Sermon #4 Series: Song of Solomon

Title: Christ’s Estimate Of His People

Text: Song of Solomon 1:8-11

Reading: Ezekiel 16:1-22, 60-63

Subject: The Beauty Christ Has Put Upon His People

Date: Sunday Morning - , 1998

Tape # U-69a

Introduction:

Proposition: As we become increasingly aware of our personal sinfulness and corruption, as we are humbled by the depravity of our hearts, nothing is more comforting, cheerful, and reassuring to God’s saints in this world than the knowledge of the fact that in the eyes of Christ we stand perfect in the beauty of his righteousness, the beauty which he has put upon us.

All the spiritual goodness, beauty, and comeliness we have before God is that which Christ puts upon us!

· By Blood Atonement.

· By Imputed Righteousness.

· By Saving Grace.

How blessed it is, when I am most keenly and painfully aware of the fact that in me, in my flesh dwelleth not good thing, to hear my Savior say, “Thy beauty is perfect through my comeliness, which I put upon thee.”

In its essence, that is what the Song of Solomon is all about. This blessed book is a song of love between Christ and his church. As we read the book, we who belong to Christ, we who are married to the Son of God ought to make it as personal as possible. Whenever the bride speaks, read it in the first person. Her words are the expressions of every believer’s heart.

Whenever Solomon speaks to the bride, (Pharaoh’s daughter), read the words as the words of Christ speaking to you. All that he says to her shows the great love and high estimate Christ has for you who are chosen by him, washed in his blood and saved by his grace.

Throughout this blessed love song, we see a constant fluctuation in the bride, but not in the bridegroom. She varies greatly. Sometimes her heart burns with love for him. Then it is as cold as ice. Sometimes she delights to have him lie between her breasts. Then she bolts the door of her heart against him. But his love for her never changes! Is that not the way things are with you? Does your heart not ache and pine for a closer walk with Christ? Cowper expressed what I want to say better than I can…

“Oh for a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame;

A Light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb.

Where is the blessedness I knew

When first I saw the Lord?

Where is the soul-refreshing view

Of Jesus in His Word?

What peaceful hours I then enjoyed,

How sweet their memory still!

But now I find an aching void

The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,

Sweet Messenger of rest!

I hate the sins that made Thee mourn

And drove Thee from my breast.

The Song of Solomon is an inspired record of the constant languishings and revivings we experience in this world, the languishings of our hearts because of sin and the sweet revivings of our souls by our Savior’s unfailing grace. Let’s begin reading in verse 1.

(Song of Songs 1:1) "The song of songs, which is Solomon's."

What a proper, fitting, appropriate title that is for this book. Solomon means peaceful. He represents Christ, the Prince of Peace, our beloved, all-glorious Savior.

Notice, this is not just A Song. It is called The Song Of Songs. There are many songs recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture. Moses, Aaron and Miriam, Deborah, Hannah and David all sang songs, great and good songs unto the Lord. But this is called The Song of Songs. All those other songs were songs of battles fought and victories won, trials endure and triumphs experienced. But this is purely a song of love. It is Solomon’s Song and it is all about Solomon. That is to say, it is Christ’s song and it is all about Christ and his great love for us.

Verses 2-4 express the ardent desires of the believer’s languishing heart for fresh discoveries of Christ’s love and fresh sweet tokens of it from the kisses of his mouth.

(Song of Songs 1:2-4) "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. (3) Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (4) Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee."

In verses 5 and 6 we frankly and honestly confess of sin, the blackness of our hearts, our natures, and our lives. Yet, in the teeth of our sin, we look to Christ and claim the beauty that he has given us by grace. In our many trials and afflictions, we are often careless and fail to keep our own vineyards. Every heaven born soul knows and freely confesses his sin (1 John 1:9).

(Song of Songs 1:5-6) "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. (6) Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept."

In verse 7 there is an ardent expression of ardent love for Christ followed by an earnest prayer for guidance and grace. While we live in this world, we seek to follow Christ and feed at his table. But there are many false prophets and apostate churches, all claiming to be his companions. Therefore, we constantly look to our Beloved Lord to direct our steps and keep us in the footsteps of his flock.

(Song of Songs 1:7) "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?"

Now, let’s read verses 8-11. As we hear Christ’s response to us, telling us where he feeds his flock and makes them rest, I want to call your attention particularly to Christ’s Estimate Of His Saints. My brother, my sister, this is what Christ thinks of you.

(Song of Songs 1:8-11) "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. (9) I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. (10) Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. (11) We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver."

The bride asked her beloved where he feeds his flock, where he makes his flock to rest at noon. In our text he replies to his beloved Bride. He speaks in love to comfort her heart and assure her.

I. The text begins with THE LORD JESUS REMINDING US OF OUR IGNORANCE.

These opening words, “If thou know not”, would be better translated “Since you do not know”. The question asked in verse seven was an acknowledgment of ignorance. This reminder of the fact of our ignorance in all things spiritual is given not to discourage us, but to remind us that we must never cease looking to him for guidance and direction.

Particularly, he is reminding us that though we know something of our sinfulness, the corruption and deceitfulness of our hearts, we really have no idea just how corrupt and deceitful our hearts are! We know we are weak; but we do not really have any idea just how weak. We must ever look to him for strength.

· To Resist Temptation.

· To Trust Him.

· To Obey Him.

· To Walk In His Way.

II. Here is his word of instruction for our hearts - “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.”

Here we are told where to find our Lord, where to find food and rest and refreshment for our souls. If you would find Christ, you will find him in the way of the holy prophets, in the way of the patriarchs and in the way of the apostles. Follow the footsteps of the flock, feed by the tents of his shepherds, and you may find him.

A. What are the footsteps of the flock?

They are simply the paths in which God’s people have always walked. They are the paths of the Lord’s sheep. They are not hard to find. They are plain and clear. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob walked in these paths. These are the paths of David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Peter, James, John, and Paul followed these paths. Let us walk in them too.

1. They are the paths of faith and trust.

2. They are the paths of submission and obedience.

3. They are the paths of righteousness and godliness.

4. They are the paths of love and kindness.

5. They are the old paths of doctrinal truth (Jer. 6:16).

(Jeremiah 6:16) "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

B. Who are these shepherds, by whose tents we must feed?

There are many in these days who have set themselves up as shepherds, who would feed their followers in poisonous pastures of free will, works religion. Keep away from them.

· Do not follow a man.

· Do not cling to a church.

· Find a man who is preaching the gospel of Christ, and feed by his tent. The church where the gospel is preached is the shepherds’ tent. The man who is preaching the gospel is one of Christ’s shepherds (Jer. 3:15).

(Jeremiah 3:15) "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

Find a man who is like Paul, “Determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified,” and you can safely feed by his tent. Those who are the true servants of Christ preach Christ, they preach all of Christ, and they preach nothing but Christ.

1. We preach Christ crucified as he is revealed in Holy Scripture.

· His Godhood.

· His Manhood.

· His atonement.

· His righteousness.

· His justification.

· His exaltation.

2. We preach the doctrines of the gospel of the grace of God in Christ.

We must be very particular that we preach the truth of God, the whole truth of God, not just a part of it, but all of it. The doctrines of grace are to me like a field of clover. Religion without the doctrines of grace is a barren wasteland.

· Divine Sovereignty.

· Unconditional Election.

· Total Depravity.

· Effectual, Particular Redemption.

· Irresistible Grace.

· Perseverance Of The Saints.

· The Liberty Of Grace.

Let others turn aside if they must to the empty cisterns of religious philosophy. We have found a refreshing fountain of life in Christ himself, and we have found rich pastures for our souls in these blessed doctrines of the gospel.

III. WE ARE GIVEN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION ABOUT FEEDING OUR KIDS. “Feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents.”

The shepherds spoken of here are faithful gospel preachers, men appointed and called of God to be undershepherds to Christ. The shepherds tents are the churches pastored by God’s faithful servants. As shepherds in ancient times pitched their tents in the wilderness where they led their flocks, so God’s servants establish gospel churches in the wilderness of this world for the feeding of Christ’s flock.

You and I are here directed to feed our kids by the shepherds’ tents, and nowhere else. The word “kids” does not to refer to our physical children, though there is certainly an application to them. You and I are responsible to see to it that our children hear the Word of God faithfully preached. If you feed them upon the husks of free will, works religion you will be responsible for their eternal ruin.

However, the word “kids” is used here in reference to young converts, weak in faith and knowledge. They often think they know much and are strong; but that is not usually the case with young converts. Like young goats, young believers are often a bit wild and rowdy, and have an offensive smell. But it is the “kids” of the flock who need our special care and patience.

IV. Now I want you to see CHRIST’S ESTIMATE OF HIS PEOPLE.

A. First the Lord tells us how beautiful his people are in his eyes - “O thou fairest among women” (vv.8, 9-10).

In our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, we are black and scornful. But in his eyes we are fair and comely. I would rather trust his eyes than my eyes. If my eyes tell me that I am black, I will weep. But if he assures me that I am fair in his eyes, I will believe him and rejoice. Listen to the Son of God, my brother, my sister, as the speaks to you about you…

(Song of Songs 1:9-11) "I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. {10} Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold."

1. Christ sees us in the beauty of his own imputed righteousness and declares that we are perfectly beautiful (Ezek. 16:13-14).

(Ezekiel 16:13-14) "Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. {14} And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD."

“In thy Surety thou art free.

His dear hands were pierced for thee:

With his spotless garments on,

We’re as holy as God’s own Son!”

Christ does not exaggerate the beauty of his people. We are perfectly beautiful and gloriously complete, so much so that we may confidently exclaim, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?”

2. Besides that, our Lord sees us as we shall actually be when he is finished with us (Eph. 5:25-27).

Illustration: The artist sees the statue which he will

make in the huge block of marble he has

purchased.

(Ephesians 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; {26} That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, {27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

3. In this passage (vv. 9-11), our Lord uses a well known picture of royal beauty to typify the beauty of his people in him.

a. He compares us to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

· Beautiful

· Chosen

· Costly

· Strong.

b. He shows how he has adorned us by his grace.

· Rows of jewels - The graces of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

· Chains of gold - The blessings of graces in him (Eph. 1:3-14).

V. In verse 11, our Beloved Savior tells us what will yet be done for us.

“We” (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) “We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.”

This is a symbolic picture of the heavenly Jerusalem and our everlasting glory in heaven (Isa. 54:11-12; Rev. 21:18-21).

(Isaiah 54:11-12) "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. {12} And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones."

(Revelation 21:18-21) "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. {19} And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; {20} The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. {21} And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."

Application:

1. Lets us never forget our personal weakness, ignorance and sin. May God graciously cause us ever to look to Christ alone for strength, grace and cleansing.

2. Let us resolve, by God’s grace, ever to be found walking in the footsteps of the flock, feeding by the shepherds tents, as long as we are in this world.

3. Let us always take special care to watch out and care for our younger brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God.

4. Let us now remember what great things the Lord has done for us.

5. Let us ever live in the anticipation of that glory which awaits us.

6. Let us ever pray for these here who yet know not our God. Oh, may God be leased to do for you what you cannot do for yourself! Oh, may he be pleased now to make you a new creature in Christ by his amazing grace.

AMEN.