Song of Solomon is a wonderful story of married love and its intimacies. The word love is being misunderstood and misused today.
Song of Solomon
A story of Solomon and his bride, a Shulamite woman, a black woman
She was considered the most beautiful woman of the day
This book is a conversation between Solomon and his wife
We believe that this is a metaphor for the love that Christ has for the church
Hebrews believe it is the story of God’s love for Israel
It is the story of God’s love for the human race and for those who love Him
Song of Solomon 8:6,7 - Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
Love that money can’t buy
Love that sorrows, problems, difficulties, and temptations cannot destroy
Love that the trials of marriage could not destroy
That’s the kind of love that Solomon and his bride had for each other
The whole Bible is a love story of God for the human race
We are the only planet that is in rebellion with God and despite that He loves us
God loves every person in the whole world with a love that is beyond our comprehension
God proved His love by sending His Son to die on the cross
The greatest illustration of love is from the cross
Love is not feeling. It is doing. It’s a verb
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The cruelest death in the whole world is the death of the cross. Our Lord was hung there with the whole crowd mocking Him for us. That is the proof of His love for us. His death on the cross was the only way for us to get to heaven.
The Greeks had 4 different words for love
1) Storge: affection, family love
You are to honor your parents for as long as you live
You have to take care of your parents
We are to love, honor, obey and take care of our parents
Family love is affected by God’s love
Have you prayed for your future husband/wife? Or are you just saying “Lord, send him”?
Marriage is a life-long commitment, so you shouldn’t be impulsive about it
Wait on God’s choice
Commit your future to the Lord and ask Him to bring the right person into your life
2) Eros: sensual or sexual love
God’s love affects eros
The standards set in the Bible are not the same as the standards set in America. Which standard will you accept?
The Bible says that immorality is sin
Sex is not a sin. It’s the wrong use of sex that’s a sin
For the Christian, the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
Why did God institute sex?
For the propagation of the human race
The enjoyment of married love
To express the unity of the man and wife
When sin entered the garden, the sacredness of sex has been corrupted into becoming lust and sin
Why does God say not to commit immorality?
To protect your future marriage
To protect your body (from illness and illegitimacy)
To protect you psychologically (from guilt)
To protect society (becoming immoral destroy civilization)
The mark of a Christian is to flee fornication
The only way to overcome this temptation is through Jesus Christ
He will help you have the self-control and self-discipline needed to overcome
3) Philio: very strong friendship
It’s the word that Peter used when Jesus asked him if he loved Him
Jesus was looking for a deeper word
If you have 5 close friends in your lifetime, you are very fortunate
This kind of love refers to a friendship that endures thick and thin. One that never wavers.
Ask God to help you in your friendships
4) Agape: God’s love
All the other loves are influenced by agape love
It is a supernatural love that we know nothing about apart from God
It is so deep, wide that no words in any language can describe it
It is the love that God has for us even though we rebel against Him
Words cannot describe it
When you accept Christ, the Spirit of God lives in you and produces this love in you, and through you
You may not like your neighbor, but you can love your neighbor
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Christ explains who your neighbor is. This is not your physical next-door neighbor, but someone whom you can help.
God will enable you to love beyond your capacity to love
To love your wife, your husband, your children, your parents
John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
The love for the souls of men is what drives evangelism - this comes from God’s love
God’s love in our hearts is produced by the Holy Spirit, supernaturally produced. God can give you the capacity to love everybody
God can change and transform you and your relationships
His love forgives your sins and makes your hearts pure
His love gives you a new tenderness and a new meaning for love
