Sermon #9 Series: Song of Solomon

Title: “I Will Seek Him”

Text: Song of Solomon 3:1-5

Readings: Office: Bob Poncer Auditorium: Merle Hart

Subject: Seeking the Lord’s spiritual presence

Date: Sunday Evening - June 28, 1998

Tape # U-75b

Introduction:

Song of Songs 3:1-5 “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. (2) I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. (3) The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? (4) It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. (5) I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.”

You have my subject in the words of our text - “I Will Seek Him.” Nothing in all the world is more pleasant to the believing heart than communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who enjoy the spiritual presence and fellowship of Christ are supremely favored.

Holy Scripture exhausts every earthly figure to express the charms and delights of this blessed fellowship between Christ and his redeemed ones. It is impossible for human language to express the sweetness of his grace, the joy of his communion, and the comfort of his presence.

Just as it is the sweetest thing in the world to enjoy communion with Christ, it is the saddest thing in the world to a believer to be without the Lord’s manifest presence and fellowship. Yet, that is just the condition that we see the church in at the beginning of this chapter - “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.” But she was resolved not to rest in such a sad condition. She said, “I will seek him.” She would not rest until she had found him and brought him into her mother’s house. There she held him and would not let him go.

1. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer physically present with his church.

“He is not here, for he is risen.” We know that our Lord’s physical body is in heaven. There he sits before the throne of God, making intercession for us according to the will of God and anticipating the day when his enemies shall be made his footstool.

The papists tell us that our Lord is bodily present with us in the mass. But that cannot be. Spurgeon was right when he said - “Such persons unwittingly deny the real humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, for if he has indeed assumed our humanity, and is in all points made like unto his brethren, his flesh and blood cannot be in two places at one time.” Since our Lord, as a real man, the God-man, is in heaven, his bodily presence is no longer with his church.

2. I know also that it is best for us that Christ is no longer present with his church in a physical sense, because he said so (John 16:7).

John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

As God, Christ is everywhere. He is omnipresent. As man, he is in heaven. His bodily presence is as much limited today to one place as it was when he was upon the earth. But as the God-man in one Person, the Mediator and Head of the church, Christ is present with us by the Holy Spirit, the Divine Comforter, whom the Father has sent in his name.

It is by the working of God the Holy Spirit that Christ’s presence with his church is manifested. We need not expect or desire anything other than this spiritual presence of Christ. By his Spirit, Christ is everywhere present with his church at all times to guide, to protect, to instruct, and to comfort his people.

3. This spiritual presence of Christ is the glory of the church of God; and this is the thing we desire.

When Christ is manifestly presence with us in this spiritual sense we have all that we need or desire. When this spiritual presence is absent, our strength and our glory is gone.

I am afraid that the name of the church of the twentieth century might well be called “Ichabod, The glory is departed from Israel!” If a church is without the Spirit of God, she may have a name to live, but it is dead; and, you know, that corruption follows death. Those churches which have turned aside unto error, have not only lost all power to do good, but they have become obnoxious, loathesome, and the causes of great evil in the world.

The one thing that we need is the spiritual presence of Christ. He said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” But if Christ shall come to us in the Person of his blessed Spirit our power and our glory shall be restored.

This spiritual presence of Christ made the apostolic church a mighty church. She had the Holy Spirit poured out upon her. During the dark ages, men neglected the Spirit of Christ, and the church was plunged into the darkness and superstition that is so prevalent in our day again. Then the Lord created within some a longing for his presence. They sought him; and he returned to his church in mighty power. When he returned, the mighty Reformation was begun. The return of the Lord’s presence by the Holy Spirit has been the birth of every true revival and spiritual awakening. The presence of Christ in the midst of his people is the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing beneath his wings.

4. Tonight, as I endeavor to open this text, I want to stir up your hearts to continually seek the Lord’s spiritual presence.

These past eighteen years, the Lord has been with us. He has made himself known to us in many ways. Indeed, I am thankful to say, it appears that he is working among his people all over the country and around the world. But if we are to see better and greater things in the days that lie ahead, we must seek the presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.”

If your heart has an interest in the things I am talking about, I urge you to make this determined resolution. Fix it in your heart, and do not be turned aside from it - “I will seek Him!” “I will seek him whom my soul loveth.”

Proposition: Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ seek his manifest presence.

Divisions: I hope we will all join in this blessed resolution - “I Will Seek Him.” In order to stir our hearts up to this work, I want to show you seven things revealed in our text about those who seek the Lord.

1. Those who seek Christ love Christ.

2. Those who seek Christ feel their need of Christ.

3. Those who seek Christ seek Him diligently.

4. Those who seek Christ will find Him.

5. Those who seek Christ, when they have found Him, will hold Him fast.

6. Those who seek Christ, when they have found Him, will bring Him into the House of God.

7. Those who seek Christ will jealously guard his blessed presence.

NOTE: I am speaking now to those who are the Lord’s people. You have been chosen of God in eternal election, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and called to life and faith in Christ by God the Holy Spirit. I am calling especially for you who know the Lord to seek the Lord. But, before I come to my text, let me do hat I can to press you who are yet without God into the Kingdom. I urge you, for your soul’s sake, to seek my Lord with all your heart. Seek him in his Word. Seek him by faith. Seek him now. If you seek him, you will find him (Jer. 29:11-14).

Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 912) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 913) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 914) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive."

I. The first thing I want you to see is that - THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST LOVE CHRIST.

In these five verses, the love-sick spouse speaks of Christ as “Him whom my soul loveth.” I am talking about men and women who truly love Christ. It may be that you do not now enjoy the manifestation of the Lord’s presence, but your heart clings to him. You may have been idle, slothful, neglectful, and sinful. You may have much to regret and much to weep over. But Christ is truly the One whom your soul loves. A loving wife may not always have her husband in her arms; but she always has him in her heart. Even so, the true believer does not always enjoy the presence of Christ, but he never ceases to love Christ.

The words are very strong - “Him whom my soul loveth.” It is as though she said, “Though there are many whom I love, he is the love of my soul. My deepest, fondest, purest, truest, most real love is reserved for him alone. Do you have such a heart for Christ? Is he the Love of your soul? Is he the Object of your heart’s affection?

All true believers do sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not possible for a person truly to know Christ and not love him (1 John 4:19).

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

· Christ’s love for us precedes our love for him.

· Christ’s love for us causes our love for him.

· Christ’s love exceeds our love for him.

· But we do love him.

A. We love the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, because of who he is.

This One whom we love is himself the eternal God; and he is perfect man. He is the God-man our Mediator. We love him, because he has revealed himself in our hearts.

B. We love Christ because of all that he has done for us.

His love for us is manifest by his deeds. His love is not dormant and idle. All that he has done and is doing and shall do is motivated by his love for us.

1. His Suretyship Engagements.

2. His Incarnation.

3. His Representative Life.

4. His Substitutionary Death.

5. His Glorious Reign.

C. It is Christ himself that we love.

Immanuel has won our hearts. We love Him. Many love his doctrine; but we love Him. Many love his throne; but we love Him. Many love his church; but we love Him. Many love his works; but we love Him.

II. Secondly, we see in our text that - THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST FEEL THEIR NEED OF HIM.

The spouse sensed that her beloved Bridegroom was gone; and she seems to be in desperate need of him. Do you know your need of Christ? If a man feels his need of Christ, he will seek him (Phil. 3:7-11).

Philippians 3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

Philippians 3:7-11 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 98) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 99) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 910) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 911) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

· We need his righteousness.

· We need his cleansing.

· We need his grace.

· We need his power.

· We need his direction.

· We need Him.

He said, “Without me, ye can do nothing.” And we have found, by painful experience, that it is true.

· Without Him, we cannot sing.

· Without Him, we cannot pray.

· Without Him, we cannot worship.

· Without Him, we cannot have peace.

· Without Him, we cannot know, do, or enjoy God’s will.

· Without Him, we cannot understand God’s Word.

III. Thirdly, it is evident in our text that - THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST SEEK HIM DILIGENTLY.

Those who ardently love Christ and feel their need of him do not cease to seek him, and seek him diligently. In this chapter we see the spouse seeking him upon her bed, seeking him in the streets, seeking him in the broadways, and finally seeking him at the lips of the watchman. She sought him in every place where he was likely to be found she left no stone unturned.

If you are truly in earnest about enjoying the fellowship of Christ, you will diligently seek him.

· In Private Prayer.

· In The Scriptures.

· In The Assembly Of The Saints.

· In The Public Ministry Of The Word.

NOTE: Those who preach the gospel are the watchmen of Zion (Isa. 62:6; Ezek. 33:7; Heb. 13:7, 17).

Song of Songs 3:3 "The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?"

Song of Songs 5:7 "The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me."

Isaiah 62:6 "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence."

Ezekiel 33:7 "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

Hebrews 13:17 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

NOTE: Have you come here tonight seeking him?

IV. Fourthly, I want you to see that - THOSE WHO DILIENTLY SEEK CHRIST WILL FIND HIM.

Neither the brethren, nor the church of God, nor those who preach the gospel can comfort the afflicted conscience, unless Christ himself is apprehended by faith. But as soon as she left the watchmen she found him whom she sought.

NOTE: When you leave this place, go on seeking the Lord.

Song of Songs 3:4 "It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."

Matthew Henry said, “Those that continue seeking the Lord shall find him at last, when perhaps they are almost ready to despair of finding him” (Psa. 34:1-6; Isa. 54:7-10; Jer. 29:12-14).

· Christ hides himself from his people for a season.

· Christ creates a desire in our hearts for himself.

· Christ comes to those who seek him.

Psalms 34:1-6 "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 92) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 93) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 94) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 95) They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 96) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

Isaiah 54:7-10 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 98) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 99) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 910) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."

Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 912) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 913) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 914) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive."

V. Fifthly, THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST, WHEN THEY HAVE FOUND HIM, WILL HOLD HIM FAST.

They will take care to retain him. They will endeavor to maintain their fellowship and communion with him. Look at verse four again. “I held him and would not let him go.”

A. Christ will go away if we do not hold Him.

B. Christ is willing to be held by us.

C. There are certain things which we must do to hold Christ in fellowship with us.

1. We must hold him by the hand of faith.

2. We must embrace him in the arms of love.

3. We must hold him by earnest prayer.

4. We must hold him by submissive obedience.

VI. Sixthly, THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST, WHEN THEY HAVE FOUND HIM, WILL BRING HIM INTO THE HOUE OF GOD.

When believers walk in fellowship with Christ, they bring him with them into the fellowship of the saints. Again, we read the fourth verse of our text.

Song of Songs 3:4 "It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."

VII. Seventhly, THOSE WHO SEEK CHRIST, WHEN THEY HAVE FOUND HIM, WILL JEALOUSLY GUARD HIS BLESSED PRESENCE.

My friends, our Lord is not indifferent about the conduct of his people. There are many things which will drive his presence from us and destroy our fellowship with him (Eph. 4:30).

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

· Anger

· Wrath

· Pride

· Gossip

· Lack Of Love

· Worldly Care

Application:

1. Whenever the Lord hides his face from us, he has a good reason for doing so.

2. Let us, each one, seek for him with all our hearts.

3. Seek Him now!

· You that believe.

· You that feel your need of him.