1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,600 If you signed up to to come to this study of song of songs, 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,800 looking for the salacious stuff, this is where it starts heating 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:12,320 up. And when we meet in two weeks, 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:14,760 I'm going to cover some of the terms a little bit more in 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,320 depth, metaphorically, what they represent and all of that. 6 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,520 And I say 2 weeks because one week from now will be a night of 7 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,160 worship, so very excited for that. 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,560 But tonight you won't really need me to break down some of 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,680 it, you'll just know. Promise. 10 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,920 I'm looking forward to reading it in front of the church. 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,000 So tonight's whole theme is love that waits. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,680 And if you remember, we started with love awakening and then it 13 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,680 went to love that pursues. So it's normal that something 14 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,760 draws you to somebody. It's normal that then you pursue 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,120 that somebody. But this is love that waits. 16 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,520 And that almost sounds like the opposite after we've talked 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,200 about pursuing, but it's just as important. 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:56,440 The session we're going to talk about tonight. 19 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,720 Tonight is important because the love that this couple has in 20 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,680 Song of Songs is becoming more substantial and the relationship 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,040 is moving into a place where they're preparing to be more. 22 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,720 In other words, they're moving towards what we would now 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,120 consider marriage or wedding or consummating the relationship. 24 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,080 And so it's moving into something that is much more 25 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,400 serious. And one of the the most 26 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,400 important things to get across tonight is this. 27 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,200 Waiting is not the enemy of love. 28 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,480 That can feel countercultural because a lot of us have been 29 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,400 trained to think that faster answers are better and even if 30 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:31,920 we know that's not true, we still want them. 31 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,680 We are a microwave society. I mean, anytime you get 32 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,800 something and it's giving you a microwave or an oven option, do 33 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,240 we not most of the time look for the microwave? 34 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,760 Well, let's see, I can cook this in an hour and 45 minutes and 35 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,240 have to remove the lid halfway through and rotate it. 36 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,560 Or I can hit it for 7 minutes in the microwave and hope for the 37 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,000 best. That's what we do. 38 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,040 And then when your mouth heals, you do it all over again. 39 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,200 So one of the common misunderstandings I think we 40 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,400 have about love is that sometimes we feel like strong 41 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,960 feelings automatically mean that we're ready for something. 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,840 And desire and readiness are not the same thing, as we'll see 43 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,240 here. You can want something deeply. 44 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,800 You can want something in your heart of hearts and still not be 45 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,720 prepared to carry it well. I think a lot of times we pray 46 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,680 and we ask God to bring us something, but we're not really 47 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,680 worried about if we're able to carry it when it arrives. 48 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:26,680 And there's nothing worse than when a blessing arrives not 49 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,280 being able to handle it well. So before we move into the 50 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,480 Scriptures for tonight, I just want to say this really does 51 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,400 connect beautifully to the way that Paul talks about spiritual 52 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,200 growth in the New Testament. When Paul's writing about the 53 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,440 fruit of the Spirit, he does something that's pretty 54 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,800 interesting that would have stood out better to the ancient 55 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,000 readers than it does to us. And you've probably heard this, 56 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,640 but I would just tell you this. He doesn't speak about the 57 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:53,040 fruits of the Spirit. He talks about the fruit of the 58 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,400 Spirit, 1 singular fruit of the Spirit. 59 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,400 If you've got the Holy Spirit in your life, this fruit manifests. 60 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:02,720 It's one spirit producing one mature life that reveals itself 61 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,000 through a lot of different expressions. 62 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,080 And he says this, the Holy Spirit produces this kind of 63 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,200 fruit in our lives. Lovejoy, peace, patience, 64 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,520 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and 65 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,840 everybody's favorite self-control. 66 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Then you all said that like you were reading at a funeral. 67 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,440 But one of those expressions in the fruit of the Spirit is 68 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,600 patience. And in Scripture patience is 69 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,720 much richer than simply waiting without complaining. 70 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,760 The Greek word that Paul is using there is this is not in 71 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,280 your notes. This is a different study one 72 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,600 day, but it's macrothumia. It means long-suffering, 73 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,440 enduring, and the ability to remain faithful over time. 74 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,960 Is there any more graphic word to describe patients than 75 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,760 long-suffering? I mean, this idea fits this 76 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,440 section of Song of Songs so beautifully. 77 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,840 Because healthy love is not proven by this constant feeling 78 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,360 of urgency. It is proven through being 79 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,320 willing to prepare and steward it. 80 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,200 And the trust that you build is always strengthened through your 81 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,080 own restraint. You then approach somebody that 82 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,240 you love because you want to and not because you have to, and not 83 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,280 because they said it's their need and you just feel like you 84 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:12,840 have to meet their need or whatever. 85 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,440 So as we begin session three, we're going to discover healthy 86 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,560 love does not rush what should be cultivated. 87 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:21,079 It prepares and honors and waits. 88 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:25,360 The first few verses are from Song of Songs chapter 3, verses 89 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,720 6 through 11. It's prepared for promise. 90 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,000 We're not in the weird scriptures yet, but we're 91 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,040 getting there. So the young women of Jerusalem 92 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,920 say, who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud 93 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,120 of smoke? Who is it fragrant with myrrh 94 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,320 and frankincense and every kind of spice? 95 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,560 Look, it is Solomon's carriage, surrounded by 60 heroic men, the 96 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,920 best of Israel soldiers. They are all skilled swordsmen, 97 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,600 experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, 98 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,800 ready to defend the king against an attack in the night King. 99 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,040 Solomon's carriage is built of wood imported from Lebanon. 100 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,840 It's posts are silver, it's canopy gold, it's cushions are 101 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:06,920 purple. It was decorated with love by 102 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,760 the young women of Jerusalem. Last verse it says the young 103 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,720 woman says come out to see King Solomon young women of 104 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,920 Jerusalem. He wears the crown his mother 105 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,560 gave him on his wedding day, his most joyous day. 106 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,160 I'm going to be honest with you guys. 107 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,200 I'm going to be as vulnerable and transparent as I can be 108 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:24,600 tonight. When I was reading about each 109 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,960 one of them has a sword on their thigh, I thought that has got to 110 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,280 be a metaphor for something. It means swords. 111 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:32,840 It means swords, and we'll get to that. 112 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,920 I just want you to know that up until now, most of Song of Songs 113 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,440 is felt personal and relational, and we've watched attraction 114 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,120 wake up and the pursuit happened, all of this, but now 115 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:48,120 the private relationship is very visible as it's a fun word. 116 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:49,200 We'll just keep coming back to it. 117 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,840 As salacious as I thought that one metaphor was, when I read 118 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:56,560 this whole, like, pomp and circumstance thing, I'm actually 119 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,960 kind of picturing something closer, forgive me, of like, 120 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,600 Aladdin, when it's like Prince Ali coming through the streets. 121 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,880 It's like this big promenade of something happening, right? 122 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,240 So the language here feels royal, and that's probably 123 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,480 because we're talking about King Solomon. 124 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,440 But it's also intentionally royal because this moment is 125 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,160 meant to feel heavier than just two people that are attracted to 126 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:19,680 each other. These are people that are 127 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,680 publicly moving towards a covenant. 128 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,000 And so the scene starts with this question. 129 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,480 Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like columns of 130 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,160 smoke? That's deeper than you think it 131 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,080 is. Because in the Scripture, 132 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:34,880 wilderness often becomes the place where preparation happens 133 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,040 before arrival. Get ready for your blanks. 134 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,000 Israel wandered in the wilderness before entering the 135 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,600 Promised Land, didn't they? Moses spent years in the 136 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,560 wilderness before leading. David was matured in hidden 137 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,680 places before becoming king. Jesus overcame the devil's 138 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,200 temptations in the wilderness. In other words, what I'm getting 139 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,640 across you is this Wilderness seasons are never wasted in 140 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,320 Scripture. They are where identity and 141 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,520 trust and abilities are often built by the Lord before their 142 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,440 responsibility increases. So sweeping in from the 143 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,240 wilderness, you've got this person who's been prepared for 144 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,600 this relationship. So the scripture is describing 145 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,520 these clouds of perfume smoke rising with myrrh and 146 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,200 frankincense. And we went over this word 147 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,240 before, but the word that's translated as myrrh is more. 148 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,040 It's just pronounced more. It is a fragrant resin that was 149 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,120 associated with beauty and celebration and at times both 150 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,880 burial and sacrifice. Burial and sacrifice. 151 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,520 Frankincense comes from the Hebrew lavona. 152 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,720 Lavona means white incense or a fragrant offering. 153 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,840 A lot of times that was connected throughout the Old 154 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:51,240 Testament to worship and sacred moments, sacred moments. 155 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,240 When you put them together, they really create an atmosphere that 156 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,600 is nothing but intentional and set apart. 157 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,400 So healthy Love is not just about wanting something, it's 158 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,480 it's also about becoming ready for it. 159 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,200 And one of the themes that's running underneath this whole 160 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,560 section is preparation before promises. 161 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,520 Modern culture encourages people to chase outcomes while giving 162 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,600 very little thought to whether or not they're ready for the 163 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,560 actual outcome. The procession continues. 164 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,080 Here. We're introduced to Solomon's 165 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,720 carriage with all the 60 warriors carrying swords and 166 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:24,600 prepared to protect what matters. 167 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,640 That Hebrew word warriors comes from the word Gabor. 168 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,680 That's Gabor, and it's often used throughout the Old 169 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,799 Testament to describe mighty men, strong people, or those 170 00:08:33,799 --> 00:08:36,799 that are prepared for battle, for battle. 171 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,480 That detail might seem surprising in a love story 172 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,360 because in the middle of this you've got all these soldiers 173 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,320 walking in a parade, but you realize that they're trying to 174 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,040 communicate something that's important. 175 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,680 Love is being treated as valuable enough to guard. 176 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,960 And then it describes Solomon's carriage in great detail. 177 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,760 It's built from costly materials. 178 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,320 It's finished with intentional beauty. 179 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,560 In the Hebrew word that's translated his carriage, there 180 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:03,320 is a pyrion. It's a very rare word, not often 181 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,000 used in the Scriptures, but it's believed to describe a 182 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,920 ceremonial seat, ceremonial seat, or a traveling chamber 183 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,400 prepared for an honored moment. This was not a seat that just 184 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,200 anybody could sit. You were not calling shotgun in 185 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,600 this carriage. It was designed for somebody 186 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:23,080 with a specific moment. And so as you see all of this, 187 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,480 the emphasis on all this extravagance is not just because 188 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,280 Solomon's rich and he wants you to know it. 189 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,240 The emphasis here is that it's meaningful enough to prepare for 190 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,120 in advance. He didn't just wake up one day 191 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,000 and say, I like this chick and I think I'll marry her. 192 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,480 He has been planning. So that becomes even clearer 193 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,520 when you look at the final verse we were reading there where the 194 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,240 people are invited to look at Solomon wearing the crown that's 195 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,080 been placed there by his mother, says on the day of his wedding, 196 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,800 the day his heart rejoices. So the Hebrew word translated as 197 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,120 crown, there is a turret, A turret. 198 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,320 It means a crown, of course, a wreath or a symbol of honor, 199 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:00,800 even though it seems a lot smaller. 200 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,600 I want you to think about whenever you're, I don't know, 201 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,760 walking around amusement park and you see somebody wearing 202 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,760 that sash and it's like Bachelorette party or somebody 203 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,360 walks into Olive Garden and says, it's my birthday on a hat. 204 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,200 You know you, you know what they're there for. 205 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,280 It was a similar notation here. So this whole section pushes 206 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,840 against the idea that waiting means doing nothing. 207 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,040 Waiting in Scripture looks more like preparing than it looks 208 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,400 like putting your life on pause. So we have to allow our 209 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,560 character to mature before responsibility increases. 210 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:30,920 A lot of times we're asking God for these blessings. 211 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,600 We're not even preparing ourselves in the meantime to 212 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,360 handle what the blessing is when it comes. 213 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,040 What it means is we have to become the kind of person who 214 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:39,920 can carry what we're asking God to give us. 215 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,640 All right, the first 7 verses of chapter 4, we'll talk about 216 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:50,160 words that build. I don't know if I'll read this. 217 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,000 No, it's not that bad. The young man says, You're 218 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,400 beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. 219 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,200 Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. 220 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:06,120 Your hair falls in waves like a flock of goats winding down the 221 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,720 slopes of Gilead. Doesn't work the same way today, 222 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,440 but we'll talk about that, he said. 223 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,960 Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and 224 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,600 freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each 225 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,720 tooth matched with its twin, and your lips are like scarlet 226 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,680 ribbon. Your mouth is inviting, your 227 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,520 cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil, 228 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,040 and your neck is as beautiful as the Tower of David, jeweled with 229 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,080 the Shields of 1000 heroes. He said. 230 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,800 Your two breasts are like 2 fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle 231 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,640 grazing among the lilies. Before the dawn breezes blow and 232 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,080 the night shadows flee, I will hurry to the mountain of Myrrh 233 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,680 and to the hill of Frankincense. You are altogether beautiful, my 234 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:53,360 darling, beautiful in every way. No, no, it's the next one that 235 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:54,440 I'm really worried about reading. 236 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,920 Don't worry. But the ceremony here in the 237 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,560 anticipation kind of give way to something that is kind of 238 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:00,960 personal. At first you're looking at the 239 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,640 parade and all of a sudden it's like the camera zooms in and now 240 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,560 you've got this intimate moment where he says, hey, you're 241 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:08,840 looking good. And he gets very descriptive 242 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,800 with it. It's filled with imagery that 243 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,000 does feel unusual to modern readers. 244 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,680 And we make jokes about it. I have seen coffee mugs you can 245 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:19,080 buy online that say your hair is like a flock of goats and things 246 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,880 like this. But I want you to know, when 247 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,760 you're reading through this, eyes compared to doves and teeth 248 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,800 compared to sheep and all of this, if you read it with modern 249 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,320 ears only, some of the poetry feels strange. 250 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,000 But ancient Hebrew poetry, it's important that you know this. 251 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,440 It was not just from a different culture without modern 252 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,200 conveniences, it also worked differently than we consider 253 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,080 modern compliments to be. OK, so the goal was not simply 254 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,640 appearance. They're not just trying to say 255 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,520 that you're beautiful or sultry or hot or exotic or whatever. 256 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,640 They want to say All of these images that are mentioned here, 257 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:56,280 they all highlighted qualities. They all highlighted qualities 258 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,800 that people admired. We're talking about things like 259 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,440 health, vitality, gentleness, dignity, and yes, of course, on 260 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,720 top of all of that, beauty. In other words, this is not a 261 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,320 shallow attraction. Like he can't think of things to 262 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,920 say to her. He's specifically complimenting 263 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,480 her with things that sound beautiful for what they are, 264 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,280 beautiful for what they are, but also show these good qualities 265 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,200 as well. This is someone who's paying 266 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,080 careful attention and using words very specifically to 267 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,960 communicate value to somebody. That's really important to know 268 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,080 because one of the clearest themes in Song of Songs is that 269 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:32,600 healthy love is expressed. Healthy love is expressed. 270 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,000 This is something we've touched on a little bit before. 271 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,000 Feelings that are never spoken about eventually become 272 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,720 difficult for other people to experience, to experience. 273 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,720 One of the number one ways that marriages sometimes drift, even 274 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,440 Christian marriages, is sort of like, you've got one person 275 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,440 who's out making money, and they say, well, I've shown my love 276 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:53,960 all these years because I've provided. 277 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,160 And then they're like, yeah, but I never heard it from you. 278 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,560 And then in your mind, you might think, yeah, but if you heard it 279 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:01,240 from me and I didn't provide, that wouldn't be any good 280 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,240 either. And anytime I get into this 281 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:05,360 conversation with people, I always say, why does it have to 282 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,920 be 1 or the other? Why can you not provide but also 283 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:10,880 still speak? Because if you don't speak life 284 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,840 into somebody, don't get mad at them when they can't experience 285 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,680 the life from you either. Does that make sense? 286 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,760 So the man repeatedly is telling this woman when he sees her, 287 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,320 this he, he doesn't assume she already knows. 288 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,280 In fact, the repeated phrase that you see so often here, 289 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,640 you're beautiful, comes from that Hebrew word yafei, which 290 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,520 does mean beautiful or lovely or pleasing. 291 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,960 It also means attractive, like he's drawn to her. 292 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,360 But just remember this, that in Hebrew thought beauty reached 293 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,840 beyond appearance alone, beauty. When they would say you're 294 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,240 beautiful, it often included their character, their goodness, 295 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,720 or the idea of something being made whole. 296 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,360 And that helps us read the section a little bit better if 297 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,760 you're paying attention to it. One of the details that stands 298 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,160 out the most is in verse 7 when he says you're all together 299 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,480 beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. 300 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,400 He repeats the word intentionally, But that phrase 301 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,120 there that's translated all together carries the whole idea 302 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,600 of completeness or fullness. And this is important for any 303 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,120 Christian to know. The Hebrew word used there, 304 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,440 which is Tom. It means complete, whole sound 305 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,280 or mature. Mature. 306 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,760 You know what it doesn't mean? It doesn't mean flawless. 307 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,880 It doesn't mean perfect. That's the way that we go. 308 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,400 Now. Ed Sheeran wrote a song about 309 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,320 it. We say flawless or perfect when 310 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:26,680 we're trying to describe somebody. 311 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,320 But being whole or complete does not mean being perfect. 312 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,320 Having integrity doesn't mean you never screw up or never have 313 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,680 a bad thought. And in the same way he's trying 314 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,120 to say you are the whole package. 315 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,560 I love every part of you. He's not saying she doesn't have 316 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,920 any flaws, but too many people, and I'm sure that some of them 317 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,720 are in the room tonight. Too many people struggle to 318 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,880 receive love. Well, some people assume they 319 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,640 have to become more impressive before they're actually lovable. 320 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,520 Some people believe that they're expect accepted despite their 321 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,080 flaws and they've learned to be grateful. 322 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,560 Well, I know I've got these big flaws, but you accepted me 323 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:04,520 anyway and that means a lot. Both are wrong. 324 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,360 And Song of Songs, this woman has already spoken about her 325 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,600 insecurity in a previous lesson that we were talking about. 326 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,160 She's already questioned herself and hidden among the rocks, but 327 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,880 now she's being looked at and spoken to intentionally, with 328 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,280 dignity and with honour. And that's a reminder. 329 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,160 I, I can't stress this enough, healthy love is, is often built 330 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,120 through words. I don't care if it's your 331 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,560 friendship, your family, your spouse, your kids. 332 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,480 Relationships are always built through the language that's 333 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,520 used. And if your language doesn't 334 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,400 include anything that builds them up, then your relationship 335 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,320 is being built by whatever those words are. 336 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,360 If they're bad words, it's going to be bad. 337 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,320 If they're neutral words, your relationship is going to be 338 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:42,720 neutral. So it just depends on what kind 339 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,480 of relationship you want. But I'll tell you this, 340 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:49,160 encouragement always builds security, gratitude always 341 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,640 builds closeness, honour always builds trust. 342 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:58,080 Now, in contrast, silence, constant criticism, contempt, or 343 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,160 even just being careless with your words, they will erode 344 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,200 everything that they touch. It's a different study, but 345 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,079 Proverbs tells us that life and death are in the power of the 346 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:11,079 anybody tongue. And the Song of songs that we're 347 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:13,280 reading through shows what life giving words look like when 348 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:14,640 they're actually put into practice. 349 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,640 So remember, these concepts also extend past romantic 350 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,280 relationships. Married people can forget to 351 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,640 speak what they appreciate because they assume years 352 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,319 together make the words unnecessary. 353 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,400 They're actually more necessary. If somebody has given you 354 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,040 decades of their life, how about you just say thank you? 355 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:31,880 Just start there and go from there. 356 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,960 Single people a lot of times will speak more criticism over 357 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,360 themselves than they would ever allow towards someone else, and 358 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:41,560 they do this because they're judge mental over their own 359 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,400 place in life. But I want you to know, probably 360 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,120 most importantly spiritually, a lot of believers find it easier 361 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,840 to believe criticism than affirmation. 362 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,920 A lot of believers find it easier to believe criticism than 363 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,880 affirmation and struggle to receive what God says about 364 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,240 them. If you are not using your words 365 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,400 to build people up, I don't know if you've ever thought about it 366 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,680 this way. You're actually priming them to 367 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,400 be resistant when they read a scripture where God is building 368 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,160 them up as well. Let people hear when you can see 369 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,480 the goodness of God in them and help encourage them and pull 370 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:13,120 them up. Amen. 371 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:19,000 All right, now we're going to go to verses 8 through 15. 372 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,720 This is, we'll call it the garden stays closed. 373 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:28,560 Somebody, somebody thought, this is what I came for. 374 00:18:32,360 --> 00:18:35,520 I'm trying to think if I should read it out loud or just I'm 375 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:37,120 going to do it. All right. 376 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:40,920 Oh, my gosh. I got it all right. 377 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,800 I'm not ashamed of God's Word, all right? 378 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,240 All right. Come with me from Lebanon, my 379 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,080 bride. Come with me from Lebanon. 380 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,760 Come down from Mount Amana, from the peaks of Senir and Herman, 381 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,960 where the lions have their dens and leopards. 382 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:59,200 Leopards live among the hills. You've captured my heart, my 383 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:00,520 treasure. My bride. 384 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,400 You hear how he's. She's called a bride now, right? 385 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,080 You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a 386 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:11,800 single jewel of your necklace. Your love delights me, my 387 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,720 treasure, my bride, your. Your love is better than wine, 388 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:16,840 he says. Your perfume is more fragrant 389 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,840 than spices, he said. Your lips are as sweet as 390 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,840 nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your 391 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,120 tongue. Your clothes are scented like 392 00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:30,600 the Cedars of Lebanon, he says. You are my private garden, my 393 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,520 treasure, my bride. A secluded spring, a hidden 394 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:38,400 fountain, Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with 395 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:43,400 rare spices, henna with nard, nard and saffron, fragrant 396 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,760 calamus and cinnamon with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh 397 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,080 and aloes and every other lovely spice. 398 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,160 You are a garden fountain, A well of freshwater streaming 399 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,880 down from Lebanon's mountains. Y'all did a good job. 400 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,840 This section is one of the most misunderstood and important 401 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,000 passages in the entire book of Song of Songs because the 402 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,480 imagery is it's it is very intimate, but it's also 403 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,040 incredibly restrained. And as modern readers, we can 404 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,640 sometimes rush through this and say, thighs, right? 405 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,720 Song of Songs is doing something that is so much richer here. 406 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,640 This section is not celebrating either distance or fear. 407 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,800 It's showing us that healthy love understands that some 408 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,760 things are more beautiful when they are protected before they 409 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,680 are shared. Some things are more beautiful 410 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,640 when they are protected before they are shared. 411 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,080 So repeatedly, the man here says, come with me. 412 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,920 All right, so consistently, we've gone through these 413 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:45,920 invitations. You know, you can see intimacy 414 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:47,600 as invitations rather than demands. 415 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:49,880 Earlier, she was invited out of hiding. 416 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:51,920 Later, she'll offer herself freely. 417 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:53,760 We'll get to that. But nothing in this 418 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,160 relationship, I want you to notice was forced forward. 419 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,040 That pattern is especially important because the 420 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,000 relationship is moving toward deeper closeness. 421 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,840 Even a modern relationship. Sometimes we get into arguments 422 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,040 with each other over this is my need and this is my need, and 423 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,640 then we begrudgingly say, well I'll do this, but it's because 424 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,120 it's your need. I'm doing it for you. 425 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:17,480 Do you feel loved yet? You see the problem there? 426 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:20,440 The Hebrew word translated has come. 427 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:24,280 There is simply the word Bo. It's one of the most common 428 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,280 Hebrew words in Scripture, and it means to enter or arrive, to 429 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,960 arrive or move forward. All throughout the Old 430 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,040 Testament, this word will appear at moments of transition. 431 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,760 So it's not just inviting somebody somewhere, It's when 432 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,080 something is changing, this word is used. 433 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,800 And so when people come into covenant or they come into the 434 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,560 promise or they come into new seasons, that gives this 435 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,960 invitation, what he's calling her to a little bit more than 436 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,680 just a simple invitation to physical romance. 437 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,440 The man then describes leaving places like Lebanon and all 438 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,840 these other mountains. And that's because the details 439 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,680 again, can feel very agricultural and, and and weird 440 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,520 to us. But mountains in scripture often 441 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,720 represent distance, challenge or elevated places that are 442 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,640 difficult to remain in. And then by the same token, 443 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,560 lions and leopards, they represent danger and 444 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:17,440 vulnerability. So this is not just meant to be 445 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,360 a geographic lesson. These are mountains. 446 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:22,360 They would have all understood. And the call here is once again, 447 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:25,960 relational love is calling people out of places where fear 448 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,240 and self protection and distance have become normal. 449 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,280 That's pretty deep when you think about it, right? 450 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,920 So he's calling her away from the mountains and the lions and 451 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,760 all of this like I'm calling you out of distance and fear and 452 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,080 danger. It's safe here. 453 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,360 Well, when you understand that, it makes it sound different. 454 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,600 But the language does shift pretty dramatically after that. 455 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,960 When he says you've captured my heart, it sounds like she didn't 456 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,400 even have really have to try hard. 457 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,200 You notice how little it took there one glance, one 458 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,720 expression, one moment of connection and a song of songs. 459 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,440 Even here is pushing against the idea that love is primarily 460 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,400 transactional. Love always notices the object 461 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,640 of its affection. But the word there translated as 462 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,400 garden is gone. Gone. 463 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,600 It means an enclosed garden or a cultivated place or a protected 464 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:15,520 place, a protected place. So we talked about gardens, I 465 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:17,080 think, in every single session so far. 466 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:21,080 But gardens in the ancient world were incredibly valuable, like 467 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,520 we talked about before, you know, with vineyards as well. 468 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,600 Vineyards and gardens you don't really have out in the wild. 469 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,080 Things grow in the wild, but you can't call it a garden because 470 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,560 it's not cultivated. And so they require intentional 471 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,520 care and boundaries and patients. 472 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,680 And so using the terminology of a garden is very intentional. 473 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,440 Here. An enclosed garden was not 474 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,880 hidden because it lacked beauty. It was enclosed because what's 475 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:46,000 in there is valuable and it's being protected from others As 476 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,280 they continue here, there's another phrase there, a secluded 477 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,040 spring or hidden fountain. The the word that's translated 478 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,080 as spring there is Mayan, which does mean spring or source or 479 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,120 flowing water. But water imagery throughout 480 00:23:57,120 --> 00:23:59,480 Scripture is, is usually something that points towards 481 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:01,080 life. I meant to give you a blank 482 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,800 there. I think you got a freebie and 483 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,360 you're welcome. It can also mean refreshment and 484 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:11,240 blessing combined together. That imagery is really cool 485 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,200 because the woman is not being described as like inaccessible. 486 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,840 She's being described as valuable. 487 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,640 And that distinction matters because Scripture never presents 488 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,760 boundaries as fear. Boundaries are only for things 489 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:27,120 of great value. So spiritually, the imagery 490 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:28,680 reaches even further throughout Scripture. 491 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,320 Gardens. There's your blank. 492 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,480 Gardens become places of meeting with God. 493 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,080 Remember Eden? Eden was a garden. 494 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,880 Gethsemane was a garden. Gardens become places where life 495 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:41,800 grows and relationships grow deeper. 496 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,800 God himself does not force intimacy. 497 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,160 Does not force intimacy. He just invites us to it. 498 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,680 He calls us into it, and that crazy God will never stalk you. 499 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,760 Renewing our minds means we have to learn that protecting what's 500 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,880 valuable is not fear, it's wisdom. 501 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,600 Healthy love is not proven by how quickly everything is 502 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,720 opened. It's revealed by knowing what 503 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,960 should be cultivated, what should be trusted, and what 504 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,960 becomes stronger because it was actually handled carefully. 505 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,240 All right, last few verses here. This is called opened by trust. 506 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,520 Now again in two weeks, I'm going to give you a little bit 507 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:22,840 of a different breakdown. So you've got some terms that 508 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,480 you're armed with. But in the meantime, I think 509 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:25,640 you'll understand what they're saying. 510 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,600 I think you'll you'll pick up what they're putting down. 511 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:33,320 The young woman says, awake north wind rise up S wind blow 512 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,680 on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. 513 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,920 Come into your garden, my love, taste its finest fruits. 514 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,800 And he says I've entered my garden, my treasure, my bride. 515 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,000 I gather Myr with my spices and eat honeycomb with my honey. 516 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,760 I drink wine with my milk. And then the young women say 517 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,680 lover and beloved. Eat and drink. 518 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,840 Drink deeply of your love. This section is a huge 519 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,040 transition in Song of Songs because for the very first time 520 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:05,360 in this book, you're seeing an invitation that is fully mutual. 521 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,800 It wasn't pushed against, but now it is fully mutual. 522 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,440 They are discussing it with one another. 523 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:12,840 Up until now, a lot of it was pursuit. 524 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,360 Well, pursuit involves one person moving and the other 525 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:19,320 person chasing them. This one, they are completely 526 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,720 coming together and love has been developing intentionally 527 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,200 and now something has changed. It moves from longing to 528 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,880 response. What has been cultivated begins 529 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:32,120 to open. So Song of Songs keeps showing 530 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:35,120 us that healthy love is never portrayed as something that is 531 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,880 taken for granted or rushed. The woman starts by saying awake 532 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,120 to the north wind and rise up to the South wind. 533 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,840 And when she says blow on my garden, spread the fragrance all 534 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,320 around that returns to that garden language that we explored 535 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,120 earlier. There's something important that 536 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:51,800 has changed here and I want you to understand what it is. 537 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,400 Earlier that garden was closed and it was what what was the 538 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,440 word? The garden was protected. 539 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,720 It was protected. It was isolated. 540 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,840 But if you notice now the wind is able to affect it. 541 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,440 So now she's saying wind come in from the north, come in from. 542 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:08,440 She's asking for this to happen. And that's because now the woman 543 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,080 herself invites the wind to enter. 544 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,360 And that detail is easy to miss, but it changes the whole tone. 545 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:17,320 What was guarded before is now willingly opened and accessible, 546 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,920 right? And she calls for the wind to 547 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:23,160 move through the garden. The Hebrew word for wind is 548 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,600 ruach, and it is one of the richest words in the Hebrew 549 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,080 language. We've used this before. 550 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,560 It can mean wind or breath or spirit depending on context. 551 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,920 Probably every time I ever heard my pastor use ruach, it was 552 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,000 talking about the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. 553 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,800 Same word was used for multiple meanings back then. 554 00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:42,840 All throughout Scripture, Ruach would appear at moments where 555 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:47,720 something living begins moving or where unseen forces bring a 556 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,560 visible change. And what's been cultivated 557 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:52,840 privately is now being expressed outwardly. 558 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,640 So she then says, let my lover enter his garden and eat its 559 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,600 finest fruits. To me, when I first read this 560 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,760 book, it was, it was immature for me. 561 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,360 I was like, oh, I was focusing on let him eat the finest 562 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:06,120 fruits. I get it. 563 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,000 Do you know what the biggest thing is here? 564 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,800 Do you notice that she willingly describes it as his garden? 565 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,640 First time his garden. That's Your blank Song of Songs 566 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,000 has consistently emphasized mutual belonging this whole 567 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,000 time. She's talked about her vineyard, 568 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:24,840 her garden. If you remember, early on she 569 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,000 said, she said, sorry that my skin's a little darker than you 570 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:29,320 think. I've been out working in my 571 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,920 brother's vineyard and I've not been able to tend to my own 572 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,200 vineyard. Her own vineyard meant her own 573 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,760 personal care. So vineyard and garden was a 574 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:38,400 personal thing. And she's talked about her 575 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:40,080 garden, and he's talked about her garden. 576 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:41,400 And now she's saying, guess what? 577 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,520 It's your garden. That moment shows healthy 578 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:48,520 intimacy so much better than the idea of I have to do this 579 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:51,680 because I made a commitment. The Hebrew word translated as 580 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,480 fruit there, by the way, is the word Paris. 581 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,720 It means fruit or produce or the visible results of cultivation. 582 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,400 Cultivation. You've worked on something and 583 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,720 this was the reward. This is what came fruit in 584 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:09,000 Scripture, just like today is is really not immediate feels like 585 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,160 that because we got grocery stores and we can go and get 586 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,480 fruit at any time. But we all understand how fruit 587 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,400 has grown right? Slowly, deliberately. 588 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,440 It reveals what's been happening beneath the surface for a very 589 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:25,080 long time. And then chapter 5 opens with a 590 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,840 response where he says I have entered my garden. 591 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,040 The language that follows there is talking about gathering 592 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,680 myrrh, enjoying honey and drinking wine and milk. 593 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,240 All of those images are rich with this idea of abundance. 594 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:38,880 I've got plenty. I'm celebrating. 595 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,840 And the Hebrew word translated this honey there is devash, 596 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,680 which is normally associated throughout the Old Testament 597 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:48,360 with sweetness or blessing, blessing or fullness. 598 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,560 And the point is not, hey, we're partying. 599 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,360 We're going to live it up. I remember at our honeymoon, I 600 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,880 remember us driving home and we could not help ourselves. 601 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,720 We had this little like box like a lot of people do with like you 602 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,320 can drop like a card in there or something. 603 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:01,680 And we were like, we're going on our honeymoon. 604 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:03,520 Let's see how much money we're taking to this. 605 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:05,320 Where can we afford to eat while we're there? 606 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,680 This, the whole point here is not excess. 607 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,440 The whole point is that there's blessing and the point is 608 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:14,360 enjoyment without shame, without shame. 609 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,880 Who doesn't want relationships without shame? 610 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,520 Especially unmarried or single people. 611 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,960 Let this be a reminder to you. The boundaries are not barriers 612 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,720 to your intimacy, they just prepare you for it. 613 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:29,560 OK? Renewing our minds here means 614 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:31,960 that we have to learn. Vulnerability is not something 615 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,960 that you owe people, and trust is not something that people 616 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:36,640 earn instantly. I was talking about this 617 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,080 recently with somebody. I feel like as a believer, I 618 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,560 feel like transparency is something we owe to the world. 619 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,280 Vulnerability you use your discernment with. 620 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,920 And there is a difference. Song of Songs here is reminding 621 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:53,280 us that opening is not weakness when trust has been formed well 622 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:54,720 enough. And so in a lot of ways, the 623 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,600 deepest forms of love are not created through intense moments 624 00:30:57,600 --> 00:30:59,280 or anything. They're just by becoming safe 625 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:02,960 enough to be known and wise enough to to know who to trust. 626 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:06,240 Well, this last section is a little bit shorter. 627 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:08,360 It's just the the remainder of that first verse. 628 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:11,880 We've already read it, but the final section is short and it 629 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,640 carries so much significance. As a matter of fact, it was 630 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:17,280 crazy as I was reading through this with my kids this morning. 631 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,600 Because in the Bible reading, it just so happens that today's 632 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:25,360 Bible reading ends exactly where tonight's Bible study is, which 633 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:30,400 is insane. It matters that it ends right 634 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:31,880 here. And yes, it was fun reading 635 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:36,240 through it with my children. In case you're curious, this is 636 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,760 the payoff, right, guys? Verse one starts the payoff. 637 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,320 After everything that we've seen this couple go through, the 638 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,640 relationship finally arrives at a celebration. 639 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,640 Celebration. What they've been cultivating is 640 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,680 now getting enjoyed openly. The last words that you see in 641 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,920 verse one, they're from the young women of Jerusalem. 642 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:56,760 And some of us know that, some of us don't. 643 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:58,720 But the way that it used to be, there would be a marital tent. 644 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:01,520 And the way it was described to me initially is, you know, 645 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,120 they'd go into the wedding tent and then all of the people of, 646 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,640 of, of that villager at the wedding would then circle around 647 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:08,520 the tent so they could go in and consummate the marriage. 648 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:11,320 And I remember hearing that and thinking, that's really creepy, 649 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:14,280 right? Well, they weren't standing 650 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,120 right outside of the tent. Like, let me see if we do you 651 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,720 hear anything? It's not what it was, but they 652 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,600 would circle around where they were going to make things 653 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:26,200 official because they were as a community being protective over 654 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:29,560 something that was so beautiful and so wonderfully put together, 655 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:31,360 right. What is still one of the 656 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,760 enduring things that that is said at many a wedding ceremony? 657 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:38,120 What God has joined together, let no man separate. 658 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:40,800 When that is said at a wedding, that is not just for the bride 659 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,480 and the groom and it's not just for the wedding party. 660 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,600 Just so you all know, if you've been in attendance at a wedding, 661 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,960 it's being said to you too protect those marital covenants 662 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:49,800 because they're a picture of Christ in his church. 663 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,240 Not in my notes, but I felt like I needed to say that. 664 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,720 As we said previously, there's no shame in healthy love, no 665 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:00,640 embarrassment, no hesitation, just gratitude and delight. 666 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:04,560 And so many people have been taught unhealthy extremes feel 667 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:06,960 like so many people have been taught unhealthy extremes when 668 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,040 it comes to love and intimacy. Some have been taught to treat 669 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:14,000 desire without wisdom. Just, you know, you wouldn't buy 670 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,480 a car without test driving it, right? 671 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:21,720 So you got to go and do this. Some have been taught to, I 672 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,320 don't know, almost like close up completely when when they hear 673 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,560 anything about intimacy, there's nothing positive about it to 674 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:28,720 them at all. And it leaves them the 675 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,800 impression that physical closeness with somebody should 676 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:35,080 always be awkward or dangerous or some sort of like spiritually 677 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,760 sinful. I have talked to people before 678 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,960 who are like, I'm in a marital covenant, but I still feel like 679 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:41,640 it's wrong and like I shouldn't be doing this. 680 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,000 And I man, you got some baggage to unpack. 681 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:47,320 Song of Songs is showing that true covenant love being 682 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,520 celebrated should always be as a gift rather than hidden as a 683 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:53,360 mistake. The Hebrew word that's 684 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:56,040 translated this honeycomb here is no fet. 685 00:33:56,640 --> 00:34:00,240 No fet. It talks about dripping honey or 686 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:03,760 sweetness that is overflowing. But this is important naturally, 687 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,600 naturally. So it's not you pouring honey 688 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,480 until your cup runneth over or whatever. 689 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,360 But if you've ever pulled a honeycomb out and you've seen 690 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,360 that, right, you pull the honeycomb out, it's just 691 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:17,040 overflowing, even though it's got all those nice little 692 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,639 circles in there, right? Not circles, but nice little 693 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:21,760 enclaves, you know, to hold all of the honey. 694 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:25,480 It just goes all over the place. And in the ancient world, honey 695 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:26,800 represented all of that blessing. 696 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,199 Like we talked about, this is the same idea. 697 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,400 Healthy love is meant to bring life. 698 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,920 It overflows just on its own. You don't have to make it. 699 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:37,960 And then when you see the final line where they're all saying 700 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:39,520 lover and beloved, eat and drink. 701 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:43,239 Drink deeply of your love. A lot of scholars really believe 702 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:45,560 that final statement comes from the surrounding voices in this 703 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:47,440 song. Remember, this was a song that 704 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,960 would be sang and performed. That's why it's called Song of 705 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:52,360 songs. But this part would almost be 706 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,280 like the chorus celebrating the relationship. 707 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,760 If you're a fan of musicals, I want you to picture that the 708 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:58,800 main characters have just stepped off stage. 709 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,480 And then the chorus steps in and they sweep in, and they 710 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,040 celebrate this moment publicly the way that a community should. 711 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,000 That's what it is. Earlier in Song of Songs, we saw 712 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:10,960 healthy relationships carry integrity, both privately and 713 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,280 publicly. That idea returns here. 714 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,960 So Scripture is showing that God is not opposed to joy. 715 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,520 God is not opposed to joy, and most people wouldn't say he is. 716 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:24,720 We just act like it sometimes. But God is opposed to the kinds 717 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:29,720 of choices that destroy joy. So healthy relationships, 718 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:34,560 healthy intimacy, healthy trust, and healthy covenant always 719 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,680 createspace for gratitude and mutual delight instead of 720 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:39,840 leaving us feeling regret and confusion. 721 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:43,880 If you are watching online, this is where we will wrap up the 722 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:45,920 live stream. We've got a time here in person 723 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,480 of of a group discussion with some questions and then we'll 724 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:50,920 jump into worship at the end of the evening.