A Developing Relationship v17

Psalm 57:4–5 ESV

4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Isaiah 35:1–10 ESV

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Introduction

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Song of Solomon 2:17 ESV

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

We come now to the fourth of the four ‘tests’ of what a true experience of love is.

Desire v14

Determination v15

Duality v16

Development v17

We have seen the need for Desire, Determination, Duality all of which are vital to an experience of true love. Marriage is the beginning and in marriage the relationship between husband and wife must and will develop into an ever deepening, satisfying and lasting relationship.

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1. A Lasting Relationship v17a

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Song of Solomon 2:17 (ESV)

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

Psalm 96:2 ESV

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Psalm 119:97 ESV

97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Proverbs 4:18 ESV

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

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2. A Reviving Relationship v17b

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Song of Solomon 2:17 (ESV)

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (4. The Development Test)

Again she imagines her lover as a gazelle or young stag coming to her. Now he browses among the lilies, but soon he will come for her. He will gambol on the ‘rugged [or possibly ‘divided’] hills’. She looks forward to it.This is how husband and wife should think of one another when apart. This is how young lovers, with all chastity, should look forward to their wedding day. Gary Brady

We turn now to what we see of Christ’s love for us

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3. A Lasting Relationship v17a

Song of Solomon 2:17 (ESV)

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

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An Exposition of the Book of Solomon’s Song; Commonly Called Canticles (Chapter 2)

I can no more be separated from his person, and from his love, than day and night can cease. John Gill

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Psalm 23:6 ESV

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Psalm 27:4 ESV

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

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Psalm 42:8 ESV

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

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4. A Reviving Relationship v17b

Song of Solomon 2:17 (ESV)

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.

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Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

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1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 (ESV)

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

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2 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

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Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Conclusion

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2 Timothy 1:12 ESV

12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.