Reconciliation
A Lord Worth Loving • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:25
0 ratings
· 4 viewsMorning 24 March 24
Files
Notes
Transcript
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; 6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; 7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, 8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
Song of Solomon 6:4–10 (ESV)
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners. 5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young. 7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. 8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her. 10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”
Introduction
The Shulamite has found her husband and has been received, forgiven and reconciled to him. It is a glorious act of compassion and grace and demonstrates the way in which the Lord always deals with his people. See this so powerfully in the parable of the Prodigal Son. I want to consider the overall picture today and then look in more detail on ensuing sessions.
There is so much that we can learn about the Lord and his church.
Slide
There has been much grieving of her beloved on the bride’s part, but all is now well again and things are restored. Now, without any hesitation or delay, the bridegroom opens his heart again and speaks in praise of his bride, enlarging upon her beauty and all that she means to him. He does not take her to task or set about her, but adopts the tenderest language towards her, speaking very much to her and not merely of her. His love does not change, nor do his assurances of it cease. Brooks, R. [1]
Slide
1. Awesome v4
1. Awesome v4
Slide
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
a. Outstanding
a. Outstanding
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
Why Tirzah? Tirzah was a city in Samaria whose name means pleasantness, sweetness, delight, agreeable. Richard Brooks
Why Jerusalem? If Tirzah was striking, Jerusalem was even more so. At first it was a stronghold of the Jebusites, then became the metropolis of all Israel and centre of the Davidic-Solomonic empire, and then the residence of the kings of Judah after the division of the kingdom. Its name means city or foundation of peace.[3]
b. An Army
b. An Army
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
The picture intended is that of an army marching forth with banners unfurled, confident of victory, afraid of no man.[4]
Slide
2. Overwhelming v5-7
2. Overwhelming v5-7
Slide
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young. 7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
a. Turn Away v5a
a. Turn Away v5a
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
One look from his bride has completely overwhelmed the bridegroom! [5]
b. Her Beauty v5b-7
b. Her Beauty v5b-7
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young. 7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Underscores the words of 4:1-3
1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. 3 Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Not needless repetition but confirmation of his love.
Slide
3. Unique v8-10
3. Unique v8-10
8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her. 10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”
a. Outstanding v8
a. Outstanding v8
8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
b. The Only One v9
b. The Only One v9
9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.
Song of Solomon 2:2 (KJV) — 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
This, of course, is how every true husband ought to view his wife, having no eyes at all for any other women, and being very much a ‘one-woman-man’[6]
Slide
c. Incomparable v10
c. Incomparable v10
10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”
The appearance of the Shulamite is like the morning red of the dawn beginning to break through the darkness; the soft whiteness of the moon as it continues to shine in the heavens in the early morning; and the pure brightness of the sun, high in the sky, shining in full splendour at midday.[7]
We turn now to what we see of Christ’s love for us
Slide
4. Awesome v4
4. Awesome v4
a. Outstanding
a. Outstanding
4 You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners.
Slide
1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.
1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
b. An Army
b. An Army
Slide
The picture intended is that of an army marching forth with banners unfurled, confident of victory, afraid of no man. The church of Christ is not only beautiful and lovely, but awesome as well. This is very significant, and not how the church is usually thought of, even by those who by grace belong to her.[8]
Slide
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Slide
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Slide
5. Overwhelming v5-7
5. Overwhelming v5-7
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young. 7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
a. Turn Away v5a
a. Turn Away v5a
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
Slide
The Lord Jesus is testifying to the Shulamite that he has overlooked (pardoned, forgiven) all her sins and neglects, and loves her as earnestly, passionately and desiringly as ever. She need have no fear on that count.[9]
Slide
Psalm 45:11 (ESV) — 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
b. Her Beauty v5b-7
b. Her Beauty v5b-7
5 Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me— Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 6 Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins; not one among them has lost its young. 7 Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Underscores the words of 4:1-3
1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. 3 Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Slide
Not for one moment is this needless repetition. The language of mutual love often repeats itself. This is a great part of its attractiveness and reflects the constancy and changelessness of true love. There is no truer love than that of the Lord Jesus Christ for his church, and for each believer who comprises his church. So there is every reason to be thankful that he says the same things again and again.[10]
Slide
6. Unique v8-10
6. Unique v8-10
8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her. 10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”
a. Outstanding v8
a. Outstanding v8
8 There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
Slide
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Slide
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
b. The Only One v9
b. The Only One v9
9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.
Christ has no other love. Kings have their queens, their concubines, and their virgins. Christ has his one bride, and she is all his desire, she is everything to him, she has the assurance of his complete and undivided love.[11]
c. Incomparable v10
c. Incomparable v10
10 “Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?”
Slide
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.
Slide
A church where the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ is held high, and where that blessed combination of truth and grace is found in abundance, will provoke all manner of opposition, yet will be owned of her bridegroom, who has given her the sure promises, ‘I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’, and ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ (Matt. 16:18b; 28:20).[12]
Conclusion
Slide
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.