Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Song of Songs 4:1-8 (Session 3 continued)



                                           I.            REVIEW OF THE SONGS STORYLINE
A.    The Songs begin with the Bride's prayer for revelation of the Word, for intimacy, and to run with others in ministry (Song 1:2-4).  Her journey actually begins with the paradox of grace in verse 5.  She's dark in her heart but lovely. 

B.     She begins to understand her identity in God's beauty in Song 1:12-2:7  She longs to connect with Him more.  It's not a struggle to spend time with Him, it's a joy.  She's finding pleasures and delight in Jesus.
C.    In Song 2:8-17, her comfort zone is challenged and she refuses to obey out of fear.  Because of her disobedience, He removes His presence.  She searches for Him but  doesn't find Him (Song 3:1-4).  He finally comes back when she has decided to obey to go to the mountain of myrrh.
D.    Even before she obeys completely, He reveals Himself to her as the Safe Saviour.  He shows her that where He is, is the safest place to be.  He reveals that He is One who is safe to obey. (Song 3:6-11)
                                        II.            THE PROPHETIC HEART OF GOD & 1ST COMMANDMENT (SONG 4:1-5)
A.    So after the season of discipline, Jesus, The King begins to prophesy over her.  He reveals how beautiful she is to Him.  He describes 8 character traits that He desires to see in her. They are all in agriculture metaphors.  It's the language of her own heart.  He is calling her forth.  These words give us confidence before Him.

"Behold, you are fair, my love!  Behold, you are fair!  You have dove’s eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, going down from Mount Gilead.  Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come up from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them.  Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, and your mouth is lovely.  Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate.  Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.  Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies." Song 4:1-5

B.     The Holy Spirit is restoring the first commandment to first place in the Body of Christ so that before Jesus returns, the whole Body of Christ will love God with all of their heart, all of their soul, mind, and all of their strength. The strategy of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the burning passion of Jesus’ heart as a Bridegroom King, and the revelation of His passionate heart will awaken  and impart love into your spirit. That is what this passage is about.
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."  Mark 12:30

                                     III.            EYES: SINGLE MINDED DEVOTION

"You have dove’s eyes behind your veil." Song 4:1

A.    The eyes speak of the eyes of our understanding - Eph 1:18.  It speaks of discernment, understanding, wisdom.  To have eyes of faith and vision.  1 Kings 6:14-17

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..."Eph 1:17-18

B.     A dove's eyes cannot focus on 2 things and have no peripheral vision.  Having dove's eyes means we are single focused.  That our mind is set on things above and not on things of the earth Colossians 3:2.  Dove's are also very loyal birds.  Dove's eyes speak of loyalty and purity.  It also is represented as the Holy Spirit.

C.    Behind your veil- she has humility in her revelation.  There are things she knows, yet she chooses not to boast about it.  Behind your veil also speaks of her secret life in God.

                                     IV.            HAIR: DEDICATION TO GOD

"Your hair is like a flock of goats, going down from Mount Gilead." Song 4:1

A.    The Bride’s hair spoke of her consecration and dedication to God. The hair of the Nazirite was an outward sign of their consecration or dedication (Num. 6).

B.     Is like a flock of goats - Proverbs 30:29-31, tell us that goats are majestic and stately in their       walk.  The dedication to God that flows out of us comes from Godly wisdom with dignity


                     "There are three things which are majestic in pace, yes, four which are stately in walk31a male goat also, and a king whose troops are with him." (Prov. 30:29-31)

C.    Going down from Mount Gilead - Mount Gilead was a fertile place where goats were known to eat abundantly.  The Bride is dedicated due to her being fed on the love and Word of God.

                                        V.            TEETH: CHEWING THE MEAT OF THE WORD OF GOD

"Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which have come up from the washing, every one of which bears twins, and none is barren among them." Song 4:2

A.    Teeth speak of the ability to chew meat- to receive the meat of the Word.   Teeth provide a way for our physical bodies to receive nourishment.  Infants have no teeth to chew meat (1 Cor. 3:13).  Meditation is a way we can digest the Word.  Teeth speak of long and loving meditation on the Word.  She no longer needs milk, but now can ingest the weightier things of God.

"For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14

B.     The wool of unshaven sheep grow unevenly.  Wool speaks of fleshly zeal (Ezek.44:15-18).  The priests of Zaddok were not allowed to wear wool because it would cause them to sweat.

C.    Which have come up from the washing-  being washed by the water of His Word.  Being cleansed through the Word.
                                                         
" that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might   present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."  Eph 5:26-27

D.    Twins speaks of fruitfulness.  Her ministry impact is fruitful.  By meditating on the Word, we       can keep our lives as clean as sheep who just emerged from the washing. This cleanliness of       teeth speaks of her commitment to meditate on God’s Word.

                                     VI.            LIPS: SPEECH THAT IS REDEMPTIVE

"Your lips are like a strand of scarlet," Song 4:3

A.    The lips speak of her speech. Scarlet represents the blood of redemption. When the spies came to Jericho, Rahab placed the scarlet ribbon/strand in her window to receive redemption (Josh. 2:21).  James 3, gives us insight about our speech along with many other passages.  Ephesians, ,also tells us that when our speech is wholesome it's an indicator that we have the grace of God.

 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Ephesians 4:29


                                  VII.            MOUTH: INTIMACY WITH GOD

"And your mouth is lovely." Song 4:3

A.    In Song 1:2, she prays that He would kiss her with the kisses of His mouth. This talks about having intimacy.  Intimacy with God empowers us. 
 
                                "Grace is poured upon Your lips" Psalm 45:2

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

                               VIII.            TEMPLE: EMOTIONS IMPACTED BY GOD

"Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate." Song 4:3

A.    The temples represent the Brides countenance or cheeks which reveal her emotions.  We can see anger, joy, gladness, and sadness on the cheeks or countenance. 

B.     Her godly emotions were like a piece of sweet pomegranate. They were sweet to God. The pomegranate was a common fruit in Israel that was very sweet.

C.    Pomegranate when halved are red inside and sweet.  Her emotions are sweet to God and her red countenance is sensitive to shameful things (red from blushing).

                                     IX.            NECK: SETTING OUR WILL TO OBEY GOD

"Your neck is like the tower of David, built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers,
all shields of mighty men."  Song 4:4

A.    In Scripture, the neck often speaks of the will that can be stiff-necked (resistant) or submissive.  The Bride’s will is like the heart of David who set his heart to be steadfast before God (Ps. 57:7). This is in contrast to being double-minded.
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast" Psalm 57:7

B.     David’s towers were strong and high to make them effective in defending the city of Jerusalem.

C.    An armory is a place where weapons are stored.  Having a strong will to obey is a huge stored weapon.  A thousand speaks of abundant defense and protection against the enemy.

D.    Bucklers or shields represent the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16) which is used for protection.  Having a strong will to obey God protects us.

 "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Ephesians 6:16

                                        X.            BREASTS: POWER TO EDIFY AND NURTURE OTHERS

"Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies." Song 4:5

A.                Breasts speak of nurturing and edifying others as a mother to her child. Fawns are youthful animals. Her breasts are like two fawns that are twins. This speaks of a double portion, or a double ability to nurture others in giving them the milk of the Word.

B.                 The maiden’s ministry is likened to fawns that feed among the lilies (purity).  They are fruitful because they feed on things that pure.
               
8" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."    Phil. 4:8-9

No comments:

Post a Comment