WEBVTT 00:00:00.501 --> 00:00:01.141 Verse seven. 00:00:01.141 --> 00:00:14.436 It says let us be glad, rejoice and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has prepared herself. 00:00:14.436 --> 00:00:26.074 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure, for the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 00:00:26.074 --> 00:00:34.853 Then he said to me write blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb. 00:00:34.853 --> 00:00:41.133 He also said to me these words of God are true. 00:00:41.133 --> 00:00:45.451 Flip back to Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 11. 00:00:45.652 --> 00:00:47.520 Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 11. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:56.414 It says go out, young women, young women, young women of Zion, and gaze and gaze. 00:00:56.414 --> 00:01:11.548 Go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon wearing the crown his mother placed on his head, on on him on the day of his wedding, the day of his heart's, rejoicing Amen. 00:01:11.548 --> 00:01:13.072 So straight out the jump. 00:01:13.072 --> 00:01:28.724 I just want to show you how, in some ways, the book of Song of Solomon can be viewed allegorically and eschatologically, and tonight, for the sake of time, I will mostly discuss what we can learn from and about this amazing book. 00:01:28.724 --> 00:01:33.552 It is important that people know always the truth. 00:01:33.552 --> 00:01:41.049 Yahweh be with us now, amen, all right, so now hold chapter one of Song of Solomon. 00:01:41.049 --> 00:01:41.989 Hold chapter one of Song of Solomon. 00:01:41.989 --> 00:01:47.003 Whole chapter one is Song of Solomon and if you want, you can go to 1 Kings, chapter four. 00:01:47.003 --> 00:01:49.588 1 Kings, chapter four. 00:01:49.588 --> 00:02:00.183 I hope you guys greased up your Bibles because we're going to be looking at a lot of different parts of the Bible to cover this amazing, historic, inspired word of God. 00:02:00.183 --> 00:02:03.930 So look at 1 Kings chapter four, verse 31. 00:02:03.930 --> 00:02:09.187 Now, speaking of Solomon, the verse says he was wiser. 00:02:09.187 --> 00:02:16.472 And listen to the first person that they mentioned he was wiser than he was wiser than anyone, wiser than Ethan the Ezra. 00:02:16.472 --> 00:02:24.247 Right now, you really got to be real wise If you're wiser than Ethan, I just want to put that out there and Haman and Cole and Dora and sons of Maol. 00:02:24.748 --> 00:02:29.094 His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations. 00:02:29.094 --> 00:02:41.756 Solomon spoke 3000 proverbs and his songs, his songs, his songs numbered 1005, 1005 songs. 00:02:41.756 --> 00:02:44.447 So now go to Songs of Solomon, chapter 1. 00:02:44.447 --> 00:02:53.247 So Solomon is a prolific writer who takes after his father, david, who is also called the sweet psalmist of Israel. 00:02:53.247 --> 00:03:08.055 Solomon is also writing, as we look in Songs of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 1, which opens, opens by stating the song of songs, which is Solomon's. 00:03:08.055 --> 00:03:13.712 Now, of course, before we jump in, we have to look at this declaration and what it actually entails. 00:03:13.712 --> 00:03:33.114 So Solomon is, from the onset, declaring that this is the greatest of all his songs, or the greatest of all songs in general, and if you agree with the former, you wouldn't be wrong, since this is perhaps the most profoundly dramatic artistic forms of writing that we have of Salomon. 00:03:33.114 --> 00:03:42.974 As it states, he wrote 1,005 songs, but this one we're reading now is his apex in grandiosity. 00:03:42.974 --> 00:03:51.582 Now is his apex in grandiosity the Song of Songs. 00:03:51.603 --> 00:03:54.932 It is an appropriate title for sublime language from this human author inspired by the Holy Spirit to give us this. 00:03:54.932 --> 00:03:59.943 The Song of Songs actually gives us a clue as to its interpretation. 00:03:59.943 --> 00:04:06.051 It is one song out of many songs and this is a superlative. 00:04:06.051 --> 00:04:12.631 So you have titles such as god of gods and lord of lords or holy of holies, right? 00:04:12.631 --> 00:04:20.245 So yahweh is the god above all gods, he's the lord above all lords, he is king above all kings, and this is the song above all songs. 00:04:20.245 --> 00:04:22.228 It's a superlative. 00:04:22.228 --> 00:04:31.461 So, as he writes 1005 songs, this one song we do have in in our bibles today. 00:04:31.461 --> 00:04:36.129 It would be interesting to hear all the other songs that he must have written. 00:04:36.129 --> 00:04:48.422 But, uh, why did the holy spirit move solomon to write that as an opening title heading to declare this book the Song of Songs. 00:04:48.422 --> 00:05:10.846 And I think because, maybe because, in terms of human possession, in terms of human possession, there's maybe nothing more valuable than genuine and godly romantic love which one man and his one wife can possess freely between the two of them, yet at the same time cannot afford even though they have it. 00:05:10.846 --> 00:05:13.552 This is the Song of Songs. 00:05:14.374 --> 00:05:17.283 So verse one continues in chapter one. 00:05:17.283 --> 00:05:27.696 Verse one, the woman says, oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your caresses are more delightful than wine. 00:05:27.696 --> 00:05:32.146 The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating. 00:05:32.146 --> 00:05:35.252 Your name is perfume poured out. 00:05:35.252 --> 00:05:39.202 No wonder young women adore you. 00:05:39.202 --> 00:05:50.295 In these first few verses we already learn so much when it comes to godly romantic relationships and what they involve. 00:05:50.295 --> 00:05:56.290 First, biblical, human romantic love is sensual. 00:05:56.290 --> 00:06:04.779 It's sensual In the Song of Solomon, the senses are often highlighted. 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:09.386 I don't know if you noticed it as we read those verses, and so I see some shaking heads. 00:06:09.386 --> 00:06:09.607 Yes. 00:06:09.607 --> 00:06:11.951 So what are the five senses? 00:06:11.951 --> 00:06:17.048 Touch, taste, smell, hear, hearing and sight, right. 00:06:17.048 --> 00:06:22.285 So if you look at it again with me, from verse one, it says, oh, that he would kiss. 00:06:22.285 --> 00:06:26.314 Right, he kissed me with the kisses of his mouth. 00:06:26.314 --> 00:06:27.021 That's touch. 00:06:27.021 --> 00:06:31.252 Your caresses, that's touch, are more delightful than wine. 00:06:31.252 --> 00:06:32.403 That's taste. 00:06:32.403 --> 00:06:36.252 The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating. 00:06:36.252 --> 00:06:40.367 That smell, your name is perfume poured out. 00:06:40.367 --> 00:06:56.314 That's hearing and seeing, since the mention of Solomon is like a Pavlov's dogs experiment, where the dogs would hear the sound of a bell and salivate even if no food was present. 00:06:56.314 --> 00:07:04.769 Right, but for these women, in Song of Solomon, just hearing Solomon's name is entrancing and ravishing. 00:07:04.769 --> 00:07:08.555 And that covers the sense of hearing, hearing his name. 00:07:08.555 --> 00:07:21.595 But the name also covers the sense of sight, since in the Bible, a person's name can represent or mean their character, which is seen by both man and God. 00:07:21.595 --> 00:07:27.910 That is why the women say your, your name is perfume poured out. 00:07:28.391 --> 00:07:33.725 No wonder young women, young women, young women adore you. 00:07:33.725 --> 00:07:40.182 So do you remember what we read earlier in chapter 3, verse 11, when it says, in chapter 3, verse 11, the young women adore Solomon. 00:07:40.182 --> 00:07:43.365 He says In chapter 3, verse 11, the young women adore Solomon. 00:07:43.365 --> 00:07:50.490 He says go out, young women, young women of Zion, and gaze and gaze at King Solomon. 00:07:50.490 --> 00:07:51.391 That sight. 00:07:51.391 --> 00:08:05.422 And again, if you look at chapter 2, in chapter 2, verse 6, may his left hand be under my head and his right arm embrace me, that's touch. 00:08:05.442 --> 00:08:06.024 In chapter 2, verse 12. 00:08:06.024 --> 00:08:08.411 The blossoms appear in the cart yard. 00:08:08.411 --> 00:08:09.821 That's appear. 00:08:09.821 --> 00:08:10.622 That's sight. 00:08:10.622 --> 00:08:13.608 The time of singing has come. 00:08:13.608 --> 00:08:14.790 That's hearing. 00:08:14.790 --> 00:08:17.961 The turtle dove cooing is heard. 00:08:17.961 --> 00:08:22.307 That's hearing the fig tree ripens its figs. 00:08:22.307 --> 00:08:23.249 That's taste. 00:08:23.249 --> 00:08:27.336 The blossoming vines give off their fragrance. 00:08:27.336 --> 00:08:28.742 That smell. 00:08:29.663 --> 00:08:34.212 Also, notice the mention of time in verse 10 and verse 11. 00:08:34.212 --> 00:08:45.634 In verse 11, it says winter has passed and in autumn, from March to May, rain, rains are over. 00:08:45.634 --> 00:08:50.191 In verse 12, flowers bloom in the spring. 00:08:50.191 --> 00:08:57.092 In verse 13, the fig tree blossoms in the summer, and so on. 00:08:57.092 --> 00:09:12.293 So when you study this book, you'd be amazed at the uses of the senses and time, almost like it's intentional, at the uses of the senses and time, almost like it's intentional, in fact, since the Song of Solomon is so heavily sensual. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:33.446 This discredits the notion that only the spiritual is good and that sensuality between a godly couple is wrong or evil or shouldn't be spoken about, or sensuality in a godly context is sinful. 00:09:33.446 --> 00:09:43.570 So, song of Solomon, thus is the answer in advance to the Corinthian comment made to Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7. 00:09:43.570 --> 00:09:51.052 And for the sake of the children, I will quote the KJV, 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, verse 1. 00:09:51.052 --> 00:09:52.832 Now, concerning the things thereof. 00:09:52.832 --> 00:09:58.916 He wrote unto me it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 00:09:58.916 --> 00:10:06.198 So it seems like the Corinthians had a misunderstanding regarding intimacy. 00:10:06.198 --> 00:10:26.551 So Paul addresses them in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, and maybe he does so in Hebrews, when scripture says in Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 4, marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 00:10:26.551 --> 00:10:41.227 So do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time, as Song of Solomon says three times in chapter two, verse seven, chapter three, verse five, and chapter eight, verse four. 00:10:41.227 --> 00:10:53.206 Thus the Song of Solomon affirms human love, including intimacy, sensuality, within the biblical context of divine grace and purpose. 00:10:54.650 --> 00:11:04.405 We also learn from the Song of Solomon that a godly relationship should not only be based on physical appearance alone. 00:11:04.405 --> 00:11:07.856 Where did you see that in the text we read, ethan? 00:11:07.856 --> 00:11:12.253 I'm glad you asked If you look again. 00:11:12.253 --> 00:11:17.442 Look again at chapter one, verse three and the second part. 00:11:17.442 --> 00:11:18.730 It says your name. 00:11:18.730 --> 00:11:21.996 Your name is perfume poured out. 00:11:21.996 --> 00:11:24.139 No wonder young women adore you. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:32.335 Godly relationships should not just be based on physical appearance alone, but based on one's character. 00:11:32.335 --> 00:11:38.024 One's character, the mental and moral qualities distinct to an individual. 00:11:38.024 --> 00:11:44.222 One's character is their personality, their reputation and integrity. 00:11:44.222 --> 00:11:51.163 The character of Solomon is not just pleasing but attractive. 00:11:51.163 --> 00:11:58.342 Does your name and character have a sweet fragrance like perfume or cologne poured out? 00:11:58.342 --> 00:12:24.249 The Song of Solomon shows us biblical romance would involve five senses and Dr David Jeremiah says and I'm going to paraphrase his quote that the Song of Solomon teaches biblical human love is a full body experience. 00:12:24.249 --> 00:12:33.336 End quote In Song of Solomon, chapter five, when illustriously describing Solomon, his bride compliments his skin complexion in chapter 5, verse 10,. 00:12:33.355 --> 00:12:39.870 His head and hair in verse 11, eyes in verse 12, cheek and lips in verse 13,. 00:12:39.870 --> 00:12:46.197 His arms and build in 14, legs in 15, and mouth in 16. 00:12:46.197 --> 00:12:56.153 Then Solomon celebrates her in chapters 4, 6, and 7 when he describes her from bottom to top. 00:12:56.153 --> 00:13:07.462 When he starts in chapter 7, verse 1 about her feet and legs, then her stomach and waist in chapter 7, verse 2. 00:13:07.462 --> 00:13:10.197 Her upper torso in verse 3. 00:13:10.197 --> 00:13:13.519 Neck, eyes and nose in verse 4. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.538 Her head and hair in verse 5. 00:13:16.538 --> 00:13:26.085 Then her overall physique with her paps and a poetic reference to her labia in verses 6 to 8. 00:13:26.085 --> 00:13:31.152 Reference to her labia in verses 6 to 8. 00:13:31.192 --> 00:13:37.770 And perhaps the only place I believe you will find something that is written in the style of a benediction or prayer is in chapter 7, verse 8 to 9. 00:13:37.770 --> 00:13:40.096 You can turn there with me if you want to talk about it. 00:13:40.096 --> 00:13:43.711 I'm not saying that this is a prayer or a benediction. 00:13:43.711 --> 00:13:56.152 I'm just saying perhaps it is written in the style of a benediction and prayer In chapter 7, verse 8, when Solomon says I will climb the palm tree and take hold of its fruits. 00:13:56.152 --> 00:13:59.077 That's the poetic reference I was making mention of. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:10.350 Now pay attention to the next statement, when he says may your breasts be like clusters of grapes and the fragrance of your breath like apricots. 00:14:10.350 --> 00:14:14.100 And in the Hebrew he says your palate like wine. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:22.703 May your breasts be like clusters of grapes and the fragrance of your breath like apricots and your palate like wine. 00:14:22.703 --> 00:14:25.816 Almost sounds like spoken like a benediction. 00:14:25.816 --> 00:14:27.841 Like Yahweh, bless thee and keep thee. 00:14:27.841 --> 00:14:30.860 Yahweh, cause his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:33.833 Yahweh, lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee shalom. 00:14:33.833 --> 00:14:53.340 Or like what all the people that were in the gate and the elders in Ruth, chapter 4, verse 11, say we are witnesses. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:56.361 Yahweh, make the woman that has come into thine. 00:14:56.361 --> 00:15:05.528 These are Old Testament examples of what, to me, solomon styles his statements which almost sound like a prayer. 00:15:05.528 --> 00:15:10.772 His statements, which almost sound like a prayer. 00:15:10.792 --> 00:15:13.837 But notice something interesting within Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9 in our CSB's version. 00:15:13.837 --> 00:15:15.181 Let's look at it again. 00:15:15.181 --> 00:15:18.533 Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9 in the CSB. 00:15:18.533 --> 00:15:24.384 So in the beginning of the verse the part A section Solomon is speaking. 00:15:24.384 --> 00:15:38.934 But pay close attention to the second half of the verse, in part B, as we read from the beginning of Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9, which Solomon starts by saying your mouth is like fine wine. 00:15:38.934 --> 00:15:46.184 Then the woman says flowing smoothly for my love, gliding past my lips and teeth. 00:15:46.184 --> 00:15:50.092 Did you catch it? 00:15:50.092 --> 00:15:55.503 Before Solomon can finish his statement, the wife knows what he's going to say. 00:15:55.503 --> 00:16:01.740 Isn't that romantic when couples and spouses can finish each other's sentences. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:13.461 Me and Shan, my Shulamite, we do this often, and before we finish each other's thoughts, we also have the same usual response bro, get out my head. 00:16:13.461 --> 00:16:23.139 And in Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9. 00:16:23.941 --> 00:16:30.171 There are many lessons here, especially for those who desire, or about to be, or want to be, married. 00:16:30.171 --> 00:16:46.024 Perhaps, then, at least one indicator, that is, that this person you are in Christian courtship with is a good match, would be the questions Do you both think the same in on certain things. 00:16:46.024 --> 00:16:55.551 Do you have the same interests, do you want the same or similar outcomes and do you both plan to strive to achieve them together? 00:16:55.551 --> 00:17:13.180 Do you complement each other with sublime language that's CO, mpl, I MENT and do you complement each other C-O-M-P-L-E-M-E-N-T, complementing, completing that which you lack personally to make you feel whole. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:25.615 If the Apostle Paul was your ancient Near Eastern version of Kevin Samuels and Paul was your relationship guru, I guess he would also include do not be unequally yoked. 00:17:25.615 --> 00:17:31.011 So that wasn't my intro, that was just my prequel to my intro. 00:17:31.011 --> 00:17:39.938 So now we're going to get into some facts about the Song of Solomon and I'm going to go now into my introduction, body and conclusion. 00:17:39.938 --> 00:17:41.761 But thank you for listening thus far. 00:17:42.890 --> 00:17:45.314 The Song of Songs or the Song of Solomon. 00:17:45.314 --> 00:17:56.237 Jerome called it the Canticles and he derived that, I believe, from the Septuagint, perhaps to the Latin meaning hymn and or chant Hymn or chant Canticles. 00:17:56.237 --> 00:18:03.422 Egyptian theologian Origen of Alexander called this book an epithelium. 00:18:03.422 --> 00:18:04.723 Say that seven times fast. 00:18:04.723 --> 00:18:07.838 An epithelium, which means a wedding song. 00:18:07.838 --> 00:18:08.550 That's origin. 00:18:08.550 --> 00:18:10.458 Leave it to origin to come up with a word like that. 00:18:12.002 --> 00:18:20.804 In this book we get a biblical definition of what honorable, god-ordained human love between a man and a woman is all about. 00:18:20.804 --> 00:18:24.414 The book is divided into three parts. 00:18:24.414 --> 00:18:29.183 Chapter one to three is the anticipation, which is the courtship section. 00:18:29.183 --> 00:18:38.250 One to three is the anticipation, the courtship section, and then from three to five is the consummation, the wedding, consummation and the wedding. 00:18:38.250 --> 00:18:43.722 And from chapters five to eight is the celebration of marriage and the honeymoon. 00:18:43.722 --> 00:18:46.843 So you have the anticipation, the consummation and the honeymoon. 00:18:46.843 --> 00:18:48.430 So you have the anticipation, the consummation and the celebration. 00:18:49.009 --> 00:19:01.378 Solomon writes this book in his early years reigning as king over Israel, around 970 to 960 BC, and mentions himself a perfect seven times by name. 00:19:01.378 --> 00:19:07.093 He writes during times of peace, after the Holy Spirit gives him the gift of wisdom. 00:19:07.093 --> 00:19:08.755 So I know at least. 00:19:08.755 --> 00:19:17.086 One of the big questions that I have to talk about is of whom is this woman Solomon is referring to? 00:19:17.086 --> 00:19:33.381 Ok, so she is called Shulamite twice, which is a name or title which means peaceful peaceful in the Hebrew feminine, just like Solomon's name in the masculine means peace. 00:19:33.381 --> 00:20:00.353 So some say perhaps the name Shulamite was a pet name of endearment or something like a nickname of sorts, or it was given to her as a way of stating that she belongs to Solomon and Solomon belongs to Shulamite, as stated in Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 16, chapter 3, verse 6, and 7, verse 10. 00:20:00.353 --> 00:20:02.777 The beloved is mine and I am my beloved. 00:20:04.058 --> 00:20:11.551 John Calvin believed she is the Egyptian princess mentioned in 1 Kings, chapter 3, verse 1. 00:20:11.551 --> 00:20:20.510 That states Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. 00:20:20.510 --> 00:20:37.244 And there might be some evidence to that theory to back it up, such as in Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 9, when Solomon says to Shulamite I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. 00:20:37.244 --> 00:20:48.145 Okay, so in Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 9, to compare Shulamite to female horses within a group of male horses is cleverly coy. 00:20:48.145 --> 00:21:04.547 You see, in First Kings, chapter 10, verses 26 to 29, it states that Solomon has fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he purchased not from Amazon but from Egypt. 00:21:04.547 --> 00:21:07.933 That's a lot of horses. 00:21:07.933 --> 00:21:21.614 So he's now seeing Shulamite and of course this would be kind of odd in armies in the ancient Near Eastern period to have a female horse. 00:21:21.614 --> 00:21:30.170 But it's believed that maybe this was an ancient war tactic to have one female horse run in front of the male horses. 00:21:30.170 --> 00:21:33.599 So the male horses will pursue the female horse. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:45.026 So perhaps, if that is the case, solomon is saying to Shulamite I wish there was a thousand of you to chase, but you're just too unique, you can't be replaced. 00:21:45.026 --> 00:21:50.609 But you're just too unique, you can't be replaced. 00:21:50.609 --> 00:22:05.840 So Calvin thought Shulamite is Pharaoh's daughter, even though she isn't really described as as royalty in the Song of Solomon, but rather almost like a commoner, like a common girl that we might call a form of indentured servitude. 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:14.795 Still, others have suggested that the Shulamite is David's nurse, abishag, the Shunamite right. 00:22:14.795 --> 00:22:19.759 So in David's last days he had a nurse and her name was Abishag. 00:22:19.798 --> 00:22:30.208 Some people may argue that because Shulamite sounds a lot like Shunamite, that perhaps that's who King Solomon is referencing. 00:22:30.208 --> 00:22:42.605 There is also a West Indian, east African tradition that says the Shulamite is the Ethiopian queen of Sheba from 1 Kings, chapter 10. 00:22:42.605 --> 00:22:46.181 And yes, that is a Western and especially Jamaican tradition. 00:22:46.181 --> 00:22:56.204 Perhaps the most vehement one is Theodoret of Cyrus, the bishop of Cyrus in the early 400s. 00:22:56.204 --> 00:23:01.349 He said the woman is the church and to say anything else is blasphemy. 00:23:01.349 --> 00:23:07.019 Well, there's some real tough bishops back then. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:15.494 But I tend to lean towards the notion that the Shulamite could have been a tan or black complexion. 00:23:16.056 --> 00:23:25.531 Uh, semitic lady Solomon meets one day as she's working in a vineyard that he owns but rents out to her brothers and get this. 00:23:25.531 --> 00:23:29.122 It might have been love at first sight. 00:23:29.122 --> 00:23:38.744 Solomon says in Song of Solomon, chapter four, verse nine you have captured my heart, my sister, my bride. 00:23:38.744 --> 00:23:43.902 You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes. 00:23:43.902 --> 00:23:46.316 Is that love at first sight? 00:23:46.316 --> 00:23:53.622 I hear, with all the coy-cattish sensuality in Song of Solomon. 00:23:54.369 --> 00:24:00.402 Those who are so heavenly minded stumble over this book and some Orthodox Jews even avoid it altogether. 00:24:00.402 --> 00:24:04.388 Stumble over this book and some Orthodox Jews even avoid it altogether. 00:24:04.388 --> 00:24:10.047 In fact, ultra-orthodox Jews do not let men read this until they are 39 years old. 00:24:10.047 --> 00:24:15.188 They have been broken off and now we're reading it today. 00:24:15.188 --> 00:24:15.630 We've been grafted in. 00:24:15.630 --> 00:24:27.321 So questions like where is the overt mention of prayer worship, the temple priest sacrifice, the whole decalogue, the all the thou shalt nots offering high holy days, or even vows before God? 00:24:27.321 --> 00:24:29.227 Get this now. 00:24:29.227 --> 00:24:31.852 For those of you who know me, just listen up real quick. 00:24:31.852 --> 00:25:04.531 I believe God thinks so highly of human love that the Spirit inspired Solomon to make this entire book just to define it, and not just define it in the entirety of this book, but to do so without even God being distinctly mentioned at all, according to many Bible translators at all, according to many Bible translators. 00:25:04.551 --> 00:25:14.021 Now, those of you who understand and know me know that I enjoy many Christian genres of theology, but sometimes I like to give more attention to those topics I feel may not always get explored. 00:25:14.021 --> 00:25:22.202 Often One of my favorite topics involves onomatology, which is the study of names, their origins, histories and meaning. 00:25:22.202 --> 00:25:36.442 And a lot of you know that, since Song of Solomon yet is one of my favorite wisdom, poetry, human conduct books in the Old Testament, even though God's titles are not found written explicitly in the book. 00:25:36.442 --> 00:25:49.663 In the book, why is Adonai, elohim, el Elyon, shaddai, savioff, not used fully when the Holy Spirit is using Solomon to give us this book on honorable human love? 00:25:49.663 --> 00:25:52.832 And there's many debating questions about that. 00:25:53.854 --> 00:26:05.384 Maybe one reason, you know, solomon says in Ecclesiastes that Pastor Doug tackled so well in chapter 7, verse 16, do not be overly religious or overly righteous. 00:26:05.384 --> 00:26:12.743 And I think perhaps, since human love is a gift from God, it's not necessarily religious. 00:26:12.743 --> 00:26:18.869 I would say it's more spiritual, it's mystical and physical. 00:26:18.869 --> 00:26:20.932 It's spiritual, it's mystical and physical. 00:26:20.932 --> 00:26:27.943 Right, five times in the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite calls Solomon the one who my soul loves. 00:26:27.943 --> 00:26:30.852 There's the spiritual. 00:26:30.852 --> 00:26:45.279 It's mystical because Proverbs, chapter 18, agar says there are three things I don't understand, four things that are too wonderful for me the way a bird flies, the way a snake can slither, the way a boat can float and how people fall in love. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.442 So it's mysterious. 00:26:46.442 --> 00:26:48.752 Paul would second that too. 00:26:48.752 --> 00:26:53.829 He says that the imagery of Christ loving the church is a mystery, right? 00:26:53.829 --> 00:26:55.692 So that's the mystical part. 00:26:55.692 --> 00:26:56.813 And of course it's romantic. 00:26:56.813 --> 00:27:01.538 We have it right in front of us, you know, and it's a book on physical sensuality. 00:27:04.921 --> 00:27:17.090 So I wouldn't say that it's definitely or overly religious, because if love is religious, then it's really not love, right, it's more like you're programmed, you're only doing this because you know. 00:27:17.090 --> 00:27:21.471 It's almost like the law was supposed to be a schoolmaster to get people to Christ. 00:27:21.471 --> 00:27:27.997 But the problem is they stumble and they stay at the law, just doing it for the sake of religion but not for relationship. 00:27:27.997 --> 00:27:42.211 So if you're only getting her flowers because it's a particular day, you're doing it religiously and I don't think love is religious, which may be why God is in the background, because Malachi tells us he's there at the weddings. 00:27:42.211 --> 00:27:49.517 He's the one who joined man and woman together to begin with, and my wife will tell you I would buy flowers and she'd be like what's the flowers for? 00:27:49.517 --> 00:27:50.520 I said because it's Wednesday. 00:27:50.520 --> 00:27:52.652 And tell the truth. 00:27:52.652 --> 00:27:54.136 What happened now with the flowers? 00:27:54.136 --> 00:27:59.795 Tell the truth, when I kept getting you flowers, tell the truth, she's not going to say it, but she had to tell me to stop getting flowers. 00:27:59.795 --> 00:28:02.137 It's too much, but that's how I felt. 00:28:02.137 --> 00:28:04.381 You know, it didn't have to be something. 00:28:04.381 --> 00:28:12.361 Or or high holiday that says this is the day you're supposed to give your wife flowers, because then I think it become robotic and I don't think God made us to be like that. 00:28:12.361 --> 00:28:18.538 We're supposed to love the Lord with all our strength, with all our might and all our soul, right? 00:28:18.538 --> 00:28:23.865 So yes, it is spiritual, it's mystical, it's romantic and it's physical. 00:28:23.865 --> 00:28:30.511 Maybe that's why God decides to be in the background. 00:28:30.531 --> 00:28:36.263 Another theory why God's titles are not distinctly mentioned in Song of Solomon is because maybe his name actually is referenced. 00:28:36.263 --> 00:28:41.558 So, yes, our God has many titles but has a personal name. 00:28:41.558 --> 00:28:46.595 Not all titles are names and not all names are actually titles. 00:28:46.595 --> 00:28:49.602 So titles are more like job descriptions, right? 00:28:49.602 --> 00:28:53.436 For instance, my name, my title, would be officer, but that's not my name. 00:28:53.436 --> 00:29:00.642 Constable or detective, although I may answer if you called me, that you know correctly, if you address me that way, I might respond. 00:29:00.642 --> 00:29:07.432 If you say pastor, you probably get Doug and Micah looking at you, but that's not their name, that's their title. 00:29:07.432 --> 00:29:14.715 So, yes, our God has a lot of titles master, father, conqueror, king, lamb of God, almighty, messiah. 00:29:14.715 --> 00:29:19.713 Although these are correct ways to address them, they're not necessarily his personal name. 00:29:19.713 --> 00:29:23.377 Our God has a personal name, known as the Tetragrammaton. 00:29:23.377 --> 00:29:28.394 Say that seven times fast the four Hebrew letters of his name, yahweh. 00:29:28.394 --> 00:29:41.963 So yes, it's debated that our God's name does appear in the Hebrew text of this book, maybe not his titles, but the abbreviated form of Yahweh, and that's found in chapter 8, verse 6. 00:29:41.963 --> 00:29:43.431 Chapter 8, verse 6. 00:29:43.431 --> 00:29:56.438 And it's his abbreviated name, yah, y-a-h in the English, like Hallelujah, sometimes translated in our English text as capitals, l-o-r-d. 00:29:56.438 --> 00:29:58.922 Lord, which is short for Yahweh. 00:29:59.844 --> 00:30:10.412 Only when Solomon is giving one of the most powerful descriptions of love is when the Holy Spirit prompts him to use the shortened form of Yah to describe it. 00:30:10.412 --> 00:30:14.338 Let's look at the passage, chapter 8, verse 6. 00:30:14.338 --> 00:30:21.823 The Shulamite says set me as a seal upon your heart, that's ownership over your thoughts and emotions. 00:30:21.823 --> 00:30:26.457 Set me as a seal upon your arm, that's ownership over your actions. 00:30:26.457 --> 00:30:32.862 For love is as strong as death, universal and irreversible. 00:30:32.862 --> 00:30:38.161 Jealousy, as cruel or unrelenting as the grave, cannot be shared. 00:30:38.161 --> 00:30:40.196 It's exclusive and possessive. 00:30:40.196 --> 00:30:51.111 Its flames are flames of fire, extremely passionate, a most vehement flame or an almighty flame, and invincible and persevering. 00:30:51.111 --> 00:31:05.957 Here in the Hebrew we would find the name Yah, y-a-h, and when Solomon says an almighty flame or most vehement flame, the verse could be read like this Love is as strong as death. 00:31:06.369 --> 00:31:09.420 Its flames are flames of fire, the flames of Yah. 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:23.124 In other words, yahweh is portrayed as the source of this powerful love and that you cannot fully define biblical human love and romance without our God being the source of it. 00:31:23.124 --> 00:31:25.492 Think about that for a moment. 00:31:25.492 --> 00:31:26.335 See law for a bit. 00:31:26.335 --> 00:31:27.017 Right, pass the mic. 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:37.797 When it comes to godly relationships, if Yahweh didn't stoke the flame or fuel it, then perhaps the fire won't last. 00:31:37.797 --> 00:31:38.837 The fire won't last. 00:31:38.837 --> 00:31:39.498 Think about that. 00:31:39.498 --> 00:31:50.507 It's suggested, generally speaking, that Yahweh is the one who brings godly couples together, since he is the source. 00:31:50.507 --> 00:31:58.871 He then is the sustainer. 00:31:58.871 --> 00:32:10.701 But let's reread chapter 8, verse 6 again, and then we'll read the following verse Chapter 8, sorry, chapter eight, verse six Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave. 00:32:10.701 --> 00:32:15.061 Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame of the Lord. 00:32:15.289 --> 00:32:16.050 Look at verse seven. 00:32:16.050 --> 00:32:23.525 Chapter eight, verse seven Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. 00:32:23.525 --> 00:32:32.784 Imagine the fire department trying with all their strongest equipment, most powerful hoses of water, attempting to put out a fire. 00:32:32.784 --> 00:32:36.921 And no matter how much they use, they still cannot out the flames. 00:32:36.921 --> 00:32:40.298 That's God's definition of biblical love. 00:32:40.298 --> 00:32:47.353 Out the flames, that's God's definition of biblical love. 00:32:47.353 --> 00:32:50.279 It's not a smoldering wick on a candle that someone can snuff out, or blow a gust of air to smother. 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:56.114 No, imagine a volcano erupting in the middle of the ocean and lava is constantly spewing out non-stop. 00:32:56.114 --> 00:33:05.986 God's love is like an engulfed inferno, a mysteriously living volcanic, relentless element that no one can douse. 00:33:05.986 --> 00:33:06.625 Its blaze. 00:33:06.625 --> 00:33:08.392 Song of Solomon. 00:33:08.392 --> 00:33:27.653 Chapter eight, verse seven continues If a man gave, gave for love, all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised of his house. 00:33:27.873 --> 00:33:29.653 It would be utterly despised. 00:33:29.653 --> 00:33:30.634 These are powerful metaphors. 00:33:30.634 --> 00:33:33.978 Imagine having $198 billion. 00:33:33.978 --> 00:33:36.079 That's supposedly Elon Musk. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:46.248 Net worth $195 billion Warren Buffett it just came out that he has about 226 billion. 00:33:46.248 --> 00:33:54.751 And if you were to add up the three, just three of the top wealthiest Americans, you will have over a half trillion dollars. 00:33:57.134 --> 00:34:11.744 Yet understand this now how the Bible defines true love and honorable romance that even with the wealth of all the richest people combined, you still would not be. 00:34:11.744 --> 00:34:24.050 It would not have enough money to purchase true, godly human love, godly human love. 00:34:24.050 --> 00:34:24.813 So Jeff Bezos, he owns Amazon. 00:34:24.813 --> 00:34:41.034 You know the website where you can just simply type in something in a search bar and you have a list of anything you can purchase, and I believe he should be able to purchase any item on his own website, especially since he owns it, and it's said that he has about $138.2 billion. 00:34:41.034 --> 00:34:54.798 But Solomon, in all his God-given, holy Spirit-inspired wisdom, says that there is an item not even Jeff Bezos or anyone can afford, and that's love set on fire by Yahweh. 00:34:54.798 --> 00:35:04.885 The question then is if love is priceless, how then can it be obtained? 00:35:04.885 --> 00:35:11.943 The answer is that it must be given. 00:35:11.943 --> 00:35:20.101 Ultimately, love is a gift from Yeshua, the Savior of Yah. 00:35:20.101 --> 00:35:23.969 Love is a gift from Yeshua, the Savior of Yah. 00:35:26.750 --> 00:35:28.771 There are about four different Hebrew words for love that are used in the Song of Solomon. 00:35:28.771 --> 00:35:35.717 Specifically, in the Hebrew manuscripts of Songs of Solomon, I would say the main Hebrew word that is used would be the word Ahava. 00:35:35.717 --> 00:35:48.226 Ahava, which appears 11 times, is the Hebrew word for love and often signifies powerful, intimate love between a man and a woman. 00:35:48.226 --> 00:36:03.724 For instance, in Genesis, chapter 29, verse 20, scripture reads so Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his ahava, his love for her. 00:36:03.724 --> 00:36:19.217 The word ahava for love is so powerful when used to describe a man having for his woman that not even time itself is burdensome or holds some significance. 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:30.824 Some of you have been married for several decades and still going strong, and it may not even seem like a heavy-laden task, but a joyful excursion. 00:36:30.824 --> 00:36:39.864 Not even certain aspects of physics is a bother when a man is in love, set on fire by God. 00:36:39.864 --> 00:36:45.851 This is true and mentioned in some of our modern day poems. 00:36:45.851 --> 00:36:52.702 Every time we meet, I wish I could freeze the pendulum and savor the scene so it couldn't leave or never end. 00:36:52.702 --> 00:36:59.985 Look at Matthew, chapter 26. 00:36:59.985 --> 00:37:04.932 Matthew, chapter 26. 00:37:04.972 --> 00:37:09.320 In closing, I barely scratched the surface on this y'all, but this book ultimately is a book. 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:31.295 If you take it allegorically, shows how much love Yeshua has for us, as we read earlier in Song of Solomon, chapter three, verse 11, which says go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon wearing his crown His mother placed on him on the day of his wedding, the day of his heart, rejoicing. 00:37:31.295 --> 00:37:45.536 And Yeshua says the queen of the South will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 00:37:45.536 --> 00:37:46.840 That was Matthew, chapter 12. 00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:57.980 Solomon in all his splendor, wisdom and extravagant lyrics is only a foretaste of Yeshua's divine glory and love he has for his bride, the church. 00:37:59.262 --> 00:38:11.543 Messiah loves everything about us, from head to toe, and when he cleansed us with his own blood, he quotes Song of Solomon, chapter 4, verse 7. 00:38:11.543 --> 00:38:14.614 Oh, my love, you are altogether beautiful. 00:38:14.614 --> 00:38:20.585 There is no flaw, no imperfection, no blemish in you. 00:38:20.585 --> 00:38:27.862 No flaw, no imperfection, no blemish in you. 00:38:27.862 --> 00:38:29.530 We've been made perfect by the blood of Jesus. 00:38:29.530 --> 00:38:39.898 We might sing beautiful Savior or fierce Lord Jesus, but when he came the first time, he had no form or comeliness, and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 00:38:39.898 --> 00:38:46.166 Yet, because of our relationship, is more than just physical appearance. 00:38:46.166 --> 00:38:57.894 When we see him, as Isaiah says, he is the branch of Yahweh, which is beautiful and glorious In Isaiah, chapter 33, verse 17,. 00:38:57.894 --> 00:39:02.244 Isaiah says our eyes will see the king in his beauty. 00:39:02.244 --> 00:39:09.628 And last verse for tonight, since we are coming to the close of the chapter of Matthew. 00:39:09.728 --> 00:39:14.737 I felt this would be fitting In Matthew, chapter 26, verse 28,. 00:39:14.737 --> 00:39:20.554 And you can ask Matthias, he printed this out before I knew what you guys were preaching and talking about. 00:39:20.554 --> 00:39:25.983 So kudos to Brother Walter and excellent job this morning to Brother David. 00:39:25.983 --> 00:39:40.884 But yes, let's look at Matthew, chapter 26, verse 28, which says For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:39:42.471 --> 00:40:02.184 Since the marriage relationship of this song reflects the values of God, we are here to made, made to understand that he intends for covenant relationship, including his with us, to be permanent, not revoked by the imperfections of any party to the covenant. 00:40:02.184 --> 00:40:20.661 Similarly, there is a permanence to our covenant relationship with our divine and heavenly bridegroom, yeshua, which is not only until death or death do us part, but which overcomes death. 00:40:20.661 --> 00:40:23.204 Oh death, where is your victory? 00:40:23.204 --> 00:40:33.291 Because Yeshua is the resurrection and the life. 00:40:33.291 --> 00:40:52.853 We who believed in him are sealed by the Holy Spirit as an engagement, down payment for redemption, and with that we can say, like the Shulamite in Songs of Solomon, chapter 8, verse 14, make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or young stag on the mountains of spices, maranatha. 00:40:52.853 --> 00:40:54.378 God bless you.