Admired & Adorned by Christ – Song of Solomon 1:9-11

Devotional series in the Song of Solomon. This series interprets the Song in as picturing the relationship between Christ and the church.

Interpretation: Key N.T. Verses

1. Eph. 5:32 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
2. 2 Cor 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
3. Luke 24:44 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

Theme: The Song presents the language of spiritual intimacy. It speaks to us of the affections of the heart.

Challenge: We should be both Examined and Encouraged. Examined as we read the bride’s words. What is the depth of our love and devotion for Christ? What is our estimation of Him? Encouraged as we read the Bridegroom’s words. How precious and comforting to be assured of how Christ view’s the believer through grace.

The Admiration of the Bride (Vs. 9)

The Designation of the Bride (9a)

1. “my love” = used 9 times in the Song to address the bride
2. Doctrine: The believer is the object of Christ’s Divine love
   1. Loved by the Father: John 17:22-23 “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
      1. Question: What are some of the qualities of the Father’s love for the Son?
      2. Answer: It is everlasting. Jn. 17:24 “…for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” God’s love for us is the same. Jer. 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
      3. Answer: It is unchanging. Mal. 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not…”
      4. When I survey the Wondrous Cross: See from his head his hands his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down, did ere such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown.
   2. Loved by the Son: John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” Song 2:4 “…his banner over me was love.”
   3. Loved by the Spirit: Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” “shed abroad” = poured out (bountifully)

The Comparison of the Bride (9b)

Context & Background

1. The fame of Egypt’s horses – e.g. fast, well breed etc.
2. Solomon’s love for Egyptian horses: 2 Chronicles 1:16 “And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt…” 1 Kings 4:26 “And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.” Riding a horse was a sign of military rank in Solomon’s time (Unger)

Lessons

1. The Believer is Precious
   1. His chosen people: to be a special, distinct company of people: Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” 1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…”
   2. His prized possession: Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
2. The Believer is Purchased
   1. The price of an Egyptian horse: 1 Kings 10:29 “And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of sliver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty…” A shekel of silver according to Unger was worth about 3.67 denarii in New Testament currency. 1 denarii was equivalent to a day’s wage. So one Egyptian horse was worth about 550 days labour.
   2. The high price paid for the believer: 1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
3. The Believer is Purposeful
   1. One objective of Pharaoh’s horses: To accomplish his purpose and do his bidding.
   2. Hudson Taylor “Those selected for Pharaoh’s own chariot would not only be of the purest blood and perfect in proportion and symmetry, but also perfect in training, docile and obedient; they would know no will be that of the charioteer, and the only object of their existence would be to carry the king withersoever he would go.” Pg. 19
   3. Challenge: Submission and Service. Are we totally yielded to him? Do we delight to serve Him? Are we motivated by what He sees or by what man sees?

The Adornment of the Bride (Vs. 10-11)

There are two aspects to the adornment of the Bride.

Provided Adornment (Vs. 10)

1. ‘rows’ = braids
2. J.M. Flanigan: “Oriental women often wore several rows of pearls and jewels round the head, beginning on the forehead and descending down to the cheeks and neck, so that the face seemed to be almost framed in pearls.”
3. Note: As a humble Shulamite maiden, it is unlikely she would have the ability to purchase such jewels. These have been graciously placed upon her by her king- lover.
4. Lesson: The believer has been adorned through the work of salvation and the process of sanctification
   1. Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.”
   2. Ezekiel 16:10-14 “I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus was 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. 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.”
   3. Revelation 19:8 “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Promised Adornment (Vs. 11)

1. ‘borders’ = same Hebrew word as ‘rows’ in Vs. 10.
2. Picture: A crown or wreath
3. Watchman Nee: “Gold stands for that which is divine in character…“studs of silver” bring redemption into view. To emboss this crown of divine work with silver studs or clasps points to the foundational work of all spiritual values in Calvary’s Cross.” Pg. 40
4. Lesson: Our Heavenly Bridegroom has not finished His Divine beautification of the believer. This process continues right through our lives until we go home to be with Him in His Royal Palace (sanctification).
   1. Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
   2. C.H. Spurgeon “Christ, who has begun with you, will never cease till He has perfected you.”

Conclusion

1. How is your sense of worth? Do you realise just how precious you are to God?
2. Are you secure in His love?
3. What is our attitude to our King? Is He Lord? Is our passion to fulfil all His wishes for our lives?
4. What is our motive for service? Do we do it to be seen of Christ or men?
5. Are you cooperating with God in His work of sanctification in your life? Do you thank Him for what he has already done?

Sermon 4 of 22 in Song of Solomon Series

Sermon Audio Id: 82816621472