Let Me See Your Face
A Lord Worth Loving • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:54
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· 4 viewsMorning 30 july 2023
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20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
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14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Introduction
The relationship between the Shulamite and Solomon continues to deepen as the desire to be together intensifies.
In this and the next three verses there are four ‘tests’ or characteristics of what true love is.
Desire v14
Determination v15
Duality v16
Development v17
We consider the first of these today. It is Solomon who is speaking
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1. Apprehension v14a
1. Apprehension v14a
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,.
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a. Shelter
a. Shelter
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,.
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b. Protection
b. Protection
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,
Only time used on OT means covering, protection, and hiding.
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2. Encouragement v14b
2. Encouragement v14b
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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a. Let Me See
a. Let Me See
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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b. Let Me Hear
b. Let Me Hear
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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c. Sweet
c. Sweet
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
d. Lovely
d. Lovely
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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We turn now to what we see of Christ’s love for us
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3. Apprehension v14a
3. Apprehension v14a
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,.
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a. Shelter
a. Shelter
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,
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Psalm 27:5 (ESV) — 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
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Psalm 91:1 (ESV) — 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
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15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
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b. Protection
b. Protection
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff,.
Only time used on OT means covering, protection, and hiding.
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Exodus 33:21–23 (ESV) — 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
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Psalm 18:2 (ESV) — 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
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Matthew 16:18 (ESV) — 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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Revelation 7:15 (ESV) — 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
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4. Encouragement v14b
4. Encouragement v14b
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (1. The Desire Test)
On a more spiritual level, remember that the Lord loves to see us and hear us, no matter how ugly we look or how croaky we sound. Here is an encouragement to come to him and worship him, and especially to pray to him.
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a. Let Me See
a. Let Me See
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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Psalm 11:4 (ESV) — 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
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Deuteronomy 34:10 (ESV) — 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
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2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
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1 Peter 3:12 (ESV) — 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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b. Let Me Hear
b. Let Me Hear
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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Romans 12:12 (ESV) — 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
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Matthew 6:6–13 (ESV) — 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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c. Sweet
c. Sweet
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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Psalm 18:6 (ESV) — 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
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Psalm 28:6 (ESV) — 6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
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Psalm 66:19 (ESV) — 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
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d. Lovely
d. Lovely
Song of Solomon 2:14 (ESV) — 14 let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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Psalm 147:10–11 (ESV) — 10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
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Psalm 45:10–11 (ESV) — 10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
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Psalm 149:4 (ESV) — 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
Conclusion
Exodus 33:18–23 (ESV) — 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
[1] Brady, G. (2006). Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (p. 98). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.