What is Your Beloved More than Another Beloved?

Psalm 62:1–4 ESV

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

Song of Solomon 5:9–16 ESV

9 What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us? 10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. 11 His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven. 12 His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool. 13 His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh. 14 His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires. 15 His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Introduction

The Shulamite is distraught, frantically searching for her beloved whom she spurned so selfishly. Her friends pose the question Why is he so special? She responds with a glorious description of him.

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1. A Searching Question v9

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Song of Solomon 5:9 ESV

9 What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

It stops her in her tracks she must think on who her beloved is.

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2. This is My Beloved v10-16

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a. Majestic v10-11

Song of Solomon 5:10–11 ESV

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. 11 His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.

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b. Compassionate v12-13

Song of Solomon 5:12–13 ESV

12 His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool. 13 His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.

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c. Powerful v14-16

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Song of Solomon 5:14–16 ESV

14 His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires. 15 His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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

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3. A Searching Question v9

Song of Solomon 5:9 ESV

9 What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?

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Why do Christians enjoy so little of Christ, compared with all that there is of him for us to enjoy? The root answer from this chapter thus far is that so much of the time we are so greatly taken up with ourselves, and so little taken up with him. The bride paid the price for her indifference towards her husband. Yet she has come to her senses, and realises again that she cannot live without him, and that there is no one else like him in all the world. Richard Brooks

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Hebrews 3:1–3 (ESV)

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honour than the house itself.

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Hebrews 12:3 ESV

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

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1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

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1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Before the throne of God above I have a strong, a perfect plea, a great high priest, whose name is love, who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is written on his hands, my name is hidden in his heart; I know that while in heaven he stands no power can force me to depart, no power can force me to depart.

Charitie L Bancroft

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4. This is My Beloved v10-16

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a. Majestic v10-11

Song of Solomon 5:10–11 ESV

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. 11 His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.

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1 Timothy 1:17 (ESV)

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

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1 Timothy 6:15–16 (ESV)

15 ...he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

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Revelation 19:16 (ESV)

16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

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b. Compassionate v12-13

Song of Solomon 5:12–13 ESV

12 His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool. 13 His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.

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Matthew 9:36 ESV

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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c. Powerful v14-16

Song of Solomon 5:14–16 ESV

14 His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires. 15 His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Conclusion

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Colossians 2:8–10 ESV

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

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Wake up, believers, from your lowly condition! Throw away your laziness, sluggishness, coldness, or whatever is interfering with your pure love for Christ. Make Him the Source, the Centre, and the One who encompasses every delight of your soul. Refuse to be satisfied any longer with your meagre accomplishments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, and a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God! Charles H. Spurgeon