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Song of Songs - 4 Perfecting Love (Song of Songs 5:9-8:4)
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| Return to Previous Page (POWERFUL LOVE) | “If you find my beloved, tell him I’m not angry. I’m not offended because he withdrew and let all this happen to me. I love him. I’m lovesick, not angry!” (Songs 5:8) |
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Perfecting Love |
(1)
INTRODUCTION:
This final stage of love shows the
Bride coming into full maturity in her love relationship with her Beloved. It
reveals the true nature of agape (self-sacrificing) love, both in our
relationship with Jesus and in a Godly marriage.
Now the Shulamite woman leans 100% on her Beloved and is totally his. The love they have is so strong that nothing can tear them apart. Here we see a beautiful picture of what quality of people God is looking for in His Church and what should constitute a mature, godly marriage. He looks for people who lean totally on Jesus and who long to bring others into this quality of relationship with Him - those who give their lives to do His will and who look towards His glorious second coming!
| Here, in this section of Perfecting Love, we see the quality of love relationship Jesus is looking for in us, His End-TIme Army! As the End-Time company of believers come to a point of leaning completely on Him, sealed and protected by His strong love, reaching out in mature discipleship in the nations, each member finding their place in the harvest and all (with the Spirit) crying “COME!” - then the scene is set for the spotless Bride to be once and for all presented to her Beloved - Jesus ( Eph 5:27), when He comes again in glory and splendour. |
| (a) Leaning on Him
(8:5a):
Song 8:5a Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover? (NIV)
The image of a wilderness gives way to the image of the apple tree (the symbol of the devotional life - used as a symbol of love and romance in the ancient world). This is first seen in 2:3 and was the place where the Beloved ‘ awakened’ His Bride to love. The ‘awakening’ is a metaphor for new life or rather a new way of perceiving life which his love brought to her. Much as she was a product of her parent’s love (‘..there your mother brought you forth..’) and was brought into the world by physical birth, the Bride has now received a second ‘birth’ or ‘awakening’ through the love of her Beloved. As we spend time in His presence, having a stronger devotional life (under the apple tree), then we will experience an ‘awakening’! Our 'spiritual mother' (Discipler) begot us again in Christ in the place of devotion - awakening comes through this kind of nourishing discipleship.
(c) The Strength of the Love of God (8:6-7): Song 8:6-7 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. (NIV)
(d) The Call to Discipleship (8:8-9): Song 8:8-9 We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. (NIV)
(e) The Call to Maturity (8:10): Song 8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. (NIV)
(f) The Lord of the Harvest (8:11-12): Song 8:11-12 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. (NIV)
(g) The Cry For Him to Come (8:13-14): Song 8:13-14 You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains. (NIV)
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(3) CONCLUSION:
Here, in this section of Perfecting Love, we see the quality of love relationship Jesus is looking for in us, His End-TIme Army! As the End-Time company of believers come to a point of leaning completely on Him, sealed and protected by His strong love, reaching out in mature discipleship in the nations, each member finding their place in the harvest and all (with the Spirit) crying “COME!” - then the scene is set for the spotless Bride to be once and for all presented to her Beloved - Jesus ( Eph 5:27), when He comes again in glory and splendour.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Now Proceed To : Section Three - The Wall Analysis.