In Christ’s Banqueting House – Song of Solomon 2:4-7

Communion Series – The bride testifies of her experience of the Groom’s love in the banqueting house. Some precious lessons concerning Christ and the believer.

Interpretation: Christ is to be found in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Theme: The Song is like one of the N.T. parables; an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

This Lesson: The bride testifies of a further and deeper experience of her Beloveds’ love. The scene moves to the King’s banqueting house.

The Experience of His Love (Vs. 4)

The Banquet (Vs. 4a)

1. Invitation – “He brought me”
   1. Drawn in Salvation
      1. Hosea 11:4 “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.”
      2. Jeremiah 31:3 “…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
      3. My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me, love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be, Lord who am I that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die? Here might I stay and sing of him my soul adores: never was love, dear king, never was grief like thine. This is my friend in whose sweet praise, I all my days would gladly spend. (Samuel Crossman)
   2. Drawn in Fellowship
      1. As the bride pursues and adores the Groom, he responds by drawing her into deeper experiences of His love.
      2. James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…”
2. Provision – “banqueting house”
   1. Solomon’s Banqueting house: Josephus, the Jewish historian, describes Solomon’s palace – “Constructed of white marble, cedar, gold and silver, it contained several great halls lined with columns. One hall was for public trials and judgments, and another for the king and his immense ivory throne. Another hall was designated for the queen, and yet another for feasts and banquets, in which all the utensils were made of gold.” (Antiquities 8.130)
   2. Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…”
   3. Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
   4. 2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

The Banner (Vs. 4b)

1. “The word ‘banner’ is most often found in the book of Numbers where it refers to the ensigns marking out the individual encampments of each of Israel’s tribes.” (Currie)
2. It’s position – “over me”
   1. Christ is unashamed to declare His love for us.
   2. He is not ashamed to call us brethren (Heb. 2:11)
3. It’s message – “love”
   1. Christ’s love in the light of His other attributes: It is unchangeable, everlasting, everywhere present, faithful
   2. Consider the love of Christ: John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
   3. Consider the love of the Father: John 17:23 “…and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

The Effect of His Love (Vs. 5)

Her Response – love sick

1. The bride is overwhelmed by the love of her Groom. So we as believers will be in awe when we take time to mediate on the love of our Saviour.
2. Even the queen of Sheba, a woman accustomed to royal palaces, was overwhelmed and overawed when she saw the glory of Solomon’s kingdom first hand. “…there was no more spirit (breath) in her.” 1 Kings 10:4-5
3. Consider our past before we knew Christ: We were in a miry pit, clothed in the filthy rags of our own righteousness’s. We were rebels against God and His righteous laws. But Christ’s love melted our hardened hearts and drew us to Himself. He cleansed us, took away our rags and clothes us in His perfect righteousness. He made us His sons and daughters, heirs and joint heirs with Christ.
4. Hymn excerpts:
   1. “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how he could love me a sinner condemned unclean”
   2. “O perfect love, all human thought transcending”
   3. “The love of God is greater far…”
   4. “Here is love, vast as the ocean…”
5. Illustration: D L Moody

Her prayer – For strengthening and comfort

1. ‘flagons’ = likely raison cakes. “In ancient times a sweet wine was made and then concentrated by boiling. After which, other ingredients being added, a paste was made, pressed and allowed to harden into a form of cakes. These were then cut up and carried by travellers as a means of sustenance.” (James. B. Currie)
2. ‘apples’ = S. Vs. 3
3. Principle: Christ is the source of all spiritual strength for the Christian life. We are even dependent upon His grace for our close fellowship with Him.
4. John 6:57 “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”

The Embrace of His Love (Vs. 6-7)

The Groom’s Response (Vs. 6)

1. As the magnitude of His love dawns on her heart, she feels faint. She has a sense of inadequacy and unworthiness that she should be the object of such love. The Bridegrooms responds to her cry for help and catches her in His arms.
2. The position of the bride is one of utter dependence. This is to be the posture of the Christian life. Song 8:5 “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?”
3. Deut. 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:”

The Bride’s Desire (Vs. 7)

1. She desires uninterrupted communion and fellowship.
2. “daughters of Jerusalem” = the ladies of the palace. Represent those who have a casual interest in the Groom but who do enjoy the same degree of closeness to the Groom. Understanding their potential to cause disruption to her communion, she adjures them not to interfere.
3. ‘roes’ & ‘hinds’ = sensitive creatures that are easily startled
4. “till he please” = submission to His will

Conclusion

Rest in Christ’s everlasting love!

Sermon 8 of 22 in Song of Solomon Series

Sermon Audio Id: 12917350452