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The Gospel According to The Song of Songs Lesson 4

 

I AM DARK AS THE TENTS OF KEDAR

KEDAR IS ASSOCIATED WITH ISHMAEL, WITH

BEING IN THE DESERT, OUTSIDE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD

www-bible-architecture-info

YET I AM LIKE THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON

SOLOMON IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEMPLE,

WITH BEING INSIDE, CLOSE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

 solomon_s_cherubim

THIS IS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

THE SONG OF SONGS:

DARK, YET LOVELY

OUTSIDE, YET BROUGHT INSIDE

SEALED WITH A COVENANT

 

AND THE GOSPEL IS

NOT JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE

NOT JUST THE WEDDING;

Dee's mom in wedding gown copy

BUT THAT ALSO

THE GOSPEL IS MATURING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

THE GOSPEL IS THE MARRIAGE.

MARRIAGE

 This week is The Labor Day weekend, so it will be a lighter week in regard to homework, but not in regard to importance. Many of you are still in wonder that this book could really be primarily about God’s love for you, and so I want to reinforce that. Mike Reeves, in quoting Puritan Richard Sibbes, says:

This book is about the love of Christ for His Bride and the love of the Bride for Christ.

As you know, this is not the predominant view in the last two centuries, but I have been encouraged so by reading godly theologians of old like Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Hudson Taylor, and the Puritans. But there are also godly theologians today that take this view like Mike Reeves, Scotty Smith, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I feel like Elizabeth expressed, that this is the redemption of The Song of Songs. I know that marriage and the marriage bed is a wonderful gift, but I think it twists the book to make it the primary focus. I agree with Nanci that the enemy would want to keep us from seeing the most important thing — Christ’s love for us AND our love for Him.

Laura suggested I listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss on The Song of Songs and I was so encouraged when I did. She is a godly woman and does a wonderful job with The Song of Songs. Perhaps because she is single, she is able to see The Song of Songs more clearly. It is easy for us who are  married to be quite preoccupied with our marriages. Though I have never met Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I have had the impression that she is much more conservative than I on the role of women, so she surprised me by taking a bold stand on this book, even admitting that it was a hard for her to disagree with men she respected like John MacArthur on the primary focus of The Song of Songs. YET SHE DID IT, fearing God more than men. I’d like you to read or listen to one of her talks on The Song of Songs — and it may whet your taste to listen to more. She too sees stages of love in The Song of Songs, and I love the application that the gospel is not just for getting into Christianity, but all of the Christian life.

It’s not just the wedding, but the marriage.

I know my earthly marriage was rare because of Steve’s constant love for me — and I know many of you do not have that. But you do have it in Jesus — and The Song of Songs wants to show you that. Philip Yancey says that though it is hard to picture God as a broken-hearted lover, that is how He portrays himself in the prophets.

And then,  in The Song of Songs, He shows how He loves us and how He wants us to trust this love. In Michael Card’s song, Arise My Love, he has verses from the first love stage through the invincible love stage. I quote an interview I did with Michael Card in Idol Lies where he talks about the importance of men grasping the bridegroom image as well as women, though he was glad there was finally a metaphor that was easier for women to grasp concerning their relationship with Christ. Listen, and as you do, pray for your love for this magnificent Bridegroom to mature, so that you may come out of the wilderness leaning on your Lover.

LISTEN TO ARISE MY LOVE AS THOUGH JESUS WERE SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU:

whoisthiscoming

“Arise, My Love” Michael Card
Arise, my love, my lovely one come,
Winter is past and the rains are gone.
The flowers appear, it’s the season of song,
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Who is it that appears like the dawn?
As fair as the moon, as bright as the sun?
Show me your face, let me hear your voice.
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Set me like a seal on your heart,
For love is unyielding as the grave.
The flash of it is a jealous fire,
No flood can quench,
For love is as strong as death.
Arise my love and come with me
Before the dawn breaks and the shadows flee.
You ravished my heart with just one glance
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
Do not arose or awaken love
Until it so desires.
Arise, my love, my lovely one come,
The Winter is past and the rains are gone.
The flowers appear, it’s season of song,
My beautiful one, arise and come with me.
I am my love’s, my beloved is mine.
Arise and come with me.

Sunday/Labor Day Icebreakers

1. What stood out to you from the above and why?

2. Take a line from Michael Card’s song, which is purely The Song of Songs, and comment on why it is meaningful to you.

Tuesday/Thursday: Read or Listen to this from Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again. Then listen or read: Link

3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?

Friday: Review

4. Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again and share any new insights.

I appreciated how Nancy Leigh DeMoss said we must give the Word (and Jesus is The Word) priority over other shepherds, radio programs, and blogs. She was not afraid to disagree, and we too must be cautious. I welcome disagreement here, and we can be like iron sharpening iron.

Saturday: Take-A-Way

5. What is your take-a-way and why?

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236 comments

    1. LOVE IT DEE!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB DAVID..I am going to check out the store and other places.. so awesome. Glad I have a cold today for I can do this. 🙂

      Could you explain how to use the HTML tags and attributes? Looks wonderful! Oh…let me try something: He is Love

  1. YEAH..we can bold text!!

  2. Experimenting: didn’t mean to say this

    God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows”
    ― Timothy Keller

    oopss..somehow my strike stayed on there on the second part..

  3. God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows. -Timothy Keller

    I used the blockquote tag on this one.. so cool!

  4. only had to fill in my id when i first commented-it works now

    I used the cite tag on this one..

  5. Hello, this is David – I’m testing out a new comment. Hello everyone! 🙂

    1. David–the site looks INCREDIBLE. And fyi–your comment came through “clean” in my mail–Rebecca’s had extra html stuff ?(I think that’s what it is–NON techy here, but you probably figured all that out anyway!) Just wanted to say a BIG thank you for all your work–it looks beautiful!

      1. Great! Thank you 🙂

    2. Looks good, David. Thanks so much for all your work on this. Are we going to get any instructions on how to use the new features? Should I check off both of the notification boxes below? I am not quite sure of the difference between them. And I don’t know what HTML tags are all about. Let me try it out below.

      1. Definitely need a tutorial.

  6. It looks great!

  7. Love the new site, so cool!!! Yes, a big thank you David!!

  8. Wait…did someone mention brownies!?

    1. David-Elizabeth did. :)) and I am sure if she made them they will be tasty.

      1. It was me who told on Elizabeth-I just forgot to enter my name and email. 😉

  9. Testing from my phone

  10. 5. What is your take-a-way and why?
    His word says that He loves me fully and completely, always. Nothing I do can add to it or take from it. He wants to have me come to Him, to be rescued by Him, to love Him and be comforted and protected by Him. If I say “Yeah, but…” I am saying that His word isn’t true and in effect I am saying that He’s lying. The best thing I can say is “Give me grace to trust you more.”

    1. Dawn, Your post is so what we need to speak to our souls daily. Loved how you closed with “Give me grace to trust you more.” We are broken and needy-and so need Him.

  11. David, Dee’s new web site is AMAZING!!!! What would we do without you?! I could bake you brownie’s as I’m in Kearney…but I’m dieting and the aroma kills my diet!! Sorry!!!

  12. Laura and Diane, I’m fine…just a silent reader alot. Praying for you Susan. How is Jeff’s stress at work? Any better? Just was a thought that maybe he’s taking it out on you? You are so loved here!

  13. I’m excited to begin following and reading each day!

    1. Welcome Chelsea!

    2. Welcome Chelsea!

    3. Welcome Chelsea!!

  14. I love the new site. Thank you David!
    The wedding was wonderful! God’s hand was visible everywhere. I really wanted to bless my son with the rehearsal dinner and with God’s blessing it was a smashing success. He was so thankful! When he came in late I had to get up to let him in and he gave me another big hug and thanked me. At the reception his best man spoke about what a great friend he has been. It was so touching. The service was a full Catholic mass and it was beautiful. Best man read from Song of Songs. We had pictures in Duke Gardens. I snapped a few myself and will share on Facebook if I can figure out how

    1. Oh Anne….I am so thrilled for you! So glad to hear the wedding and rehearsal dinner went well, that God was present…the hugs you received! Wow – are you exhausted or still riding high from all the answers to prayer?! This is all wonderful!

      1. Susan that is exactly how I feel, exhausted while riding high on the treasures of what God has done. Treasure is what they are and when difficulties come I will have these solid tangible memories of what God has done and of His approval to carry me through. Now is the time for journaling.

    2. Me too Anne, such an answer to prayer!

    3. Anne, I am so happy everything went great and he appricated his mom so much!

  15. 3. What notes do you have from Nancy Leigh DeMoss?

    I am really enjoying listening to this series by Nancy…this was another good one! So much (and many have already posted good notes).
    What stood out to me is The Conflict – this is a common conflict in all of our hearts, asking “How could He love me?” The Shulamite was conflicted and so are we!
    Secondly, Nancy saying to let the Lord shape your view of yourself. So often, I look to others for that approval, to see how I’m doing, and I allow the approval or disapproval of others to shape my view of myself. He sees the darkness, He knows how I messed-up yesterday and the day before. Yet He says I am lovely. Not because of me, but because of Him.
    I liked the points Nancy made about serving in the vineyards of the law vs. the vineyards of love. Of being burned-out. The solution isn’t more “me time”, but rather time spent with Him, asking Him “where do you feed, where do you rest?”

  16. 4. Read Song of Songs 1:1-6 aloud again and share any new insights.

    The first four verses speak of incredible closeness and intimacy with the king-the kisses of his mouth, the intoxicating fragrance of his perfume, wanting to be brought into his chambers. It is then that she takes a “step back” and begins to speak of being dark. In Nancy’s talk, she spoke about how moving closer to Him can result in our seeing our own darkness-being so close to His beauty reveals our sin. It did for Isaiah, and Peter. But I like how she still pursues him, wanting to know where he feeds and rests his flock. She admits she has neglected her own vineyard. But she asks of him. He is the source where we must seek an answer to our darkness.

    5. What is your take-away and why?

    I’m amazed at how Song of Songs is opening up to me and all of us here. Reading it with fresh eyes and a new understanding-I just never knew all it reveals about Christ! I still love the verse about His name being like perfume poured out, or like ointment (NKJV). I’ve had that “ointment” stuck in my head this week as I encounter various trials and think, “I need Jesus to be my ointment for this”…healing, forgiving, soothing, restoring, warming…

  17. If anyone is out there, I could use your prayers this morning. It is hard to go to church and function as a Christian pastor’s wife when I am so sad and discouraged. I dread talking to people. My pain spills out and it is embarrassing. If God could give me the “peace that passes understanding” today, I could really use it. I feel like crawling in a hole and hiding.

    1. Oh Diane, I am hear and praying and I can identify with that desire to crawl in a hole.
      I am asking the Father for one sweet friend to come alongside you, someone you can be real with.
      Also that God will speak in a particular personal way to you this morning.
      Cast all your cares upon Him, He loves you so.
      I love you too dear Diane.

    2. oh Diane–your words gripped my heart–I will so pray for you especially this morning–Lord, please cover Diane with a peace that can only come from You–with inner strength, and calm, with her eyes only on You, Lord. And I agree with Chris in asking that You would bring her a friend to let her guard down with–Lord, comfort her, please.

    3. Dear Diane, I am just now seeing this. Lord, I know You love Diane so much. Her pain is Your pain. Though we don’t understand the circumstances we believe this and know that You weep with her. Lord please help Diane to know how near You are. Help her to know that though the earth shakes and mountains crumble, You are still holding her family in Your hands. They are safe in You. Speak peace and comfort to her soul right now Lord.
      Help her congregation to be sensitive to her pain. Though she may not be able to share help them to just sit shiva with her. Please comfort her now through them. I know there are often many needs and expectations on pastor’s wives. Please meet those needs from other sources right now and give Diane rest.

  18. My Life is in your Hand [ lyrics ]By Kathy Troccoli

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dB3IfjmhZ4