No shame in Love… vs. 1-4

• 1^st – Like a brother… vs. 1
  • Looking back…
    • As we come to the CONCLUSION of the GREATEST love song…
    • Presumably some time has passed – perhaps some years down the road of life…
    • The SHULAMITE and SOLOMON are going to reflect back on their relationship!
    • There is something sweet about an old couple reminiscing over the years…
    • Looking back at old pictures – sharing their LOVE story…
    • Remembering both their SUCCESSES – and FAILURE – how God used BOTH…
    • And passing on what they LEARNED to the next generation who will fall in LOVE!
  • No shame…
    • Oh that you were like my brother – who nursed at my mothers breasts.
    • If I should find you outside I would kiss you. I would not be despised!
    • FIRST the SHULAMITE wanted us to know – how NOT to be ASHAMED…
    • She reflects on how she wished SOLOMON could have been LIKE [כְּ] her brother…
    • Because then she could have KISSED him in public without it being a SCANDAL…
    • Because in Old Testament times – public displays of affection [PDA] were NOT allowed…
    • Even husbands and wives were NOT permitted to kiss in PUBLIC!
    • When we were in Jerusalem a few years back – we were up on the Temple mount…
    • One of the couples with us was HOLDING hands as they walked…
    • The Waqf [Muslim temple police] rushed over and demanded they stop…
    • Going so far as to even insist they delete ALL pictures of them holding hands!
    • The simple point being there is a TIME and PLACE for physical affection…
    • The problem is we live in a world that wants to remove ALL restrictions…
    • Even teens today seem to have no limits on showing affection in public places [PDA]
    • What we fail to acknowledge is that removed BOUNDARIES that keep them safe…
    • It opens the door for them to go FARTHER – which ends up getting them in TROUBLE…
    • Which is why it is WISER to limit AFFECTION in public – and NOT stumble others!
    • I Timothy 5:2 – “[Treat the] younger women as sisters – with all purity.”
• 2^nd – Wise teacher… 2
  • Proud mother…
    • I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother. She who used to instruct me!
    • SECOND the SHULAMITE wanted us to know – she followed instructions…
    • She would [imperfect] lead SOLOMON back to the house of her MOTHER…
    • The one who TAUGHT [piel] her how to be a GODLY woman…
    • So her mother could see that she had LISTENED to her counsel!
  • Subtle details…
    • I would cause you to drink of spiced wine – of the juice of my pomegranate!
    • Then she would make [hiphil] SOLOMON drink MIXED wine…
    • Rather than being made from GRAPES – it would be made from POMEGRANATE!
    • This subtle detail is lost on us – as we are NOT familiar with Jewish culture…
    • There are MANY restrictions in KOSHER law about drinking WINE…
    • But POMEGRANATE wine is always considered to be KOSHER [proper]
    • The idea being the SHULAMITE had learned the SUBTLE ways to act PROPERLY!
    • When we are YOUNG – we think we KNOW how life works…
    • We make the MISTAKE of assuming that KNOWLEDGE equates to WISDOM…
    • But WISDOM is far deeper – it comes through EXPERIENCE…
    • Which is why those who are OLDER – have a LOT more WISDOM than the YOUNG…
    • They pass onto us SUBTLE details that we might NOT think are important…
    • When they say do NOT be alone before we are married – and we think we are OK…
    • They LEARNED the hard way – and we would be WISE to listen their COUNSEL!
    • I Peter 5:5 – “You who are younger – submit yourselves to your elders.”
• 3^rd – Do not awaken… vs. 3-4
  • Close embrace… vs. 3
    • To the Daughters of Jerusalem: 
    • His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me!
    • THIRD the SHULAMITE wanted us to know – there is a PROGRESSION…
    • SOLOMON was holding her – his LEFT hand was supported her head…
    • His RIGHT hand was SQUEEZING [piel] her tightly…
    • And she LOVED to be in his EMBRACE – she LOVED it!
  • Timing… vs. 4
    • I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem: Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases!
    • But at the same time she understood where it would LEAD…
    • Therefore this caused [hiphil] her to WARN the other women [daughters of Jerusalem]
    • That once you begin to walk down this PATH [holding one another]
    • What [מָה] you are doing is causing [hiphil] LOVE [אַהֲבָה] to WAKE up [poel]
    • And if it is NOT the right time [after marriage] – you will be in TROUBLE…
    • This is the THIRD and FINAL time she gives this WARNING – Song of Songs 2:7 – 3:5
      
    • There is a natural progression that takes places in a relationship…
    • It might start with holding hands – a stolen kiss – a gentle caress…
    • But it will NOT stop there – it is like being in a speeding car…
    • The faster it goes – the more likely we are going to end up in a CRASH!
    • The WISDOM is to NOT wake up LOVE before it is time [wedding day]
    • We must NOT put ourselves in a place where we will be TEMPTED…
    • Set BOUNDARIES – be careful NOT to be alone [no accountability]
    • We must draw a line when it comes to physical intimacy BEFORE marriage…
    • The question should NOT be how CLOSE to sex – but how CLOSE we can draw to Jesus…
    • The basis for a lifelong marriage does NOT come from physical attraction…
    • Instead it comes from those who build their relationship on God!
    • II Timothy 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts – but pursue… the Lord out of a pure heart.”

• 2^nd – Power of Love… vs. 5-7
  • 1^st – Good Pattern… vs. 5
    • A Relative:
      • Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?
      • We are NOT sure who is speaking here [not clearly defined in the Hebrew]
      • That we are NOT told [anonymous] emphasizes it is the PUBLICS view of their marriage…
      • They saw how SOLOMON [her beloved] supported his WIFE the SHULAMITE…
      • Something that he had done from the very BEGINNING of their relationship!
    • How it started…
      • I awakened you under the apple tree.
      • There your mother brought you forth. There she who bore you brought you forth!
      • When they had fallen in LOVE [poel] under an APPLE tree…
      • The very same tree where her MOTHER had given birth to her…
      • Thinking back fondly on bother where she was BORN – and where their love STARTED!
      • The world is WATCHING – and much of what they see is NOT from the Lord…
      • They see MOVIE stars – POLITICIANS – and the lives they live are usually a mess…
      • We need more examples of what a GODLY relationship looks like…
      • So that young people can see a PATTERN of a GOOD marriage!
      • Philippians 3:17 – “Note those who so walk – as you have [them as] a pattern.”
  • 2^nd – Strong as death… vs. 6
    • The seal…
      • The Shulamite to Her Beloved: Set me as a seal upon your heart – as a seal upon your arm!
      • The SHULAMITE demanded [imperative] her husband [כַּ] SEAL their LOVE [two ways]
      • SEAL [חוֹתָם] a MARK that would identify something as belonging to a person…
      • FIRST internal – he was to put her SEAL on his HEART [לֵב]
      • SECOND external – he was to put her SEAL on his ARM [like a wedding ring]
      • Their LOVE was NOT meant to be some kind of one night stand!
    • Like death…
      • For love is as strong as death…. as cruel as the grave!
      • Because [כִּי] LOVE [אַהֲבָה] is a BOND that lasts a LIFETIME – Matthew 19:6
      • It is as [כַּ] powerful as DEATH – as unchanging as the GRAVE [שְׁאוֹל]!
      • When someone DIES – once they are BURIED – that is the END…
      • People do NOT get to come back to life and try it all over again [reincarnation]
      • In the same way we are meant to fall in LOVE only ONCE…
      • We SEAL our hearts and set a SEAL on our hands [ring] – for a LIFETIME!
      • The world today demands we DATE to find out if we are COMPATIBLE…
      • The problem is people give their HEART [love] TESTING if the relationship will work…
      • And when there are PROBLEMS [and there always will be] they walk away…
      • But each time they get a little more BITTER – hardened by the PAIN of broken LOVE…
      • We NEVER see DATING in the Bible – God does NOT give any conditions on WHO to marry…
      • Because it does NOT matter who we MARRY [be sure they are a believer]
      • What makes a MARRIAGE great – is who is the foundation [Jesus]!
    • Our jealousy…
      • [Jealousies] flames are flames of fire – a most vehement flame!
      • There are TWO possibilities as to what this might be referring to…
      • FIRST – this could be speaking of us being JEALOUS…
      • It is important to have only one LOVE – is because of what can happens when we TEST…
      • JEALOUSY [קִנְאָה] – from the root verb [קָנָא] which can be translated as ENVY!
      • The classic example is of showing off a NEW boyfriend to an EX…
      • Wanting to PROVE that we are OK – we have MOVED on…
      • PROVOKING [fanning the flames] one another to JEALOUSLY [envy]
    • Gods jealousy…
      • SECOND – this could be speaking of GOD being jealous of us…
      • The final phrase translated [vehement flame] – is literally the flame of God [יָהּ] in Hebrew…
      • God does NOT want us giving out our HEART to lots of different people…
      • And when we play the DATING game – it fans the coals of his JEALOUSLY…
      • Because His desire for MARRIAGE – is ONE man and ONE woman for a lifetime…
      • MARRIAGE is meant to point us back to our relationship with Him!
      • Sadly a lot of people treat God like they do a DATING relationship…
      • They will give God a try – testing to see if it works out…
      • Rather than realizing that it is the ONE relationship that is meant to last FOREVER!
  • 3^rd – Greatest Love… vs. 7
    • The Love…
      • Many waters cannot quench love – nor can the floods drown it!
      • There is NO [לֹא] amount of WATER that can extinguish LOVE [אַהֲבָה]
      • And [וּ] MANY rivers [נְהָרוֹת] cannot [לֹא] wash it away…
      • There is a CHANGE here – the article [הָ] appears before the word LOVE [אַהֲבָה]
      • Meaning we are NOT just talking about generic LOVE – this is THE love of God…
      • A LOVE that NOTHING can stop – nothing will ever be able to quench it!
      • The reason why MARRIAGE is so important – LOVE is NOT to be cheapened…
      • Is because it points us back to the GREATEST of all LOVE – I John 4:8
      • God calls us His BRIDE – He uses marriage to show us what that looks like – Revelation 21:9
    • The cost…
      • If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house – it would be utterly despised!
      • IF [אִם] a MAN gives [imperfect] all [כֹּל] he has for [בָּ] LOVE [אַהֲבָה]
      • All of his possessions will seem as [בּוּז] NOTHING [2x for emphasis]
      • When compared to the LOVE that he will get as a REWARD!
      • Jesus gave a PARABLE about a PEARL of great price – Matthew 13:46
      • Telling us that the man who found that PEARL – would sell EVERYTHING to buy it…
      • PEARLS – came from an UNCLEAN animal – Leviticus 11:12
      • Meaning they were something that JEWS would avoid…
      • But Jesus did NOT just come to save the CLEAN – He also came to save UNCLEAN!
      • God does NOT look at the world the way we do…
      • We see ourselves and assume how could God love us – we are UNCLEAN…
      • But God sees a PEARL of great price – He is willing to give EVERYTHING to redeem us…
      • He was willing to become a MAN – He was willing to DIE on the CROSS…
      • Because the GREATEST love of all – is the LOVE of God!
      • I Timothy 1:15 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

• 3^rd – Waiting for Love… vs. 8-14
  • 1^st – Little sister… vs. 8-9
    • Still young… vs. 8
      • The Shulamites Brothers: We have a little sister and she has no breasts.
      • What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for?
      • Then the BROTHERS of the SHULAMITE recall her when she was a child…
      • When we was LITTLE – before she became a woman – NO [אִין] breasts…
      • When they had talked about what to do one day when a MAN came asking [דָּבַר] about her…
      • They decided it would depend on the SHULAMITE [two possibilities]!
    • The wall… vs. 9
      • If she is a wall – we will build upon her a [palace] of silver!
      • IF [אִם] she acts like a WALL – and does NOT let men near her…
      • Then the BROTHERS would give her HONOR – they would build her a SILVER palace!
    • The door… vs. 9
      • But if she is a door – we will enclose her with boards of cedar!
      • But IF [וְאִם] she was like a DOOR – opened up to every man who walked by…
      • Then the BROTHERS would build a WALL of hard [cedar] WOOD around her!
      • I once heard a pastor jokingly say – raising kids is easy…
      • You just put them into a box and feed them through a hole…
      • When they get to be teenagers – PLUG the hole!
      • When little girls and boys become teenagers – they kind of lose the minds…
      • Their emotions [and hormones] go off the chart…
      • Which means they do NOT always make the best decisions – especially in relationships…
      • If they are WISE – and act like a WALL – then they will likely be OK…
      • But if they UNWISE – and open the DOOR – then they might need our help…
      • PROTECT them from the HURT that comes from giving away their HEART to easily!
  • 2^nd – Her choice… vs. 10-12
    • I am a wall… vs. 10
      • The Shulamite: I am a wall and my breasts like towers.
      • Then I became in his eyes as one who found peace!
      • The answer from the SHULAMITE to her BROTHERS – I am a WALL…
      • No man was going to get anywhere near her [or her breasts]
      • She was making sure she WAITED to give her LOVE…
      • As a RESULT [אָז] – when SOLOMON saw her she gave [hiphil] to him PEACE [שָׁלוֹם]
    • The other vineyard… vs. 11
      • Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased the vineyard to keepers.
      • Everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins!
      • To explain why SOLOMON had PEACE when he saw the SHULAMITE…
      • She uses the example of his VINEYARD in Baal Hamon [lord of abundance]
      • VINEYARD that he RENTED [נָתַן] out to other man to HARVEST…
      • And they would pay him THOUSAND silver for its FRUIT!
    • My vineyard… vs. 12
      • To Solomon: My own vineyard is before me.
      • You O Solomon – may have a thousand and those who tend its fruit two hundred!
      • But – although SOLOMON could do whatever he wanted with his VINEYARD…
      • Though SOLOMON might have a THOUSAND vineyards…
      • This could possibly be a reference [or a foreshadowing] of his other wives – I Kings 11:3
      • Even having TWO hundred men who watched over his VINEYARDS [eunuchs?]
      • He could NOT touch the SHULAMITE – her VINEYARD belonged to her [שֶׁלִּי]!
      • Ladies listen – those who are NOT yet married…
      • You can only give yourself away for the FIRST time [virginity] – ONCE…
      • It is the most precious GIFT that you can give to your HUSBAND…
      • Knowing that you have NOT been with another man – will give him PEACE…
      • Therefore CLOSE the DOOR – be a WALL – play very hard to get…
      • Because the man who wants you – need to prove it – by winning your HEART!
    • Second chances…
      • But I think it necessary – to also address the HOPE we have!
      • Maybe we made a MISTAKE – maybe we opened the door too early…
      • That is where GRACE comes in – our God is a God of second chances…
      • All the is needed is to choose TODAY – to put Jesus FIRST…
      • Because His mercies are new EVERY morning – Lamentations 3:23
  • 3^rd – Lasting love… vs. 13-14
    • Listening… vs. 13
      • The Beloved: You who dwell in the gardens.
      • The companions listen for your voice – Let me hear it!
      • In response to her declaration that she was NOT cheap…
      • Her love was something that had to be WON – she was the daughter of the KING [God]
      • Solomon called her the ONE who dwells in the GARDENS [safety]
      • Others had heard her WORDS [voice] – he must [imperative] HEAR them as well…
      • I am sure as a KING – Solomon was used to getting what he wanted…
      • But he did NOT have the power to demand the SHULAMITE – he had to earn her LOVE!
    • Enjoying… vs. 14
      • The Shulamite: Make haste my beloved.
      • And be like a gazelle – or a young stag – on the mountains of spices!
      • To which the SHULAMITE commanded [imperative] him to come QUICKLY my love [דּוֹד]
      • Like a DEER come leaping over the mountains to the one he loved…
      • The SONG – and BOOK – end with the affirmation of their LOVE!
    • Picture…
      • But we need to conclude by addressing the obvious question…
      • The SHULAMITE was NOT the only wife of SOLOMON [1000 wives]
      • Which would seem to wash away the beauty of the story…
      • NOTE – this book was NOT really written by SOLOMON …
      • Out of 117 verses – he only speak in 38 of them – 74 verses are from the SHULAMITE…
      • It is really her SONG – her STORY about finding LOVE!
      • But the power is in the PICTURE it gives us of the GREATEST love…
      • It is OUR song – it is meant to be a picture of LOVE of Jesus…
      • Who gave EVERYTHING – willing to do ANYTHING – to win our hearts!