A Love that Completes

The Song of Songs is the love story of the Bible. It is a summary picture of the entire Bible.

No sermon series on love could be complete without diving into the depths of Solomon’s song.

This book has served as an example for husbands and wives, and an embarrassment for children.

Many might even say, “Pastor why would you preach from the Song of Solomon?”

I will answer by saying it is one of our greatest insights into the Christian life.

The Song of Songs is broken down into the following sections:

Song 1-3 Courtship

Song 3-4 Wedding

Song 5-6 Separation

Song 6-7 Reconciliation

Song 8 Resolution, Meaning, and Application

In chapter 1 we see the beginning of the relationship and the brides humility.

The same holds true for our relationship with God. He desires to fellowship with us and to know us on a personal, and deep level. However, we must also be willing to listen to Him, read his word, and to talk to him, prayer.

God is love, and Jesus is the real, literal, and physical representation of that love. If we desire to have fulness of love then we must come to know and emulate Him.

Song of Solomon gives us an inside look at the fruit of loves completeness.

Solomon, as a picture of Christ’ love for His bride, shows us the completion of love.

As Pilgrims Progress walk us through the life of a Christian and shows us the victories and failures along life’s journey. So S.O.S.’s allows us to see how Christ views us in light of His marvelous love.

I. Loves Admiration.

Song of Solomon 1:9–11 NKJV

I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with chains of gold. We will make you ornaments of gold With studs of silver.

The bride has expressed her displeasure with herself in verse 5,6. The labor of life has caused her to let herself go, the toils of life have left its mark upon her and she has lost her beauty, in her own sight.

In verses 8-11 Solomon responds with kindness and love. Here he shows her that he has been listening to her, and that he has seen her heart and needs.

His response will display his willingness and desire to meet her needs.

To often we, as men, desire to hear the words of verses 13,14, 6, and 17. But we are not willing to speak the words of 8-11

What I want to focus on is the Grooms response. What we see from him is compassion and understanding.

A. Will cause us to see what others don’t.

The artist is able to look at a blank canvas and see the finished project or they may look at a canvas with many flaws and see how it can be transformed into something beautiful.

The love of God will look beyond failures, sin, and mistakes. It will bring to light the potential that God has in us instead of the shame of sin upon us.

Ephesians 5:27 NKJV

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.

Solomon saw what the bride could not see within herself.

1 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Love when it is complete will cause us to see others in the eyes of God.

When we possess the love of God we will begin to see our spouse differently, our children differently, and the world differently.

No longer will we see through the lens of prejudice, hatred, biasses, anger, or anything else that distorts our vision.

B. Will cause us to love when others won’t.

What can give us the strength to love in-spite of hurt given?

What can allow us to forgive when it is more convenient to hate?

It is the love of God. It s His love that loved us when we were unloveable.

II. Loves Attachment.

Song of Solomon 2:16 NKJV

My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

A. Loves search.

Song of Solomon 3:1–2 NKJV

By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

She sought for him because she loved him.

Our love for God will cause us to pursue Him.

Our love for our spouse will cause us to do the same.

If we will work as hard to pursue our spouse now, as fervent as we did before marriage we will have a strong relationship.

The reason we do not walk with God is because we have lost our love. If we love Him we will seek Him.

If we love our spouse we will continue to pursue them. We will pursue to know them, to understand them, and to fulfill their needs and desires.

I desire all that my wife wants me to be. I may not be perfect but I should strive for perfection.

What is the difference between a man and child birth? one can be painful and sometimes almost unbearable, while the other is just having a baby.

A young man was walking along one of Southern California's sandy beaches with his surf board. He suddenly spots this bottle which has recently washed up on the beach. It's obvious it's been tossed around for a long time. He picks up the bottle and notices that it still has the cork intact. So, being curious as to what may be inside, he manages to get the cork out and out pops a Genie.

After expressing profound appreciation for having been let out of the bottle, the Genie grants his benefactor the classic, "one wish" and it will be yours. Being an avid surfer, it doesn't take him long to say, "I've always wanted to surf Hawaii, but I get seasick on ships and I'm afraid to fly. Would you build me a bridge to Hawaii?"

The Genie replies: "Do you know what you are asking for? Do you know how long the bridge would have to be? Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. And the maintenance of that bridge! No, think of another wish."

The man said OK and tried to think of a really good wish. Finally, he said, "I've been married and divorced four times. My wives always said that I don't care and that I'm insensitive. So, I wish that I could understand women ... know how they feel inside and what they're thinking when they give me the silent treatment ... know why they're crying, know what they really want when they say nothing ... know how to make them truly happy ... I really want to understand women and how they think!"

After a long sigh, the Genie responds: "Would you like that bridge with two lanes or four?"

The story is told of a woman walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a Genie's lamp. She picked it up and rubbed it, and lo-and-behold a Genie appeared. The amazed woman soon came back to her senses and asked if she got three wishes.

The Genie said, "Nope. . . due to inflation, constant downsizing, fierce global competition, and low wages in third-world countries, I can only grant you one wish. So, . . . what'll it be?"

The woman didn't hesitate. She said, "I want peace in the Middle East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other. "

The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Gadzooks, Lady! These countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm out of shape after being in a bottle for centuries. I'm good but not THAT good! I don't think it can be done. Make another wish. "

The woman thought for a minute and said, "Well, I've never been able to find the right man. You know, one that's considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the house cleaning, gets along with my family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I wish for — a good mate."

The Genie let out a long sigh, shook his head and said, "Let me see that map again!"

Often we joke that it is impossible to understand a lady, but often that is just an excuse for a lazy marriage.

We may not understand everything but we should seek to understand more than we seek to be understood.

B. Loves Security.

Song of Solomon 3:7–10 NKJV

Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night. Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

Display the safety that is found in a relationship with the king.

We should recognize the safety that is found in Jesus’ presence.

We should also find peace and safety with our spouse.

Our home should be as an armed fortress for our children.

Our home must be a city of refuge that we desire to run to and not from.

If your home is not this, I challenge you to change yourself, change your home, the choices that are being made a turn your home from a battlefield to a blessing.

III. Loves Absolving.

John 8:36 NKJV

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Chapter five shares the sad reality of life. Even after the goodness of the king the bride still left him and wouldn’t return to him the love that he had displayed to her.

The love that she had before the wedding is now grown cold. Has your love dimmed for your Savior, for your spouse, for your church, or for your children?

It is easy to take for granted that which we treasure most. Often it is out of a false assumption that we can not loose what we now possess or treasure.

In life none of us are perfect we all miss the mark and and say acerbic remarks.

At some point we will all make mistakes and drive away our spouse, family, and friends. Wether through unkind words, emotional disengagement, or betrayal of love.

However, we must remember that as God forgave us, we should seek to forgive others, especially our loved ones, and those of the house hold of God. Sometimes this is a husband or wife, sometimes it is our children, at other times it may even be the church, but if Christ forgives us then we should forgive others.

Song of Solomon 6:13 NKJV

The Beloved and His Friends Return, return, O Shulamite; Return, return, that we may look upon you! The Shulamite What would you see in the Shulamite— As it were, the dance of the two camps?