Song of Solomon 2:1-2

A LILY AMONG THE THORNS

Intro:  Ill. The Song of Solomon.  Some people do not feel that it should be a part of the Bible.  However, there are many beautiful passages in this book that can teach couples a lot about how to love one another.  It is a very practical book.  At the same time, it also gives us a picture of the Lord’s love for His church.  Don’t write this book off as many others have. 

      In its pages, we can see a clear portrait of exactly what the Lord thinks about His people.  Ill. The Context of the verses.  If you feel that you are unloved and that sometimes, even God doesn’t care for you, I want you to know that this message is for you!  If you are saved, you are the apple of His eye!  Notice three blessings that are contained here for you and me. 

  I.                                       A PRECIOUS COMPARISON

      A.  The Bride is compared to a flower.

      B.  Why?  A flower possesses:

   1.   Beauty – He sees her beauty.  It is the product of His grace!  She was a nobody until He found her! (Ill. The beauty of a changed life - 2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Cor. 4:7)

   2.   Fragrance - (Ill. The fragrance of a devoted life.  Ill. A sweet savor - 2Cor. 2:15) (Ill. A clean, holy life is a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Lord, Rom. 12:1-2.)

3.   The flower contains within itself the seeds of new life - Ill. Matt. 5:16.

C.  The Bridegroom’s word expresses His great love for the Bride.  She fills his senses, and he is lost in his love for her - Song 6:4-7; 7:1-9.

 

   (Note: Think of God’s great love for His people, John 3:16; Rom. 5:8!  He loved us enough to send His Son to endure the cross so He could have a relationship with you and me! - Heb. 12:2. Friend, you are loved, Jer. 31:3!  And His love knows no boundaries!)  (Ill. Man and “…if it doesn’t rain…”)

 

 II.                                          A POINTED CONTRAST

      A.  Ill. The bride is contrasted with the thorns.

      B.  Why?

1.   She stands out from among them - (Ill. 4:7-9) He only has eyes for her! (Ill. 2 Cor. 6:17; Matt. 5:14)

2.   She is infinitely more attractive than they are.  (Ill. Thorns are ugly!)  (Ill. The lost sinner is made attractive by the work of grace in his heart!  Ill. Eph. 2:10 - Workmanship!  We are unworthy to stand before Him in our natural condition, Isa. 64:6; Eph. 2:13, but we are made worthy to stand before Him through the blood of Jesus, Rev. 1:5; 1 Per. 1:18-19.)

3.    She possesses a life which they do not, nor cannot possess - John 5:24.  (Ill. As a lily, she possesses His nature; they do not!  She bears His image; they do not! Ill. Divine nature - 2 Pet. 1:4!)  (Ill. Thorns are a mark of the curse.  Lilies are a symbol of divine providence!  The believer is a living Gospel preaching to lost men the grace and goodness of God toward the fallen!)

4.    She brings pleasure to Him that others cannot.  (Ill. Thorns are painful!) (Ill. The bride and the bridegroom possess an intimate relationship - 1 John 1:7)  (Ill. The Lord means something to the Christian that the world cannot understand - Song 5:8-16!)

5.  She has something she can give to Him that others cannot - 1John 4:19 - Ill. She gives him her love.  The thorns are fit only for the fire! (Ill. Thorns do not produce fruit! She proves her love daily!)

C.  Jesus feels this way about His Bride!  This ought to make us feel special!  After all, we are His bride, Eph. 5:25-32; 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7.

 

III.                                        A PRICELESS COMFORT

A.  The Bridegrooms expressions of love brought joy to the Bride’s heart,      2:5.  (Ill. Women and needs!  Fellows, we could learn a lesson right here!)

B.  There are certain aspects of our relationship with Jesus that bring joy and comfort to our hearts tonight.  They are:

   1. He Considers Us - (Ill. He sees everything we do!  The right and the wrong!  He sees every defect and every flaw.)  (Ill. The Shumanite - Song 1:5-6 - In these verses, her self-confidence is pretty well shot.  She thinks she is ugly and unappealing.  Ill. Many Christians feel that way tonight - It need not be so!)

   2. He Continues To love us - (Ill. Song 1:8-11, 15) Jer. 31:3; Rom. 8:38-39 – He knows us better than we know ourselves, yet His love is unabated! He knew me before He saved me and He saved me still!  He knew that I would fail Him daily, but He loves me still!  What A Savior!

3. He Claims us - (Ill. “MY” - 1:15; 2:2; 6:4-9; 7:1-9) (Ill. There is pain involved in retrieving the lily from among the thorns.  It cost Jesus much to buy us from our sins! His love for her caused Him to pay the price, when another would have passed right on by! He claimed us in spite of the cost involved! Ill. His cross – Isa. 52:14; Isa. 53:1-12.) Ill. Jesus is not ashamed to love us and He openly claims us as His people - Heb. 11:16!  He has even written His love for us in His Word and in His cross!  You are so special in His eyes!

4. He Commissions Us - (Matt. 28:18-20) He has entrusted His Kingdom work to you and me!  What a responsibility!  He sees every Christian as being important to everything He is doing!  You are special in that He called you, He commissioned you and He has equipped you to serve Him - 1 Cor. 12:7, 11-27!  You are unique, and you are valuable and precious in His sight!

C.  I don’t know about you, but that sure does encourage my heart tonight!  I’m so glad that Jesus loves you and me! 

Conc: Dr. R.A. Torrey was asked about the most profound concept he had ever learned from the Bible.  Without hesitation, Mr. Torrey answered, “The most profound truth I have ever encountered in the word of God is this: Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!”  We can sing of the lofty doctrines of the faith, we can wax eloquent regarding the Word of God, but the most profound and sublime truth of them all is contained in that precious truth!  Sing it with me now!