERSHIP EXPRESSED IN MATURE OBEDIENCE TO JESUS (7:9b)

A. An Obedience Based on Love (v. 9b)

1. "The wine goes down smoothly for my beloved, moving gently the lips of sleepers" -here in this section of verse 9, the train of thought changes drastically. Whereas the Lord speaks to the Bride in the first part of verse 9, the Bride now interrupts the Lord to express her deep feelings of commitment to Him.

a, «The wine"-this phrase speaks of the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the Bride's life.

b. "The wine goes down smoothly"-the Bride is willing to receive anything that comes from the Holy Spirit. She seeks to avoid everything that resists the Spirit's activity in her life. The mature Bride doesn't want the Lord to have to wrestle with her in order for her to obey Him (contrast with Song of Songs 2:8-10). She wants to live a life of instant obedience.

c. The phrase « ... for my beloved" conveys the idea that the Bride desires to be obedient to the Holy Spirit because of her love for Jesus. She is determined to live a life of obedience based on love and not legalism or condemnation.

d. « ... moving gently the lips of sleepers"-the wine of the Spirit in the Bride's life is able to awaken those who are spiritually asleep. The Spirit uses her to lovingly (gently) revive these individuals in order for them to live and speak boldly for the Lord's glory.

II. THE BRIDE'S TWO-FOLD IDENTITY IN THE LOVE OF GOD (7:10)

A. Her Identity as a Lover of God (v. lOa)

1. «I am my bdoved's"-the Bride's obedience is first rooted in her identity as a lover of God.

a. The Bride's identity is defined by Who she loves and not by what she does.

B. Her Identity as One Whom Jesus Desires (lOb)

1. « ... his desire is toward me"-the Bride has incredible insight into Jesus' enjoyment of her.

This is her greatest revelation in the Song. This phrase gives us a glimpse into what motivates her to instant obedience.

83

J)14-U: _

a. The revelation of God's enjoyment of us, even in our weakness, empowers us to overcome Satan's accusations against us. The revelation of His love enables us to fed some of what He feels.

III. BRIDAL PARTNERSHIP EXPRESSED IN THE BRIDE'S PRAYER FOR MORE POWER (7:11-13)

A. The Bride's Commitment to the Great Commission (vv. 11-13)

1. «Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field; let us lodge in the villages"-this phrase speaks of the Bride's desire to go into the harvest fields.

a. «The field" speaks of the worldwide harvest (Iohn 4:35; Matthew 13:37-38).

b. « .. Jet us lodge in the villages"-this phrase refers to the sparsely populated areas of the earth where Jesus wants to build His Church.

c. Notice the phrase, « ... my beloved." In the midst of revival (harvest), the Bride still stays focused on her intimacy with Jesus.

d. The phrase « .. .let us" emphasizes the fact that the two of them are yoked together as colaborers. They are working together in mature partnership. The Bride doesn't want to work in the harvest fields unless her Lover goes with her. This is the same desire that Moses expressed in Exodus 33:12-17.

2. ''Let us get up early to the vineyards"-in this phrase the Bride e:ll."presses her willingness to embrace inconvenience in her labors within the Lord's vineyards.

a. The phrase « ... get up early" speaks of inconvenience and diligence in serving the Lord

b. «The vineyards" refer to other parts of the family of God (ministries, etc.) that aren't necessarily under the Bride's sphere of influence. The Bride is no longer self-absorbed. She cares a lot about the condition of the other vineyards and not just her own. Usually leaders only put time, money, and energy into their own ministries or denominations. It's rare to find leaders or ministries willing to invest in the ministries of others.

3. " .. Jet us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom"-the budding vine, the grape blossoms, and the blooming pomegranates speak of immature individuals and ministries within the family of God. It's difficult to work with those who are spiritually immature. We can grow impatient and be tempted to give up on them. The Bride, however, has patience with them and sees the value and potential in each of them,

4. ''There I will give you my love" -the Bride is still an intimate lover of Jesus in the midst of her selfless labors for others. She has fully embraced both the call to draw near to Him in intimacy and the call to run with Him in ministry. Many of God's servants lose their intimacy with the Lord because of the burden and pressure of ministry. They either tty to find their identity in the ministry or they overwork themselves because they aren't willing to release certain responsibilities to others. The Lord's plan is to have a Bride who works with Him as a result of her extravagant love for Him.

5. «The mandrakes give off a fragrance" -the mandrake is a purple flower with a beautiful fragrance. In the Old Testament, the mandrake fruit was known as a «love fruit." It's first mentioned in the story of Rachel and Leah (Genesis 30:14-16). This phrase speaks of intimate love between the Bride and the Bridegroom. Their romance releases a fragrance as

PA-te,: 84

they labor together in the harvest.

6. " ... and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved" -the Bride knows that the fruit of her ministry is pleasant and delightful to the Lord.

a. The gates" speak of those things that are under the Bride's authority. They also refer to those things that are within her grasp. She's saying, "The harvest is right before me. At my own gates, within my own grasp, are the fruits of my partnership with Jesus." The promise of revival is unfolding right before her eyes.

b. " ... all manner, new and old"-there's tremendous diversity taking place in the Bride's life and ministry. There are "new" and surprising things happening in her ministry. She has been given fresh insights into the things of the Spirit. However, she's also drawing off the things the Lord has shown her in days gone by.

c. " ... which I have laid up for you, my beloved"-the Bride has laid up treasure in heaven from her life of obedience. She wants to cast this treasure (her crowns) at the feet of Jesus one day. All her efforts have been motivated by love for her Bridegroom.

rv BRIDAL PARTNERSHIP EXPRESSED IN THE BRIDE'S BOLDNESS IN PUBLIC MINISTRY (8:1-2)

A. The Bride's Desire to Publicly Demonstrate Her Affections for Jesus (vv. 1-2)

1. "Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised"--during the time of Solomon, it was improper for a young woman to publicly express any affection toward a member of the opposite sex unless it was someone from her own immediate family. Even after a woman was promised to a man in marriage, she still couldn't hold hands with him or kiss him in public. However, she could hold hands with her brother and even kiss him in public.

a. The above phrase graphically illustrates the Bride's longing to be more intimate with Jesus even when out in public. She has the boldness of the Spirit motivating her to openly demonstrate her full partnership with Jesus.

2. "I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she who used to instruct me"-the Bride wants to bring a deeper revelation of Jesus to her family (the Church) in order to stir them to passionate obedience.

a. The phrase " ... house of my mother" refers to the family of God, the Church. The Bride is committed to bringing a deeper understanding of Jesus to those with whom she has had a long-term relationship.

b. One of the hardest things for us to do is share the intimate things of the Lord with those we have known for years. We sometimes find ourselves intimidated by their knowledge of our past.

3. "I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate"-the Bride longs to give her very best to Jesus.

a. Spiced wine was the most expensive and enjoyable wine. For a hostess to give her guests spiced wine meant that she had given her best wine to them.

85

Pa,U: _

b. Even in the most familiar relationships, the Bride wants to give her best to Jesus. She doesn't want to be intimidated by anything.

V. BRIDAL PARTNERSHIP EXPRESSED IN THE BRIDE'S COMMUNION WITH JESUS (8:3-4)

A. The Invisible Work of God in the Bride's Life (v. 3a)

1. "His left hand is under my head"--God's left hand speaks of His indiscernible activity in the Bride's life. Because His left hand is under her head, she can't see it.

a. We will never know how many times the Lord has intervened in our lives, protecting us from the onslaughts of the Enemy.

B. The Manifestation of the Lord's Discernible Love in the Bride's Life (v. 3b)

1. " ... his right hand embraces me"-this phrase speaks of the visible blessings of the Lord that are obvious to the Bride. A physical embrace is easy to discern.

a. The Lord manifests His embrace to her so she can feel it and experience it It's His embrace that tenderizes her heart.

2. "J charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it (she) pleases"-the Lord admonishes the immature believers not to distract the Bride from her divine mandate (See other notes from Song of Songs 2:6-7).

!>II,U: 86

INTRODUCTION

In this section of our study, we're introduced to the Holy Spirit's prophetic declaration of the Bride's victory at the end of the age. All of the training in the Bride's life has been for the purpose of bringing her out of this fallen world with a leaning, loving heart. Jesus also reminds the Bride of her past journey and then manifests Himself as her bridal seal

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PROPHETIC DECLARATION (8:5)

A. The Bride's Victory Over All Obstacles (v. Sa)

1. <CWho is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?"-the Holy Spirit gives a prophetic proclamation of the Bride's final victory. Even though it's in the form of a question, it's obvious that He sees a mature Bride who at the end of history has persevered and overcome through her trials in this world.

a. <CWho is this coming up from the wilderness"-in this phrase, the "wilderness" refers to several things. First of all, it depicts the fallen world that's under the influence of Satan. Secondly, the "wilderness" represents the Bride's difficulties and testing in her life that God used to train her in righteousness.

b. "Who is this coming up"-the phrase «coming up" speaks of the Bride's victory in the midst of temptation and difficulty. In Song of Songs 2:8-10, Jesus urged the Bride to «come up" with Him to the mountains. Because of fear of the unknown, she refused to go with Him and, as a result, she was lovingly corrected. We now see the Bride ascending in victory, joyfully meeting her Lover on the mountain of spices (Song of Songs 8:14).

c. <'Who is this .. .leaning"-the Bride has fully embraced the «weakness" of the Cross and has acknowledged Jesus as the source of her strength. She is «leaning" on her beloved as one who is fully dependent upon Him. As a result of her seasons of testing, the Bride has a deep understanding of her inadequacies and weaknesses. This is what Paul is referring to in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (read chapter five of SJ. Hill's book entitled PERSONAL REVIVAL).

(1) The Word of God clearly teaches us that in times of blessing many individuals forgot the Lord and used His blessings to further their own cause. All through history when God prospered His people, many often ended up not loving Him or leaning on Him at the end of their journey. Even some of the leaders of revival became intoxicated with their own importance. They thought they were indispensable to God's Kingdom, and they ended up losing their sense of dependency upon the Lord. The human heart is prone to independence. This is why we need to embrace the weakness that comes with the Cross and allow the Lord to remove all pride from our hearts.

d. <'Who is this coming up .. .leaning upon her beloved"-the Bride is motivated and empowered by the love of her Bridegroom. She comes up from the wilderness of the

87

Pp.,te.: _

world victoriously in love. The revelation of God's love imparted to the human heart is the only way a person will not ultimately quit in the wilderness of this world.

II. JESUS' REMINDER OF THE BRIDE'S PAST JOURNEY (8:5b)

A. The Lord's Awakening of the Bride (v. 5b)

1. " ... J awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; there she who bore you brought you forth"-Jesus is reminding the Bride of her beginning.

a. ''1 awakened you"-in the beginning, when she had no thoughts of Him, He awakened her heart by refreshing her with His kindness (Romans 2:4). According to the Scriptures, the Lord is always "the Great Initiator of love." Even in the case of the Laodicean Church, it was the Lord's loving knock on her heart's door that awakened her to holy passion (Revelation 3:20).

b. " ... under the apple tree"-the apple tree speaks of a place of refreshment. In this phrase, Jesus is reminding the Bride of His refreshing work of grace in her life and the revelations He gave her of His love.

c. " ... There your mother brought you forth; there she who bore you brought you forth"Jesus reminds the Bride of her spiritual lineage. She owed much to those who labored

in the grace of God to give birth to her. This phrase also speaks of those within the family of God who made an impact on her life.

III. JESUS, THE BRIDAL SEAL OF LOVE (8:6-7)

A. Jesus' Invitation to the Bride (v. 6)

1. "Set me as seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm"-Jesus invites the Bride to set Him as a seal upon her heart. Some commentaries and books suggest that the Bride is speaking here, but I believe it's unreasonable to view it this way. It's hard to believe that she would plead with the Lord to love her after all He has spoken to her throughout the Song.

a. "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm"-in Solomon's day, a royal seal authenticated documents such as tide deeds and military strategies. It was made of wax, and the king used his signet ring to seal the documents. The wax seal spoke of the king's ownership, protection, and authority. The power of the king's empire was behind the seal. The language of this phrase suggests that Jesus wants the Bride to put a seal on her heart (affections) and arm (ministry). This request by the King is a challenge to her to live out the two greatest commandments mentioned in Matthew 22:37- 39. Jesus wants to be the protection of her heart to keep her from backsliding into sin. He also wants to be the protection of the Bride's ministry so she won't experience burnout.

B. The Comprehensive Nature of the Bridal Seal (v. 6b)

1. " ... for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame"-in this phrase Jesus describes the nature of His seal of love.

a. " ... for love is as strong as death't-s-dearh is all encompassing! Nothing in the natural order of things can escape it. Jesus is using graphic language to convey to the Bride that nothing can overpower His love for her. There is no addiction, root of bitterness, or

p~~------------

88

demon stronger than the all-encompassing love of God (Romans 8:35-38).

b. " ... jealousy as crud as the grave"-the New International Version of the Bible translates "cruel" as "unyielding." Nothing in the natural order of things escapes the unyielding grip of the grave. Likewise, nothing in our lives can escape the unyielding grasp of God's jealous love. God's jealousy is a pure manifestation of His love. It must not be thought of in human terms. God cares intensely about His people. He is a passionate, consuming ocean of fiery love. His jealousy will touch everything in our lives that could potentially prevent us from experiencing a deeper intimacy with Him.

c .. " .. .its flames are flames (flashes) of fire, a most vehement flame"-the Bridal seal is a seal of fire that Jesus puts on the hearts of His people. He inspires fiery love in the heart of His Bride. It's a sovereign work of His Spirit.

(1) In the New American Standard Version of the Bible, the phrase "a most vehement flame" is translated "the very flame of God." Many believers view the fire of God only in negative terms. However, God's fire is primarily an expression of His passionate emotion. It's His fiery passion that consumes everything in our lives that would hinder bridal love. The fire doesn't consume us; it only consumes the dross.

C. The Power of the Bridal Seal (v. 7)

1. "Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it." -the waters of affliction can't extinguish the fire of God's love that has been placed in the heart of the Bride.

a. The phrase "Many waters" speaks of the obstacles and pressures of everyday life that try to prevent the Bride from experiencing the impartation of God's love to her heart. These "waters" can include such things as the cares of this world, accusation and condemnation from the Enemy, various temptations, as well as difficulties that tempt us to become offended with God because of their severity.

b. "The floods" speak of persecution. The violent floods of persecution can't put out the flames of divine love in the heart of the Bride (Revelation 12:7-17).

D. The Great Reward of the Bridal Seal (v. 7b)

1. " ... If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised"as the Bride's journey ends, Jesus gives her a proverb concerning unconquerable love. The proverb speaks of a man who would sacrificially give everything to help one that he deeply loves. It's talking about a love that has no price tags.

a. " ... the wealth of his house"-a house is more than a place in which one lives. It represents one's inheritance and all of the things that the family has accumulated over the years.

b. The phrase " ... it would be utterly despised" refers to what Paul was talking about in Philippians 3:7-10. No sacrifice on the Bride's part can compare to Christ's great love for her. She even despises the thought of comparing her sacrifices for Him to His sacrificial love for her. The only reward she wants is His unconditional love.

89

plfl,U: _

p~~------------

90

INTRODUCTION

In this last section of our study of the Song of Songs, we find the mature Bride interceding for two significant things. While overflowing with a fresh revelation of the Lord's jealous passion for her (8:5- 7), she first prays for those within the family of God who have not yet grown in mature love for the Bridegroom. Secondly, in beautiful poetic language, the lovesick Bride intercedes for the Lord's coming.

I. THE BRIDE'S FINAL INTERCESSION FOR THE FAMILY OF GOD (8:8-12)

A. Prayer for the Spiritually Immature (vv. 8-9)

1. ''We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar"-in these two verses the Bride expresses her strong sense of responsibility to prayerfully nurture and disciple immature believers.

a. ''We have a little sister"-the phrase "little sister" speaks of those who are spiritually immature within the family of God It also refers to the young maidens or daughters of Jerusalem mentioned throughout the Song.

b. " ... and she has no breasts"-the little sister is undeveloped in spiritual love. She is not yet equipped to feed others with the milk of the Word. Her inability to reproduce and nurture others speaks of her spiritual immaturity.

c. "What shall we do for our sister"-in this phrase, the Bride accepts mutual responsibility with Jesus to bring others into spiritual maturity.

d. The phrase " ... in the day that she is spoken for" speaks of the engagement period and the preparations for the joys of marriage. It also refers to the time when the "daughters" discover their identity as the Bride of Christ and experience mature bridal partnership with Jesus.

e. ''If she is a wall"-a wall speaks of protection. In Solomon's day, walls were necessary for cities to be properly guarded.

f. " ... we will build upon her"-this is a commitment from the Bride to work with Jesus in order to equip the little sister for ministry, so she will be able to spiritually nurture and protect others.

g. " ... a battlement of silver"-the New International Version of the Bible translates this phrase as "towers of silver." The battlement of a castle was the place on the top of the stone tower or wall where archers stood to shoot their arrows against their enemies. These towers or battlements provided places for the watchmen to spot their enemies and defend their city. Furthermore, "silver" in Scripture speaks of redemption. The phrase "a battlement of silver" symbolically refers to the little sister being properly equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit to bring redemption and protection to others.

91

PA-te.: _

h. " ... and if she is a door"-a door is a point of entry for others. As a door, the little sister becomes a vessel to help others through the door of salvation (Colossians 4:3). For some, she will be a wall of protection; for others, she will be a door of evangelism.

1. " •.. we will enclose her"-Jesus and the Bride will continue to work together with their sister until she is anointed with power to win the lost.

J. " ... with boards of cedar" --cedar is a strong, scented wood. In Song of Songs 3:9a, Jesus is the fragrant cedar of Lebanon. These fragrant boards of cedar speak of the fragrance of Christ on the little sister (2 Corinthians 2:15). It's this fragrance that will draw the unsaved to the Lord

B. The Bride's Maturity Revealed (v. 10)

1. "I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; then I became in his eyes as one who found peace"-this is the Bride's final confession in her journey of faith. She has had a revelation of her spiritual maturity, and this has made her extremely confident in her intercession before the Lord.

a. "I am a wall"-the Bride sees herself as a wall that exists in this world to protect the young believers. She now understands her life's purpose in a way she never did before.

b. " ... and my breasts are like towers"-throughout the Song, the breasts speak of the

ability to nurture others. This phrase refers to the Bride's ability to abundantly feed and nurture others.

c. " ... then I became in his eyes as one who found peace"-the Bride is now fully connected to her destiny. She understands who she is in the fullest sense. She has found peace in the purpose of God for her life.

C. The Bride's Understanding of Her Accountability Before God (vv. 11-12)

1. "Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; he leased the vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. My own vineyard is before me. You, 0 Solomon, may have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred"-this short parable refers to the day when all believers will give a complete account of what they have done for the Lord (Romans 14:12).

a. "Solomon"-throughout the Song of Songs, King Solomon is a type of King Jesus.

b. "Solomon had a vineyard" -Solomon's vineyard speaks of the family of God worldwide. It also refers to a great harvest at the end of the age.

c. " ... at Baal Hamon"-there is no mention in Scripture or in Israel's history of such a geographic location. Some versions of the Bible translate the name, Baal Hamon, as "the populous one."

d. The phrase" ... he leased the vineyard to keepers" refers to Jesus' vineyard being entrusted to His partners. It speaks of the Kingdom of God in this age being entrusted to the Church (Matthew 21:41).

e. " ... everyone was to bring for its fruit"-the Bride understands that all believers must give an account of their stewardship to the Lord. King Jesus expects a fruitful return from the gifts and talents He has given us.

f. " ... a thousand silver coins"-the number "1000" speaks of completion. It's a number that also speaks of fulness. The Lord desires fruitfulness from His investment in our

J)II-U: 92

lives. He will reward us on the basis of our faithfulness to Him and not on the measure of our giftedness. Even if our talents may appear to be insignificant in comparison to others, the only thing that matters is whether or not we have been faithful in what the Lord has given us.

g. The phrase "My own vineyard" speaks of the unique responsibilities given to her by the Lord. It refers to the sphere of influence for which she is accountable.

h. The phrase " .. .is before me" indicates that the Bride is aware that she will stand before the Lord one day and give a complete account of everything that was entrusted to her.

1. "You, 0 Solomon, may have a thousand"-the Bride is confident that she has given her full devotion to Jesus. This doesn't mean that she never made mistakes. It simply means that when she did stumble, she got up and ran into the heart of her Lover. The Bride's confession includes her assurance of complete victory as she stands before her King.

j. " ... and those who tend its fruit two hundred"-this phrase speaks of those who helped her on her journey to maturity and fruitfulness. They will also be honored and rewarded for being a part of her life and ministry (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

II. JESUS' FINAL COMMISSION TO THE BRIDE (8:13)

A. His Last Words to Her (v. 13)

1. "You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice-let me hear it"-at the end of her journey, the Bride is still vibrandy relating to the people of God.

a. "You who dwell in the gardens"-what a powerful statement of who she is in the grace of God. 'While so many individuals lose heart at the end of their journey, the Bride is still wholeheartedly involved in the purposes of God.

b. " ... the companions listen for your voice"-the believers who've received from the Bride's ministry still desire to be discipled by her. Even at the end of her journey, she still has credibility with them.

c. The phrase " .. .let me hear it" is the Lord's way of saying to His Bride, "In all of your activities for Me, don't forget to let Me hear your voice." He wants to hear her worship. He wants to hear her prayers. He wants to hear her voice in teaching His Word and proclaiming the Gospel to the unsaved. He wants to hear His Bride say "I love You," until she breathes her last breath on the earth.

III. THE BRIDE'S FINAL INTERCESSION FOR THE LORD'S COMING (8:14)

A. Her Last Words to Jesus (v. 14)

1. ''Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices"-the Bride instantly responds to the words of her Lover (v. 13) with worship and in tercession.

a. "Make haste, my beloved"-the Bride immediately responds by crying out for a deeper intimacy with the Lord as well as for His soon return.

b. " and be like a gazelle"-the Bride wants Jesus to swiftly come to her like a gazelle.

c. " or a young stag"-the Bride asks Jesus to be like the stag who conquered the moun-

tains of opposition in Song of Songs 2:8. In other words, she is saying to Him, "Come

93

Pp.,te.: _

and reveal Yourself as the Victorious King who triumphs over all His enemies."

d. « ... on the mountains of spices"-in Song of Songs 6:2, the family of God is referred to as a «garden of spices." In Song of Songs 4:14, the believer is also compared to a garden that is filled with «chief spices." However, the phrase «the mountains of spices" speaks of the beauty and pleasure of the eternal city. This is where Jesus is coming from. The Bride is longing for the day when He will take her to the eternal city-to the place where there will be no pain, sorrow or death. For her, it will be a place of unspeakable happiness and pleasure as she enjoys her Bridegroom forever.

PPvu,:

-------

94