Hello, good to be able to continue to provide more worship opportunities with music and the Word of God. I hope everyone is enjoying the studies in the Song of Solomon. Please leave a comment at the bottom so I can know how this is working, thank you.
Love Grows
Song of Solomon 2:8-17
Big Idea: The intensity of the love of Solomon and the Shulamite women is the progressive love couples need today.
Intro.
Redneck marriage vows can be interesting. One was, “I will love you more than my best coon dog.” Of course his friends agreed that that phrase was real romantic; while still keeping it a little manly. Well the groom really loved the bride even though it was a different way to say it.
The setting is the country, near the beloved’s home. She probably lived in Lebanon, north of Israel. More importantly, however, the intensity of the couples’ longing for each other increased and their sense of intimacy grew.
I. The First Lover that Snuck Around a House and Try not to get Caught v. 8-9
A. As Solomon approached his beloved’s home, she excitedly described him coming as a gazelle or a young stag
1. This emphasized his attractive appearance, strength, and agility
2. He approached the wall around her parents’ home and then peered through the lattice. He was anxious to see her
II. Solomon comes to Her House to take Her on a Date v. 10-13
A. Solomon, her lover, asked his darling to go for a walk in the countryside
1. The elaborate description of spring was probably meant to do more than simply emphasize the beauty of the setting
2. It is likely that he was also describing their relationship. In a sense when one falls in love the feeling is like spring for everything seems fresh and new
3. The world is seen from a different perspective, which is how Solomon felt when he was with his beloved
B. The lovers celebrated their joy in the creation and in their love
1. God created the world, the beauty we see, the joy of love and sex, within marriage, and gave us senses to enjoy them
2. Never let problems, conflicts, or the ravages of time ruin your ability to enjoy God's gifts. Take time to enjoy the world God has created
III. Another characteristic of genuine love is the desire to be alone with one’s lover v. 14
A. This desire seems to be easily experienced during courtship, but unfortunately it often fades in marriage
1. Yet if love is to grow a couple must find time to be alone
a. Doves hide in rock crevices, reluctant to leave
b. The lover likened his beloved to such a dove, hesitant to join him in the countryside
c. So he urged her to leave her home and join him so he could enjoy her sweet-sounding voice and lovely face
IV. There is Always Going to be Problems in a Marriage and They All Start Small v. 15
A. Foxes were noted for their destructive tendencies in crop fields, so the reference to those animals probably suggested metaphorically some problems in their relationship
B. The lovers wanted anything that could potentially cause problems between them to be removed
1. It is often the "little foxes" that cause the biggest problems in marriage
2. These irritations must not be minimized or ignored, but identified so that, together, the couple can deal with them
V. Though they may of had some problems in their relationship, the beloved knew that her lover belonged to her and she belonged to him
A. She could rest in the shepherd-like quality of his love despite the struggles they shared.
1. She said he browses or “he pastures” his flock among the lilies
2. Speaking to herself in 2:16, it is likely that verse 17 is also not literal but thinking Solomon
3. Her thoughts of their mutual possession of each other naturally led to her desire for physical intimacy
a. So in her mind she invited him to turn, to her, with the strength and agility of a gazelle or . . . young stag
b. Rugged hills is literally, “hills or mountains of separation or cleavage.”
c. It seems preferable to take this as a subtle reference to her breasts as in 4:6, thus an inner longing that they consummate their marriage
4. If that is the meaning, then she wanted that intimacy to last during the night till the day breaks (lit., “breathes”) at dawn and the night shadows vanish.
a. When their marriage was consummated they did this in 4:5-6
B. As already stated, in expressing their love in their courtship, the beloved and her lover used restraint
1. Yet because of their deep love and commitment to each other they longed for their wedding day to come
Conclusion: The intensity of the love of Solomon and the Shulamite women is the progressive love couples need today.
No comments:
Post a Comment