Our relationship with Christ seen in Song of Songs

I'll ask you to turn, please, to the Song of Songs, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon. The Bible tells us he wrote a thousand and five songs, and this is one of them.

Chapter one of the Song of Solomon. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine.

Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance because of the savor of thy good ointments. Thy name is as ointments poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee.

The king hath brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. Now look down the chapter to verse seven.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon. Again, down to verse 12. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

Again, look at chapter two, verse one. I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Verse eight. The voice of my beloved, behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young heart.

Behold, he standeth behind our wall. He looketh forth at the window, showing himself through the lattice. My beloved spake and said unto me, rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of the birds is heard, the voice of the turtle or the turtle dove is heard in our land. Now, go over again, please, to chapter four. Verse 12, chapter four.

A garden enclosed is my sister and my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Verse 16. Awake, O north wind, and come now south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.

Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his tender fruits. Chapter five and verse one. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse.

I have gathered my myrrh with spice. I've eaten my honeycomb with my honey. I've drunk my wine with my milk.

Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O ye beloved. Now, again, further over in the little book. Chapter seven.

Verse 10, I am my beloved and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved. Let us go forth into the field.

Let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards. Chapter eight.

Finally, and verse five. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness? Leaning upon her beloved. Now, down the chapter, this is the key verse of the little book, verse seven.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would utterly be content. I think that's all that we'll read.

And we know that the Lord will bless his word to our hearts. I'm glad the brethren put water up here so we don't have some dry preaching. Some men don't preach hard enough to need a drink of water, but some of us like it.

It has been said that the Song of Solomons was written in Solomon's early days. He was 30 years old when he was anointed king. And so, as we come to enter in something of the spiritual significance of the book, we'll see that he had a deep understanding of who God is.

Written in his early days. They tell me the Ecclesiastes was written during the middle years of his life. When he was faithing life's circumstances.

You remember he looked at those that had everything, man's servants and maid's servants. And over and over again, he sums it up and he says, All is vanity and vexation of spirit. That's what this world has to offer.

Vanity. And then we come to the Proverbs. He had learned a few things.

Now he's an elderly man and he wrote the book of Proverbs. Where we get all of the instructions that lead to Christian living. Now there's some that think that there's some sort of a love triangle here in Solomon's experience.

But really what he's setting forth is the spiritual relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and his bride. That's us, the church. So bear that in mind as you read through this.

What he's telling us is something of the advancement in spiritual understanding in the life of the believer. As he enters more and more into the glories of this person that over and over again she refers to as my beloved. When he refers to her, he calls her my love.

When she refers to him, she says my beloved. So that's what the book is about. It's a spiritual understanding of the relationship between Christ and the church.

And I often wonder how Solomon had such understanding as a young man. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon. This is the outstanding one of all the other 1,005.

I notice where we began to read, and I'm going to go as quickly as I can. He says, let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine. What he's saying here is that there is something that is to be appreciated in Christ that the joys of the world will never give.

He says in verse 2, kiss me. He says down in verse 4, draw me. There's an attraction to this beloved one.

Draw me and we will run after thee. And then further down in verse 7, he says, tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon. And later in the chapter toward the end, later in the book, he tells us where they're resting.

In the presence of the beloved. Now, the idea that he has in mind here, the thought, as I see it, is nearness, nearness to the person of Christ. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.

You know, I was thinking that nearness is necessary for us to worship God. We can't worship if we're far off. You remember in chapter three of Exodus.

As Moses turned aside to see that great sight, a bush that burned with fire. And yet the bush was not consumed. And he wanted to understand more of it.

And the Lord said, put off my shoes from off my feet. For the place where I now stand, this. Is holy ground.

And so in order for us to worship intelligently. We must know something of this divine personage. Our heavenly bridegroom.

The Lord Jesus. Why is it, brethren, when we gather. On the Lord's day at a prayer meeting.

Why are there so many lapses? So many long pauses. Sisters have said to me, I almost got up and prayed tonight. The brethren took so long.

To pray. You see, there must be that appreciation of the person. To draw near and worship.

Again, I was thinking nearness to the person of Christ. Not only is. This is what's needed for our worship, but for our service.

I was reading last night from the book of numbers. Kind of late into the night was a short night somehow. No offense to our host and hostess.

They allowed us to go to bed early, but. Sometimes when you get into the room, you don't do what you're supposed to do. Go right to sleep.

And so I was reading. A way back in numbers chapter three. God says to Moses.

Bring the tribe of Levi near. That they may serve me. Bring them near.

So in order for our service to be effectual. There must be nearness to the person of Christ. We cannot function for God.

In our own strength. If we try, we'll soon learn. That it can't be done.

It must take a nearness. And appreciation of this person. And then I was thinking too, that.

Nearness is necessary. For our communion. That's what he's saying here.

Draw me. We will run after the. He's trying.

To draw. His beloved. To himself.

And so how wondrous it is when we know something of. Nearness. To the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now I want very quickly to try and trace through this. Little book. Something of.

Bridal relationships. Something that. The heavenly bridegroom.

And the church enjoys. The first I've already intimated is communion. Look at verse 12.

Of chapter 1. While the king. Sitteth. At his.

Table. That's communion. A table in the scripture always suggests.

Communion. And you and I. Have been brought into his banqueting house. He tells us.

His banner over us is love. And he wants us to. Commune.

With him. I can take you to the new testament. Show you an individual a sister.

For that matter her name is. Mary. In chapter 10.

She's sitting at the feet. Of the master. Listening to his word.

Learning his ways. And we thank god for sisters. That know god.

That are interested in learning. His ways. That's what god wants.

I could take you again. Over to john chapter 11. There's that same woman now.

She's not a learner but she's at the feet of the master. Again communing. And she's.

Mourning. She has lost her brother. Mary and Martha.

The both of them. And when the lord got there. They said if you'd been here.

He wouldn't have died. But the lord waited. Purposely four days.

Before he got there. He wanted to show. His glorious power and resurrection.

That we were reminded of this morning. And I may be speaking to someone today. And like Mary.

You're going through the deep. Waters of life. Mourning.

You know that's associated with Christian living. God has not promised. Skies ever blue.

Flower stream pathways. All the way through. He hasn't promised a bed of roses.

But we know this much. That under every circumstance in life. We have a god who draws near.

Paul tells us that. We have a divine comforter. The holy spirit.

We have the scriptures. I talked to a Christian nurse the other day. She said you know it's different.

When a Christian loses a loved one. They have a bible. I said right.

And more than that. They have a divine person. Indwelling.

The holy spirit. The advocate. He comes right alongside.

He intercedes. He bears our names upon his shoulders. And upon his breast.

He ever liveth to make intercession for us. The writer of the Hebrews tells us. We have not one which cannot.

Now I have pointed out before. The structure of that sentence is a double negative. We have not one which cannot.

It means positively. That we have. A great high priest.

Living for us. And he can be touched. With a feeling of our infirmities.

So if like Mary today. You're knowing something of the trials. Of the way.

I'd like to encourage your heart. There's not a sorrow rends the heart. But the man of sorrows.

Shares a part. He knows the way that I take says Job. When he had tried me.

I shall come forth. As gold. And God brings circumstances into your life.

And my life. For a reason. And he wants us to learn.

And to profit. From that. And so Mary's at his feet as a learner.

In. John chapter 10. And in Luke chapter.

Or John chapter. Luke chapter 10 is a learner. John chapter 11.

She's a learner. And when we come to John chapter 5. She's worshiping. Remember the Lord said to Martha.

Your comfort. You're overly anxious. You're too occupied.

With your service. But Mary had learned. To sit at the feet.

Of a master. Wonderful. To be able to commune.

With him. Notice again. Another relationship.

The bride enjoys. In chapter 2. And verse. 11.

It says. My beloved. So is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down. Under his shadow. There's another relationship.

That we have. Under his shadow. Now a shadow in the scripture.

In verse. Influence. Your influence in mine.

Has a big effect. On other believers. They watch it.

Especially young people. They watch those. Who are more mature.

In Christian experience. And we influence them. We're writing a chapter.

Each day. By the things that we do. And the things.

That we say. What kind of an influence am I. For other believers. Am I doing things that.

Stumbles them. My brother was talking. Yesterday was it.

It was yesterday. I haven't lost it all yet. He was reminding us of.

Social drinking. Should never be named. Among us.

And you remember. When Paul writes to the Corinthians. He says.

If meet. Make my brother to. Stumble.

That offends them. I'm to refrain. So I look at my life.

And I say. What's my lifestyle. How am I engaged.

What do I do. With my free time. Is it all out in the bush.

You know. We're being watched. And we can have an influence.

For good. Or otherwise. On young believers.

So the lord help us. To have a good influence. On those that we come in contact with.

We're under his shadow. You remember. What Peter said.

In John 21. I was looking at that last night too. Peter says.

I go fishing now. There's nothing wrong with fishing. Jim will tell you.

I like to fish. I've been out on the Mississippi. With him.

Thought I was going to drown one day. Ice fishing. But if I did it every day.

And was overly occupied. With it. Then it would be wrong.

Peter says. I go fishing. And they said.

We also go with thee. Influence. And your influence.

And mine. Is a tremendous thing. In the life of other believers.

Now look down that chapter. Another relationship. Relationship.

Verse 9. My beloved is like a young heart. Behold he standeth. Behind the wall.

Here's separation. That. Position.

That. He once enjoyed. Someone has said.

Those happy hours. I once enjoyed. How sweet.

Their memory still. But they have left. An aching void.

That nothing can. Fulfill. You see there can come into the life.

Something that. Separates. The chapter tells us later.

That she has lost. The sense of his presence. She says.

By night I sought him. I found him not. I rise and go about the streets.

In the broad way. I'll seek him. Through my soul loveth.

There's been a separation. Maybe I'm speaking to someone today. And you're starting to get away from.

The heavenly bridegroom. Things have come into your life. Maybe on the computer.

You've hit some questionable areas. And there's a bit of a magnetic. Draw.

And you're getting away. I can tell you at least three. Brethren that I know.

That have been put out of fellowship. For dabbling with. Pornography.

Be careful. Young believer. Be careful.

Don't let anything come in. Between you. And the savior.

That you claim. To know and love. It's an easy thing to get away.

But it can be. Very hard. To get back again.

A separation. So there's been that separation. Take place.

But wonderful that she found him. Again. Look quickly again with me.

Because I want to get down here. In a hurry. Some of my brethren.

Just itching to get up here. Chapter. Four.

Verse sixteen. Awake oh north wind. Come now south.

Blow upon my garden. That the spices may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden.

And eat his tender fruits. There's another relationship. In the garden.

Chapter five. Begins that way again. I am come into my garden.

My sister. My spouse. Now the garden reminds me of the assembly.

That's what the local. Gathering of the people of God. Is like.

A garden. It should be kept clean. There should be those that are.

Caring for it. Those that God has raised up. Shepherds.

They're told to feed the flock of God. That are apt to teach. That may not be.

Necessarily public. But they must have the ability. To feed and to lead.

And a shepherd. To care. For the flock.

There's three things that sheep need. That I learned from a shepherd. Down in New Zealand.

Many years ago now. Maybe 30, 40. They need.

Good food. They need fellowship. And they need freedom.

From irritation. That's why they're running through the dips. They get rid of all the ticks.

And all the mites. And so the Lord's people need food. Good food.

Men that will take time in the presence of God. To feed the flock of God. Over which the Lord has made them overseers.

To watch for the sheep. Years ago. There was an assembly in Scotland.

And there was a young man. Used to go up to London. On the weekend.

And a brother. An overseer knew. That he was getting away from God.

And so one weekend. He learned of this young man's pattern. And he went up to the city.

And went down into the Soho district. And found him. And the young brother almost fainted.

When he saw the overseer from his assembly. What are you doing here? He said. I'm looking for lost sheep.

And that young man was recovered. And restored again. To the joy of salvation.

Wonderful when there are those that care. For the flock. That's what the assembly is like.

A garden. Shouldn't be any weeds in it. I used to have a bit of a garden.

When. Our family were small. When the children were small.

But my wife didn't like weeds. So. When I got home.

I had the job of pulling them all up. And it wasn't long. Until we disposed of the garden.

Preachers gardens. Get lots of weeds. Unless the wife likes to pull them.

But a good clean garden. Is productive. You ladies know that.

You plant the seed. You keep it. Cultivated and watered.

And fertilized. And you get produce. That's what the assembly is.

An assembly. That's cared for. Is productive.

There'll be blessing. In that garden. And so the assembly.

Is. Like a. Watered garden. Now look quickly again.

With me over to chapter. Seven. Look at verse ten.

Solomon says. I and my beloved. His desires toward me.

Come my beloved. And let us go forth. Into the field.

Now you know what I'm coming to hear. The Lord tells us. The fields.

Are white. All ready to harvest. And I say.

As we look around. Many of the Lord's. Servants.

Have been called home. The last ten years. There's a dozen or more.

That I know have gone to heaven. And some of the rest of us. Will soon be there.

And where. Are those that are filling in. The ranks.

God says. Look on the fields. They're white.

All ready to harvest. And young brethren. That have an exercise.

Should get. A field in mind. And labor in the district.

And not be going all over. The continent to conferences. That isn't what produces.

Blessing. In your life. A field.

The field. Is there. It's available.

He says. Let us go forth. Onto the field.

Let us lodge in a village. You notice he says. You're to get up early in the morning.

And go about. And see. Where.

There is those that will respond. To the word. Now finally I didn't read it.

But down in verse five of chapter eight. He says. Who is this.

She says it. Who is this that cometh up. From the wilderness.

Leaning upon her. Beloved. Now here's a wonderful relationship.

It's absolute. Dependence. On the Lord.

When Paul writes to the Philippians. He says. You can do all things.

Through him. Which strengthens you. Or another rendering is.

You can do all things. Through him that giveth you the power. Leaning.

Leaning. On her beloved. Not in our own ability.

I preached with Mr. Wark years ago. A very able. Expositor of the word of God.

He used to say. If the Lord. Gives me real help.

In preaching the gospel. I'm always afraid of the next night. I said why.

Because he says. In my heart I might think. You did pretty well.

The next night the Lord may let you. Just go flat. We've had that experience.

Our brethren would attest to that. The moment. We think.

That we in our own ability. Can do anything. The Lord soon lets us know.

That we have to lean. Upon him. And in every.

Event in your life. And my life. You go through this little book.

And you'll see. How much. The bride appreciates.

Her beloved. As she. Refers to him.

Leaning on him. Depending on him. I can do all things says Paul.

Through him that. Strengtheneth me. We can't do it ourselves.

And we appreciate. The support. Of the Lord's people.

Their prayerful interest. I was way up in Minnesota years ago. Closest.

Assembly. Brother Deboer and I. Were laboring in a tent. The closest assembly was about.

Seven hours away. That was Winnipeg. I'd never been there in my life.

But I went up. Saturday night and. Stayed overnight somewhere.

Went into the meeting Sunday morning. And an old brother sitting. In an armchair at the door.

I'd never met him. I introduced myself. He says Eric McCullough.

He said I pray for you. Every day. You know that really made my day.

Someone. That I didn't know. Was.

Bearing my name up before. The Lord. You see we need the prayerful support.

Of the Lord's people. It says pray one for another. And so the Lord.

Encourage our hearts. To appreciate. Our heavenly bridegroom.

To stay close to him. Young believer. You take time.

Every day to get something. Out of this book. Don't get hung up on.

Everything else in life. Put God first. You know what he says.

Them that. Honor me. I will honor.

That's a promise. And he'll keep his word. The Lord bless it.

Word of what will follow.