Site Logo
← Table of Contents

THE SONG OF SOLOMON- MY BELOVED

January 5, 2003 PM

Sermon Outline

S of S 1:1

INTRO: Among the books of the Bible, there is probably not one which has been less noticed than the little book called Song of Solomon. If you read commentaries about this book, you will realize that commentators have no unanimity of approach to it. For many, it is simply allegorical material. It would, then, perhaps describe the relationship of God to Israel ... or of Christ to the church. For others, it may be typology ... simply describing the nature of Gods love. Why there has been such an aversion to recognizing this as a little book which describes the nature of a loving relationship between a man and woman, a husband and wife, I am not sure. But I cannot read this little book in any other way. In a way, I think of it as a handbook for marriage. Some of its lessons?

I. THE QUALITIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP

A. Even the mention of his name is exciting to her - 1:3

1. there is a passion, a dynamism, in this relationship

2. so profound is this passion that just the thought of the others name brings pleasure and excitement

B. A young womans insecurity - 1:5,6

1. this young woman has been out in the sun working in vineyards

2. she is afraid that her being so tanned will be a turn off to him

C. A young mans praise - 1:8

1. to her insecurities about her physical appearance he declares she is fairest among women!!

2. all of us desire and need words of praise for those who love us

D. The presence of genuine love - 1:13,14

1. he is her well beloved - her beloved

2. this little book overflows with the love of each for the other - yes, there are physical expressions of this love here ... but commitment of love is also very present

E. Mutual expressions of affection - 2:1-3

1. she begins by suggesting she is an ordinary lily of the valleys - but he responds that she is a lily among thorns - exceptional!

2. he is to her as the apple tree whose shade and fruit she enjoys

F. His pride in her - 2:4

1. he took her along to public places and rejoiced in her presence - he treated her like a queen

2. note: his banner over me was love - she knew she was covered by his love

G. The thrill of just hearing one anothers voice - 2:8

1. this may sound a little bit immature to us - infatuation

2. but there is the one voice which brings joy to me always ... which gives comfort, assurance, security ... it that of my wife

H. An acknowledgment that marriage may have its trouble spots - 2:15

1. the little animals could ruin a vineyard and had to be kept out, controlled

2. although there may be an allusion here to her own vineyard experiences, it seems very plain in the plan of this little book that little foxes may enter the marriage relationship and ruin it!

II. DEALING WITH A MISUNDERSTANDING

A. From 5:2-6 is an interesting passage about some misunderstanding

1. the husband has been detained in his duties and has come home way after his wife had expected him

2. she has locked the bedroom door - and makes some lame excuses about why she cannot get up (5:3)

B. The husband left the door ... and, apparently, the house

1. he did not rant and rave ... he left a gift (5:5)

2. when they were together again, he reassured her of his love (5:9)

III. OTHER OBSERVATIONS

A. This is my beloved, and this is my friend ... (5:16)

1. this may be one of the loveliest sentiments in this entire book

2. too many marriages do not develop in this direction ... the spouse as ones friend

3. companionship, communion, comfort, caring, etc. which are so much a part of genuine friendship are all met in ones spouse ... or should be

B. Set me as a seal upon thine heart... - (8:6)

1. a wedding ring is an ornament which represents the depth, the exclusiveness of the commitment of marriage

2. the love of marriage has a strength like that of death ... and any sort of compromise of the seal brings jealousy as cruel as the grave

3. true love cannot be quenched - true love cannot be bought (8:7)

C. Three commitment statements

1. 2:16 - 6:3 - 7:10

2. in these statements one can hear the progression of maturing love - a maturing which sees a marriage into a closeness unbreakable

CLOSE: Oh, there is so much more in this grand little book ... which might well be considered a celebration of marital love! Read and study it with anticipation and joy.

Cecil A. Hutson

05 January 2003

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)