Song Of Solomon 5:2-16
A HEART FOR HIM
Intro: The book of the Song of Solomon holds a special
place in the Word of God. While much of the Bible
deals with history and with doctrine, the Song of
Solomon is a collection of love songs. These songs
detail the love life of King Solomon and one of his many
wives.
There are many people who do not fell that this book
has a place in the Bible. This book is, after all, filled with
explicit descriptions of romantic love between a
husband and his wife. This book is, however, very
special. In its pages, we can see a clear picture of the
love relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and
those who are saved by His grace.
In the passage that is before us this morning, we are
given a glimpse inside the heart of the bride. We are
given the opportunity to see just how much she loves
her husband. In these verses, we find that she has a
heart for him.
I would like for us to look into these verses for a few
minutes this morning and get a glimpse of how
wonderful our Heavenly Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, is.
Let's see, afresh and anew this morning just how much
we love Him and how a heart for Him beats. Join me in
this passage as we consider A Heart From Him.
I. V. 2-5 THE BRIDE DOZING
(Ill. All through the first part of the book, the bridegroom
has been referring to this woman as the bride. Here, he
does not use that term. It may be that they have been
married for a while when the events described here take
place. It may be that the new has worn off their
relationship. After all, when this chapter opens, we find
the bride asleep, and the bridegroom outside her
chamber trying to gain access. She is dozing! Ill. We all
remember how exciting it was in those first days. We
all remember the thrill of "the first love", Rev. 2:4. I
wonder how many of us would have to say that we are
in the same condition this morning. We are so secure
and satisfied in what we have that we have forgotten
the One Who gave us all we have. We sleep while He
tries to draw near to spend some precious time with His
beloved.)
A. V. 2 The Call Of The Beloved - Notice how
tender His call is. He uses terms of endearment
designed to remind her of how precious she is to
Him. He tells her that He is outside and wants to
come in to her. Ill. He is so tender in his plea
and he wants to be with her so desperately.
Notice what he calls her:
1. My Sister - Speaking of the intimacy of their
relationship. Te term "sister" was a term of
affection that a husband might use for his
wife. (Ill. The love of Jesus for His bride -
Eph. 5:25.)
2. My Love - Speaking of the special place she
holds in his heart. (Ill. How much Jesus
loved us! - Rom. 5:6-8)
3. My Dove - Speaks of the special peace that permeates their relationship. They are in a
joyous, glorious relationship that has made
them as one! (Ill .We have been brought nigh
to God through the blood of the Lord Jesus -
Eph. 2:12-13!)
4. My Undefiled - Speaks of the purity of their
love. There is nothing vulgar or evil
transpiring here! No! There love is pure and
she is pure! (Ill. Justification - Rom. 5:1)
(Ill. This is a picture of the Lord Jesus seeking
blessed communion with His blood bought and
redeemed people. He longs for us to desire to
be in His presence. He wants to fellowship with
you and me!)
B. V. 3 The Complaint Of The Bride - Her
response is telling of her priorities. She tells hm
that she has already washed her feet and is in
the bed. Simply put, she doesn't want to get up
and fool with him.
(Ill. How many of us have experienced
something similar in our marriages? Something
you would have done without hesitation when
you were first married now seems like pure
drudgery. If we were honest, we would all have
to confess that we allow ourselves to become a
little chilly in that department from time to time.
Now, think about your walk with Jesus in that
same context! Remember the early days of
salvation? Remember when church and the
Bible were so exciting? Remember when prayer
was an adventure? Remember when you
couldn't wait for an opportunity to tell someone
about Jesus? Remember when you couldn't
wait to get to church? Remember when the
Christian life was exciting?
Now, how many of us would have to admit
that, like the bride in our text, we have taken off
our marching shoes? That we have traded the
armor of the Spirit for the bedclothes of ease and
leisure and we have allowed ourselves to get so
comfortable that just being with Jesus isn't as
exciting as it used to be?
We get that way sometimes don't we? We
get to the place that church isn't exciting. Prayer
and the Bible just do not thrill us anymore. That
is a sad place to be, but I think that a lot of God's
children are there this morning! Are you?)
C. V. 4 The Compassion Of The Bride - When his
tender words failed to arose her interest toward
him, the bridegroom puts his hand in beside the
lock of the door and tries to open the door
himself. He fails to do this, but seeing him want
to be with her so badly stirs her heart and she
feels "her heart begin to beat for him". Now,
she too wants to be with him.
(Ill. When it ever dawns in the soul of the
believer just what Jesus Christ has done for you
and me, how much He loves us, how much He
desires to be near us and how sweetly He calls
us to Himself, it will awaken a desire in our
hearts to be near Him also. It think many of us
need to hear and heed the Savior's call this day!
How many of us will be willing to come before
him this morning and open the doors of our
hearts to him afresh and anew today? How
many will respond with love to the call of the
Savior?)
I. The Bride Dozing
II. V. 6-8 THE BRIDE DESIRING
(Ill. When she finally rises from her bed and goes to the
door, she finds that her beloved has already gone.
Then she remembers how she felt when she did hear
his voice. It was so intense that it caused her soul to
faint within her. Now, he is gone. Still, she has been
reawakened to the need to be with him. A renewed
desire is kindled within her heart for her husband. Now,
just has he desired to be with her, she is filled with the
desire to be with him.)
A. V. 6 The Direction Of Her Desire - As she
begins her search, notice what she says she is
seeking. "I sought HIM! I called HIM". She
makes no reference to his wealth, though he is
the richest man in the land. She makes no
reference to his position, though there is none
more exalted than he. She makes no reference
to his power, though there is none more powerful
than he. No! She is utterly consumed by HIM.
She desires him and nothing more.
(Ill. So it is with the child of God who rediscovers
how glorious Jesus is. They aren't thrilled by His
power, His possessions or by His position. They
are thrilled just to be in His presence. Friends,
when you and I reach a place where we are
more interested in being with the Lord than in
getting something from the Lord, we have begun
to grow in the Lord. When we come to the place
where He fills our thoughts, then we have come
to the place where He holds first place.
What are you seeking from the Lord this
morning? Do need some stuff? Do you need
your meal barrel filled? Do you need someone
to go with you into a fiery furnace? Do you need
a friend that sticketh closer than a brother? Do
you need something big from God today? Let
me tell you how to get it! It's so simple! Just get
to he place where nothing is more important to
you than Him and all that other stuff will take
care of itself, Matt. 6:33!
You see, when you are in love with the
Heavenly Bridegroom, He will see to it that His
Bride is taken care of! Instead of wanting FROM
Him, let's get to the place where we want JUST
Him. That is when we will see business pick up!)
B. V. 7-8 The Depth Of Her Desire - As she went
her way looking for her husband, she was
humiliated by the watchmen. They took her veil
and they wounded her. But, she was not
deterred from her mission! Still she sought him.
And, when she could not find him, she enlisted
the help of other women in the city. She tells
them that she is "love sick."
The whole point here is that she is willing to
endure anything just to be reunited with her
husband. She had been indifferent to him
before, now she aches to be in his arms.
(Ill. What a lesson for the church! I wonder what
price we are willing to pay to be near our Lord.
Are we will to give up anything that is necessary?
Are we willing to suffer the humiliation of the
cross? Are we willing to bear His name? When
we, like this woman, reach the place where we
are "love sick" for Jesus, we will pay the price to
be close to Him, but not until! Would to God that
we loved Him like He loved us!
Jesus let us know that those who loved Him
would be called upon to love him deeply. He
made this clear in several places, Luke 14:26-35; Luke 9:23-24.)
(Ill. What price are you willing to pay to become
closer to the Lord Jesus? How much do you
really love Him today? Is your love for Jesus all-consuming? Does your love for everything else
in life pale in comparison? Do you love Him
enough to turn your back on everyone else and
everything else, is He were to call upon you to
do so? How deep is your live for Him?)
I. The Bride Dozing
II. The Bride Desiring
III. V. 9-16 THE BRIDE DESCRIBING
(Ill. In this passage the bride has had her love rekindled
for the husband. Now, she wants nothing more than to
be reunited with him. Before, she was too lazy to get
out of bed to open the door for him, now, she tells us
how she really fells about him!)
A. V. 9 The Question Regarding Her Beloved -
The daughters of Jerusalem ask this woman to
tell them just what makes this man more special
than any other man. She is challenged to tell
them why she loves him so much that she has
become "love sick" over him.
(Ill. When you really fall in love with Jesus, there
will always be those around you who will not
understand you devotion to Him. They won't
understand why you go to church 3 times a
week. They won't understand why you give a
tenth and maybe more of your money to the
church in His name. They won't understand why
when you talk about Him, sometimes you tear up
and weep. They won't understand what makes
you tick! You will be weird. You will be different.
They will want to know why! When those times
come, they afford the child of God a wonderful
opportunity to brag on Jesus! In fact, Peter tells
us to give them an answer when they ask for a
reason, "But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear:", 1 Peter 3:15!)
B. V. 10-16a The Qualifications Of Her Beloved -
They want to know why she thinks he is so
special and she tells them all about him in verses
10-16. The language she uses describes him
from head to toe and tells just how lovely he is to
her. She tells them that he is the "fairest
among ten thousand." Then, she launches off
on a minute description of his glories and his
wonders. All of her terms are terms that
describe beauty, grace, strength and tenderness.
To her, he is the perfect specimen of manhood.
To her, he is absolutely perfect!
(Ill. When Isaiah wrote about the coming Christ
he said this, "For he shall grow up before him
as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry
ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and
when we shall see him, there is no beauty
that we should desire him.", Isa. 53:2. Had
you and I lived during the time of the Lord Jesus
Christ and seen Him on the street, there would
have been nothing of beauty in Him that would
have made us desire Him. But, how different He
appears to the souls He has saved by His grace!
Friends, when we think of His love, Jer. 31:3;
His grace, Eph. 2:8-9; His death, Rev. 1:5; His
blood, 1 Pet. 1:18-19; His resurrection, Rev.
1:18; His call, John 6:44; His salvation, Heb.
7:25; His keeping power, 1 Pet. 1:5; His
heavenly home He is preparing for us, John
14:1-3; and His return, Rev. 22:20, not to
mention His power and His glory, how can we
see Him as being less than beautiful? When He
is seen as He really is, He will stir the heart to
boundless praise and adoration of His glorious
Person! He is the "chiefest of ten billions!" He
is in a category all by Himself!)
(Ill. Glory to God! I say that we ought to offer up
praise this morning for who He is! If nothing else
stirs us, let the thought of Him and Hi beauty
cause us to shout the victory today!)
C. V. 16b The Quality Of Her Beloved - finally, she
exhausts her vocabulary and sums Him up as
being "altogether lovely." She says, "I have
looked Him over from head to toe and I
cannot find a single flaw in this man. He is
absolutely perfect!"
(Ill. My friends, you can search the farthest
reaches of the universe and you will never find
another like the Lord Jesus! He is altogether
lovely! There is no flaw in Him! He is full of
glory and perfect in every way! Such is the Lord
Jesus to every heart touched by Him in power
and saving grace. Those who know Him love
Him and can find no flaw in the Lamb of God!
Jesus Christ is in a class by Himself!)
(Ill. Note: In 6:1 - The description of the bride
awakens a desire in the daughters of Jerusalem.
So it is with this lost and dying world. When they
encounter people who's hearts are aflame with
love for Jesus, it creates a hunger within them
for Him. Therefore, let your love for Jesus show.
Let it burn brightly for all to see.
In 6:4 through the end of the book - Unbroken
communion is enjoyed by the lovers. When a
heart is stirred to love the Lord with renewed fire
and passion, He will honor that commitment and
He will come near to that individual and they will
enjoy a special relationship as they go through
this world!)
Conc: Where does this message find your heart this
morning? Is it burning bright with a boundless love for
the Lord Jesus? Or, have the cares of life and the
attractions of this world caused your flame to become
and ember? Are you hungry for Him? Do you
remember a better day in your walk with the Lord, when
you were filled with love for Him? Do you long for those
days again? They are available! All you need do is
seek Him with a heart that is stirred up in love for Him
and He will fill you with His glory and presence. He
wants to be with you more than you want to be with
Him! Will you come to Him this morning?
Friend, are you here today lost in your sins? Do you
need to come to Jesus so that you can have your sins
forgiven? Do you need to meet Him in personal
relationship today?
Now is the time for decisions. Now is the time for
commitment. Will you come as the Lord may be
leading you right now?
