Sermon #15 Series: Song of Solomon

Title: Let Me Tell You About My Beloved

Text: Song of Solomon 5:9-16

Readings: Office: Auditorium:

Subject: The excellence and beauty of Christ

Date: Sunday Evening - August 23, 1998

Tape # U-82b

Introduction:

Let me tell you about my Beloved. I hope that you never get tired of hearing about him, because it is never a wearisome task for me to tell you about him. His name is Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Prophet, my Priest, my King, and my All. He is my Lord; and he is my God. But he is more - Jesus Christ is the Beloved One of my heart and the Friend of my soul. He is “the chiefest among ten thousand,” and “he is altogether lovely.”

I hope that, somehow, God the Holy Spirit has created in your heart a desire to know him. This is the thing I want for you. This is the thing for which I labor. This is the reason why I preach to you. This is the one thing which I desire of God for you. I want you to know him.

It is not enough that you know about Christ. I want you to know Christ. It is not enough that you know the doctrine of Christ. I want you to know Christ himself. It is not enough that you merely know about Christ crucified on the tree, you must know the crucified Christ in your heart. Oh, may it please the Lord to make him the Beloved of your heart and the Friend of your soul. Let me tell you about my Beloved.

Proposition: All beauty, excellence and perfection, divine and human, dwells in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is the perfect God and the perfect man. All that your soul needs, and all that will satisfy your heart is found in Christ, in infinite abundance.

Let me refresh your memories with what has taken place (vv. 2-8).

· The Lord had come to bless his church with his presence, his fellowship, and his communion (v. 2).

· But he found his church asleep, slothful and negligent. He was shamefully treated with neglect (v. 3).

· He graciously caused her to desire him, creating in her heart a longing for his presence (v. 4).

· Then the Lord withdrew himself from her (v. 5-6). It was not at all his desire to punish her. He simply intended to cause her to see his preciousness to her. So, in order to make her properly value and esteem him, the Lord withdrew and hid himself from her for a while.

· At last we see the church, the bride of Christ, his beloved child, holding him to be precious. When she had lost the sense of his presence, she saw how valuable and necessary he was to her soul. And she gives this solemn charge to those who were around her - “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.”

Divisions: I want to call your attention to three things in our text.

1. The question - “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” (v. 9).

2. The answer - “My Beloved is…” (vv. 10-16).

3. The assurance - “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend” (v. 16).

I. THE QUESTION - “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” (v. 9).

Song of Songs 5:9 "What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?"

Some suggest that this is a question of scorn and ridicule. There are those who look upon the believer’s loving attachment to Christ as fanaticism. They think we make much ado about nothing. I trust that none of you are so obstinately foolish. Such people deserve no answer, and they shall receive none from me until the day of judgment.

I hope there are some here tonight who would raise this question seriously. I hope that you, seeing our love and zeal and concern for Christ, are made desirous of knowing him. You have heard us testify that Christ is excellent and glorious. You are convinced that there must be something more to him than you ever imagined. In your heart there is an earnest desire to know him.

I hope some of you have such a desire. There is hope for men when they begin to inquire about the beauty, the perfection, the excellence, the grace, and the glory of Christ. Do any of you raise the question - “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” It is a question that I shall gladly answer. But it is a question that I can never answer fully.

II. THE ANSWER - “My Beloved is…” (vv. 10-16).

Nothing pleases me better than to talk to you for a while about Him. My heart grieves to think that I have grieved him, so that he has withdrawn himself from me for a while. But nothing more pleases me now than the opportunity of describing him to you. Let me tell you about my Beloved. Let me describe his beauties to you.

What the hand is to the lute,

What breath is to the flute,

What fragrance is to the smell,

What the spring is to the well,

What the flower is to the bee,

That is Jesus Christ to me.

What the mother is to the child,

What the compass is in pathless wild,

What oil is to the troubled wave,

What ransom is to the slave,

What water is to the sea,

That is Jesus Christ to me.

Do you ask me, “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?”

A. Let me first give you a general description of his character - “My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand” (v. 10).

My Beloved is one of incomparable perfection, unparalleled beauty, and infinite excellence. He is so infinitely precious above all others that he alone is Precious. His loveliness is so infinitely higher than the loveliness of others that he alone is Lovely.

1. He has everything in himself that is pleasant, lovely, and admirable - “He is white and ruddy.”

These words refer to the excellence of his Divine glory as God and the excellence of his mediatoral character as man. In him I see all the perfection of the eternal God. And in him I see all that my soul needs or desires. He is the holy, immaculate, eternal Son of God. And he is made unto me wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. His love toward me makes him lovely to me.

· He is white in the spotless innocence of his life, and ruddy in the bloody sufferings of his death.

· He is white in his glory as God, and ruddy in his incarnation as man. Note: The name for man, “Adam” means “red earth”.

· He is white in his tenderness toward his people, and ruddy in his terrible vengeance upon his enemies.

2. My Beloved is so infinitely above all others that there is none to compare with him. “He is the chiefest among ten thousand.”

In comparison with Christ, every other object of love and affection is but dung (Phil. 3:8).

Christ is higher than the kings of the earth; and he has obtained a more excellent name than any in heaven, or earth, or hell (Psa. 89:27; Heb. 1:4; Phil. 2:9-11).

Psalms 89:27 "Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."

Philippians 2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Hebrews 1:1-4 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

· In his church Christ is the Chief Corner-Stone.

· Among the brethren Christ is the Firstborn.

· Among the resurrected Christ is the First-Begotten.

He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Firstborn of every creature. God has made Christ to be pre-eminent in all things. And in the hearts of his people, He is pre-eminent (Col. 1:14-20).

Colossians 1:14-20 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

NOTE: Our marginal translation says, “He is the Standard-Bearer among ten thousand.” He is lifted up as the Ensign, to whom his people gather. He is lifted up as the Banner, around whom we rally (Isa. 11:10; John 12:32).

You ask me, “What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” I tell you that, “My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” But that is not enough.

B. Let me give you a more detailed description of Him.

I want you to see the excellence of his beauty, the fulness of his power, and the accomplishments of his grace. I want you to see that he is in every way qualified for the work of redeeming his people and bringing us safe to heaven. He is worthy of your love, your trust, and your highest admiration and esteem. He is so transcendently glorious that he is both great and gracious.

1. Let me tell you about His head - “His head is as the most fine gold” (v. 11).

His head speaks of our Lord’s sovereign dominion over all things (Eph. 1:22). Like gold, the sovereignty of Christ is beautiful, strong, and precious.

2. Let me tell you about His hair - “His locks are bushy, and black as a raven” (v. 11).

· Whiteness denotes his eternality and wisdom.

Revelation 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"

· Blackness denotes his perpetual strength and power.

3. Let me tell you about His eyes - “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fitly set” (v. 12).

· His eyes are pure.

· His eyes toward us are peaceable.

· His eyes are penetrating.

· His eyes are powerful - (The Lord turned and looked on Peter).

· His eyes never blink.

· His eyes shall punish his enemies.

4. Let me tell you about His cheeks - “His cheeks are a bed of spices, as sweet flowers” (v. 13).

The very sight of his face, like a rich, fragrant garden, is reviving, refreshing, and pleasing.

5. Let me tell you about His lips - “His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh” (v. 13).

His lips are so sweet and pleasant. The words of his lips are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. The kisses of his lips are better than wine. Grace is poured into his lips. And grace proceeds out of his lips.

· Grace poured out of his lips as my Surety. He said, “I will go. I will pay the price. I will redeem him.”

· Grace poured out of his lips as my Substitute at Calvary - “Forgive”, “Why hast thou forsaken me?”, “It is finished.”

· Grace poured from his lips as my Savior. He came to me and said, “Live!” He said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

6. Let me tell you about His hands - “His hands are as gold rings set with beryl” (v. 14).

· His hands, like golden rings, fitted to the finger, are fitted to accomplish their purpose - To save His people.

· His hands, like the king’s signet, seal the covenant of God’s grace - The piercing of his hands in death was the ratification of God’s covenant.

7. Let me tell you about His heart - “His belly (His bowels of compassion, His heart) is as ivory overlaid with sapphires” (v. 14).

The love of Christ’s heart for his people is as strong and firm as ivory. The many instances of his love, by which he reveals his love, are as sapphires and precious jewels.

· Election

· Redemption

· Regeneration

· Preservation

· Intercession

· Forgiveness - Blessed, perpetual, eternal forgiveness!

8. Let me tell you about His legs - “His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold” (v. 15). He is The Rock!

· This speaks of his stability and faithfulness.

· This speaks of his strength and power. “He is able!”

9. Let me tell you about His countenance - His appearance - “His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars” (v. 15).

In height, in strength, in power, in grace, in beauty, and in love he excels all others. There is none to rival him.

10. Let me tell you about His mouth - “His mouth is most sweet” (v. 16).

The words of his mouth are sweet to his people.

· The precepts of his Word are sweet.

· The principles of his Word are sweet.

· The promises of his Word are sweet.

The kisses of his mouth, the many tokens of his love and goodness, have a transcendent sweetness in them.

C. What more can I say? What more can I tell you about my Beloved? “He is altogether lovely!” “Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious.”

· He is truly lovely.

· He is wholly lovely.

· There is nothing in him but that which is lovely, and there is nothing truly lovely but that which is in him.

· All that I need and all that I desire is in him (Psa. 73:25-26).

Psalms 73:25-26 "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

1. In his divinity he is lovely.

2. In his humanity he is lovely.

3. In his redemption he is lovely.

4. In his salvation he is lovely.

5. In his providence he is lovely.

6. He is even lovely in his justice and judgment.

III. THE ASSURANCE - “This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend” (v. 16).

Matthew Henry said, “To see Christ, and not to see him as ours, would be rather a torture than a happiness; but to see one that is thus lovely, and to see him as ours, is complete satisfaction.”

A. I know that Christ, in all the fulness of his grace and glory, is mine, because I trust Him.

He is “my Lord and my God.”

1. He is mine in all of his offices.

2. He is mine in all of his works.

3. He is mine in all of his ways.

4. He is mine in all of his provisions.

5. He is mine always - Both now and forever.

6. He is mine in all his possessions.

He is mine, both when he openly reveals himself, and when he hides his face; both when I sense it and when I do not, he is mine. In prosperity and in adversity, in health and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, Jesus Christ is mine, and I am his.

B. Because Christ is mine, he is my Beloved.

He loves me and I love him (1 John 4:19).

He is my one true love. I have chosen him. I have willingly, deliberately given myself to him. My heart is for him, only him, and not another.

C. And Jesus Christ the Lord is my Friend.

1. He is a powerful Friend.

2. He is a sympathetic Friend.

3. He is a patient Friend.

4. He is an unchanging Friend.

5. He is a wise Friend.

6. He is a faithful Friend.

7. He is my Friend.

Application: I have done what I can to tell you about my Beloved. I want you to know him.

1. I do not know whether you will ever trust him or not; but he is worthy of your trust.

2. I do not know whether you will ever love him or not; but he is worthy of your love.

3. I do not know whether you will ever praise him or not; but he is worthy of your praise.

AMEN.