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

YET I AM LIKE THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON

SOLOMON IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEMPLE,

WITH BEING INSIDE, CLOSE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

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;

BUT THAT ALSO

THE GOSPEL IS MATURING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

THE GOSPEL IS THE 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:

“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?