Love’s Adoring Perspective – Song of Solomon 2:1-3

Communion Series in the Song of Solomon. This lesson explores Verse 1-3 of chapter 2 under the following headings:

1. Christ’s Revelation of Himself (Vs. 1)
2. Christ’s Comparison of the Believer (Vs. 2)
3. The Believers Estimation of Christ (Vs. 3)

Interpretation: Key N.T. Verses (Eph. 5:32; 2 Cor. 11:2)

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

This Lesson: Loving dialogue between the Bride and Groom continues. Rich, symbolic word pictures are uses to express the mutual admiration and love they both possess for each other.

Christ’s Revelation of Himself (Vs. 1)

The Symbol of the Rose (1a)

1. Christ is often likened to a plant in Scripture
   1. “…I am the root and offspring of David…” Rev. 22:16
   2. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground…” Isaiah 53:2
   3. “And there shall come forth a rod, out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” Isaiah 11:1
   4. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” Jeremiah 23:5
2. The plain of Sharon – Likely refers to a dry region. (s. Isaiah 53:2)
3. The truths portrayed in the Rose
   1. Christ is First: The Rose is the queen of flowers. Later she calls Him, “the chiefest among ten thousand.” (5:10)
   2. Christ is Fragrant: The sweet odour of His Person attracts seeking hearts to Him. He provides delight and satisfaction.
   3. Christ is Fair: How beautiful and attractive is the Rose to the eye. It captivates and holds the attention. Christ is altogether Lovely and Fair in His Person. There is no blemish or spot in Him.

The Symbol of the Lily (1b)

1. Christ’s Beauty: Christ Himself said that Solomon in all his glory did not compare to the glory of the lily (Luke 12:27)
2. Christ’s Purity: White speaks of that which is morally clean and pure.
3. Christ’s Humility: The locations of both plants speak of humility.

Christ’s Comparison of the Believer (Vs. 2)

Description of her environment – ‘thorns’

1. A symbol of the curse: Genesis 3:17b-18a “…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…”
2. Christ bore a crown of thorns at His crucifixion: Matt 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5
3. The thorns speak of evil and hostility, the stamp of the curse that is upon the unsaved and the world. In this verse it symbolises the unsaved – ‘daughters’.

Estimation of her person – ‘lily’

1. The believer attracts Christ’s focus: We are precious in His sight in a world full of depravity and sin. She grows as a beautiful flower in an environment of ugliness (James B. Currie)
2. The believer reflects Christ’s image
   1. We have a new, distinct nature. Christ can turn thorns into lilies!
   2. We have been made partakers of His likeness (s. Vs. 1).
      1. Man was first created to display the image of God. With the fall, that image was marred but through redemption and God’s work of sanctification in our lives, we again (though imperfectly) reflect His image (Rom 8:29).
      2. David Brainerd: “Oh, my Brother, pursue after holiness; press toward this blessed mark; and let your thirsty soul continually say, “I shall never be satisfied till I awake in Thy likeness.” (Letter to his brother John just prior to his death”
3. The believer displays Christ’s testimony
   1. The believer should stand out in this world!
   2. Does the world see a difference in your life?
   3. Illustration: Eric Liddell in concentration camp. Japanese commander’s testimony at his death. Last words were, “It’s complete surrender”

The Believer’s Estimation of Christ (Vs. 3)

Her Description of Him (3a)

1. Christ is Unique: In 5:10 she calls him, “the chiefest among ten thousand”
2. Christ is Unrivalled: He is above all. There is none like Him! He is far better than all this world can offer. “…the thought the bride expresses is this: You are so much more to me than any other can possibly be.” (Ironside)

Her Experience of Him (3b)

1. Rest – “sat down”
2. Refuge – “shadow”
   1. Background: Hot eastern climate (refer Vs. 6-7)
   2. The sun’s heat is a picture of tribulation, affliction and persecution (Matt. 13:5-6; 20-21)
   3. Other verses that speak of God being our shade
      1. Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.”
      2. Psalm 36:7 “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
      3. Psalm 91:1-4 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
   4. Beware of seeking refuge in the “trees of the wood”
   5. Question: To whom to we resort in times of distress?
3. Rapture – “great delight”
   1. M’Cheyne: Excerpt from sermon on Song 2:2-3 “Some people think there is no joy in religion, – it is a gloomy thing. When a young person becomes a Christian, they would say, Alas! he must bid farewell to pleasure, – farewell to the joys of youth, farewell to a merry heart. He must exchange these pleasures for reading of the Bible and dry sermon books, – for a life of gravity and preciseness. This is what the world says. What does the Bible say? “I sat down under His shadow with great delight.” Ah! let God be true, and every man a liar. Yet no one can believe this except those who have tried it. Ah! be not deceived, my young friends; the world has many sensual and many sinful delights, – the delights of eating and drinking, and wearing gay clothes, – the delights of revelry and the dance. No man of wisdom will deny that these things are delightful to the natural heart; but on, they perish in the using, and they end in an eternal hell! But to sit down under the shadow of Christ, wearied with God’s burning anger, wearied with seeking after vain saviours, at last to find rest under the shadow of Christ, ah! this is great delight. Lord, evermore may I sit under this shadow! Lord, evermore may I be filled with this joy!”
   2. True joy is found in Christ’s presence
4. Refreshment – “fruit was sweet to my taste”
   1. Provision: All the believer needs is found in Christ. “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:” 1 Peter 1:3
   2. Pleasure: Christ is sweet to the taste! “O taste and see that the Lord is good…” Psalm 34:8

Sermon 7 of 22 in Song of Solomon Series

Sermon Audio Id: 112716519220