Homecoming Message
Sunday, October 31, 1999   

The bride that we find in the Song of Songs is a local, visible bride and is a picture of the local church.

As we look at the opening verses of this beautiful book, I pray that our hearts will be stirred to fervently love the Lord and the church. The Bible says: "...Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). Let us too love the church that He loves.

I. Verse 2, INTENSE DESIRES

      A. "Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth...."

           1. A kiss is to be a demonstration, an expression of pure, sincere, undefiled love a token of true affection.

           2. The church, the Bride, should sincerely desire to be close to Jesus.

                a. There are several types of kisses spoken of in the Bible:

                    1) The "holy kiss" of salute (Romans 16:1-b).

                    2) The kiss of betrayal (Matt 26:48).

                    3) The kiss of forgiveness (Luke 15:20).

                b. The kiss desired by the bride is an intimate kiss.

                c. There is only one that qualifies as "Him." He is the one she desires and longs for.

                     1) Remember that no one can kiss two persons at the same time. To be intimate with the Lord, we must forsake the world. And you will never have the strength to fully forsake the world without commitment to the church.

                     2) The kiss spoken of here expresses a desire for a closer walk, for a close relationship for spiritual growth, a desire to go further than she has before in her love.

                     3. The Psalmist expresses the desire expressed here in Psalm 42:1-2.

           4. Oh, for a kiss!

                a. There are some of you who need a kiss from God's Son. Comes of you desire this kiss, but others have grown cold and indifferent.

                b. There are others of you who are not saved. You need to kiss the Son of God; you need to believe on the Lord Jesus (Psalm 2:12).

      B. "...For thy love is better than wine...."

           1. Wine excites, intoxicates, inflames, and inebriates.

           2. Wine is here symbolic of the exhilarating and sensuous pleasures of the world.

           3. The Bride says: "Thy love is better than wine."

                a. The saved take more pleasure in loving Christ and being loved by Him than they do in anything the world can offer. He satisfies!

                b. Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than the best entertainment the world can give you.

                c. You'll never have the kisses of His mouth, never experience true closeness as long as you crave the world.

           4. The love of Christ is better than wine.

                a. When we personalize Gal. 2:20, we can see what the Bride is saying.

                b. "The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell."

II. Verse 3, INCOMPARABLE NAME

      A. "Thy name is an ointment poured forth."

           1. Ointment is used to soothe, to heal, to comfort, and for sweet fragrance.

           2. To the church, the name Jesus is all of these. The church os to preach Jesus.

                a. His name on her lips, in her heart brings comfort in her loneliness, peace and assurance in here conflicts, and healing when her heart is broken.

                b. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus There’s just something about that name.

                c. Let us never forget our responsibility as a church to Jesus Christ to keep Him at the center of everything.

           3. Truly his name is "as ointment poured forth."

                a. His name is the saving name "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:2; Acts 4:12).

                b. His name is the exalted name Philippians 2:9-11.

                c. "Jesus, oh how sweet the name, Jesus, everyday the same; Jesus, let all saints proclaim His worthy praise forever."

           4. The true spiritual influence of a church is determined by the place she gives to that Name in her ministry.

      B. Therefore do the virgins love thee."

           1. His name draws others to Himself.

           2. The church is to be in the business of preaching Jesus so others will be drawn to Him.

III. Verse 4, INTERCESSION FOR NEARNESS

      A. The influence of the Bridegroom over the Bride should be unceasing.

           1. First, we are drawn to salvation (John 6:44).

           2. Then the desire of the Bride is to be drawn nearer to Christ.

                a. Draw me she cries, else I move not, overpower the world and the flesh that would draw me from you is her prayer.

                b. "Run" this denotes eagerness of desire, readiness of affection.

                     1) A spiritual church is eager to follow Jesus.

                     2) May the Lord enlarge our heart for ministry (Psalm 119:32).

                c. If His influence does not draw us after Him, there are many other influences to draw us away.

      B. "The king hath brought me into his chamber."

           1. These chambers represent His personal possessions. All of His unsearchable riches are at her disposal.

           2. His peace, rest, joy.

          3. There are things that you can not have outside of fellowship with Him in the church (Ephesians 4:11-12). Come into the church and stay.

      C. "We will be glad and rejoice in thee."

           1. She rejoices in all that He has done for her.

                a.With loving kindness, he has drawn her.

                b. After the Ethiopian Eunuch was saved and baptized, the Bible says: "He went on his way rejoicing."

           2. All of our joy is in the Lord (Psalms 43:4).

      D. "We will remember thy love more than wine...."

           1. The Bride, church, remembers and makes mention of His love.

           2. Church preach Jesus!

      E. "The upright love thee."

           1. Whatever others do, the upright love God.

           2. Ephesians closes with these words: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen" (Ephesians 6:24).

CONCLUSION: May this church ever love and serve the Savior.