Sermon - Aspects of Covenental Love

Aspects of Covenantal Love (Song of Solomon 8:5-7) Schedule

Introduction
1. Dependency (Song of Solomon 8v5a)
2. Data (Song of Solomon 8v5b)
3. Desire (Song of Solomon 8v6)
4. Devotion (Song of Solomon 8v7)
How can we respond?

Song of Solomon 8:5-7 Friends

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning on her beloved? She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
there your mother conceived you,
there she who was in labour gave you birth. 6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
he would be utterly scorned.
Introduction

We started this journey together at Song of Solomon 2:3-14 and Life under the Apple Tree. We saw together that Jesus, the tremendous lover, wants to hear the voice of His people and to be their king. Then  we continued the journey, looking at Song of Solomon 5:9 - 6:9. There we saw together that Jesus is the best of the best and that Jesus is altogether lovely in every aspect - his birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exultation, holiness, glorification, grace, protection, tenderness, power, wisdom, vengeance, judgment, redemption and pardon! Altogether: lovely and glorious.

There are 3 main ways to interpret this book. Firstly as a story about the joys of biblical love between a man and woman. That bit even I can see. Some would say that it was erotic, but as a white Australian male, I just don't see it! Secondly, the earliest commentators and readers saw it as an allegory about God's love for His people Israel, particularly with their coming Messiah in mind. The third way shows that this Song of Songs speaks not only on a physical level about the importance of human love and intimacy between a man and a woman, but also the intimacy that exists, blossoms and grows between a person and Jesus Christ.

Martin Luther called it the "noblest of all songs". Historically this book has been interpreted in 3 ways We move on tonight, to perhaps, what could be considered the key verses of this book. The couple have now entered a covenantal relationship - a relationship committed to one another.

So please do open your bibles and let us read the Song of Solomon 8:5-7. These three verses are the key verses of the Song of Solomon or the Song of Songs as other people call it. As the couple, the Lover and the Beloved, have now entered into a Covenant of love, we are, tonight, going to look at 4 Dimensions of Covenantal Love. A Covenant is a contract - a promise. Throughout Old Testament history, God had made covenants with people - people such as Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses. The original readers and commentators would have known that and understood that.

Right mouse click or tap here to download the MP3 file of this sermon. For Song of Solomon 2 "Life Under The Apple Tree" please do visit: http://davegroberts.podbean.com/e/songofsongs01/

For Song of Solomon 5 "He Is The Best Of The Best" please do visit: http://davegroberts.podbean.com/e/songofsongs02/