Becoming One

Song of Solomon 8:5-8

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

My, the Song has been engaged in some fierce talking about somebody; never mind the fact that Solomon could speak for himself. How many of you know spouses that might have some silly notions about each other and the Lord. Then something happens; we see the Song is going about being led by her husband like a little child herself. It is almost as if he finds her much silliness to be funny. Then he chides her gently as one would tease a wayward child. Solomon says, 'you talk fiercely, yet you came up leaning upon me.' Not only that but Solomon and the Lord taught her everything she needed to know. Even from the ancient times, she was of the house of Israel initially. This is how Haddad, Solomon's arch nemesis, was a half prince of Edom and Israel. This is how he says he could raise her "up under the apple tree."

I do not know if you have ever heard the saying about the apple falling from the tree. But in this as in most, it does not get very far away. It might be a half, a step, a cousin, an uncle, or even a wayward archangel but God is the author of all. See, it was man that got it twisted. But even in his house, he has arranged some people who will guide, nurture, and tell you the truth. Just as the fruit did not give birth to the tree, so there is something to be known here. See, the Song did not bear herself. This is how nonsense spreads from generation to generation of Deuteronomy 11:19. The parents taught it to their children who in turn told it even unto theirs. So also, we see the plan of God for correcting the generations. Right teaching and right living must begin somewhere. Why not today with you and your house. You ought to, as did Solomon and his Song, purpose to serve the Lord of Joshua 24:15. Not only that but so they taught the people under their care.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

My, it is like listening to two love birds chirping back and forth. The Song here has an awful lot to say in such a short space. You might be inclined to say, 'does it matter who is speaking?' Why in fact, it does. Would it not matter to you if your spouse, the therapist, the Lord, or a random person were giving you advice and you knew not who. I think it would very much matter to me. The Song wants to be set as even the military insignia on the arm and the breast of Solomon. For then he would serve her and bear her colors before the world. She says her love is as "strong as death" and her jealousy is as "cruel as the grave." So, she wishes all the people to know she has learned her lessons well. When he comes before them to minister, he has both her approval and the Lord's. She is also with him wherever he goes even down to the grave. As we will soon see, she will be with him even as the thief on the cross. Luke 23:43 promises him paradise with Jesus that day. Notice how she does not demand his worship. Such a thing is reserved for God alone. Were he but a coal of the fire on the altar of God in Isaiah 6:6, yet still would they burn forth once more. How many of you know that once coals have known flame, they are almost impossible to put out. Even if God should send a testing, yet would they remain faithful to him and each other. Here the Song compares love to a force as powerful as hell itself. Only we know that love itself is of God in 1 John 4:7. Thus, the force of Heaven can overcome the grave and hell itself for the people of God.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

How many know those who have tried to buy love, power, and the gifts of the Spirit. In this life and the one to come such a thing does not work out very well. Romans 6:23 says it is because they know not "the gift of God." Such a gift is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." If earthly love is precious, imagine how much more is the eternal love story between God and man. It is an unfair trade indeed. Nor is it one that many are likely to make when put this way. Yet we see it happen every day. See, even if the house was condemned to hell for all of eternity, yet still love would remain within. This is why you need the wisdom and constraint of God. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says the love of Christ does both. It keeps you if you will. When there is God in the house, he alone will keep it. It will not suffer loss because of Psalm 127:1. Nor would any loved within the house be lost when you commit them unto the Lord. For he who has called us is faithful as in 1 Thessalonians 5:24.

He will also bring our expectation to pass. Some of you need to stop staying up all night worrying because your spouse or your kids are not doing right. Commit them unto the Lord of Psalm 34:5. He will keep them for you. Even if the devil himself should send forth a flood, the house will still stand because of the Lord. My friends, this is a gospel call, a cry at midnight if you will. Even so it is a testimony to the goodness of God. This is why "many waters cannot quench love." You might be like the disciples rowing on the lake alone all night; Luke 5:5 said they caught nothing. You might be crying yourself to sleep at night as did David in Psalm 6:6 for what he had done. But when you have the Lord, there will be love in that house. No devil in hell or angel of God can stop it. What he has for you, will be for you. Whatever blessing he has brought to your house will remain. There it will also prosper because of the Lord.

We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

Here we see their much ministry has yielded fruit. Their house has grown to include a little sister. You might know which situation this is. If you will recall, Jeroboam was the little sister spoken of here. The text says little sister, but it could apply to a little brother as well. See the little sister had a problem. Besides being little, she also had no breasts. Just as she had no breasts, she also had no compassion. See, the Song had been calling out to the daughters of Jerusalem for them to join the Lord's house. How many of you know that both the daughters of Jerusalem and Jeroboam served not the Lord as history would soon show. So also, they were very cruel to their extended family scattered around. Now the little sister has been adopted into the house of God. She has been brought into the house of the kingdom. But how many of you know there are still some issues in the house. She is of the house of faith, but she still has no breasts. It is the picture of the unjust judge and the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. She, having nothing, kept coming to him that had everything. Finally, he was wearied of her and granted her petition. God is not like some of you. Those of you that are parents without breasts know how hard it is to bear a child. Some of you even know the feeling yourselves. It is a picture of a baby screaming for milk, warmth, and a cuddle but finding none. So, when she "shall be spoken for" there will be problems. This is one of those, give God space to work times. It takes him some time to develop the little sister. So, he allows her to grow up both naturally and spiritually in the Lord. Some of you might have once been the little adopted sister causing drama yourselves. Some of you might have been the long-suffering eldest sisters and brothers. Regardless, God is in the house; he is the administrator thereof. How many of you know that nothing will ever be the same again.