Route 66: The Song of Songs: Decoding Biblical Romance

Verse seven.

It says let us be glad, rejoice and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has prepared herself.

She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure, for the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me write blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb.

He also said to me these words of God are true.

Flip back to Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 11.

Song of Solomon 3:11

Song of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 11.

Song of Solomon 3:11

It says go out, young women, young women, young women of Zion, and gaze and gaze.

Go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon wearing the crown his mother placed on his head, on on him on the day of his wedding, the day of his heart's, rejoicing Amen.

So straight out the jump.

I just want to show you how, in some ways, the book of Song of Solomon can be viewed allegorically and eschatologically, and tonight, for the sake of time, I will mostly discuss what we can learn from and about this amazing book.

It is important that people know always the truth.

Yahweh be with us now, amen, all right, so now hold chapter one of Song of Solomon.

Hold chapter one of Song of Solomon.

Whole chapter one is Song of Solomon and if you want, you can go to 1 Kings, chapter four.

1 Kings, chapter four.

I hope you guys greased up your Bibles because we're going to be looking at a lot of different parts of the Bible to cover this amazing, historic, inspired word of God.

So look at 1 Kings chapter four, verse 31.

Now, speaking of Solomon, the verse says he was wiser.

And listen to the first person that they mentioned he was wiser than he was wiser than anyone, wiser than Ethan the Ezra.

Right now, you really got to be real wise If you're wiser than Ethan, I just want to put that out there and Haman and Cole and Dora and sons of Maol.

His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.

Solomon spoke 3000 proverbs and his songs, his songs, his songs numbered 1005, 1005 songs.

So now go to Songs of Solomon, chapter 1.

So Solomon is a prolific writer who takes after his father, david, who is also called the sweet psalmist of Israel.

Solomon is also writing, as we look in Songs of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 1, which opens, opens by stating the song of songs, which is Solomon's.

Now, of course, before we jump in, we have to look at this declaration and what it actually entails.

So Solomon is, from the onset, declaring that this is the greatest of all his songs, or the greatest of all songs in general, and if you agree with the former, you wouldn't be wrong, since this is perhaps the most profoundly dramatic artistic forms of writing that we have of Salomon.

As it states, he wrote 1,005 songs, but this one we're reading now is his apex in grandiosity.

Now is his apex in grandiosity the Song of Songs.

It is an appropriate title for sublime language from this human author inspired by the Holy Spirit to give us this.

The Song of Songs actually gives us a clue as to its interpretation.

It is one song out of many songs and this is a superlative.

So you have titles such as god of gods and lord of lords or holy of holies, right?

So yahweh is the god above all gods, he's the lord above all lords, he is king above all kings, and this is the song above all songs.

It's a superlative.

So, as he writes 1005 songs, this one song we do have in in our bibles today.

It would be interesting to hear all the other songs that he must have written.

But, uh, why did the holy spirit move solomon to write that as an opening title heading to declare this book the Song of Songs.

And I think because, maybe because, in terms of human possession, in terms of human possession, there's maybe nothing more valuable than genuine and godly romantic love which one man and his one wife can possess freely between the two of them, yet at the same time cannot afford even though they have it.

This is the Song of Songs.

So verse one continues in chapter one.

Verse one, the woman says, oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your caresses are more delightful than wine.

The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating.

Your name is perfume poured out.

No wonder young women adore you.

In these first few verses we already learn so much when it comes to godly romantic relationships and what they involve.

First, biblical, human romantic love is sensual.

It's sensual In the Song of Solomon, the senses are often highlighted.

I don't know if you noticed it as we read those verses, and so I see some shaking heads.

Yes.

So what are the five senses?

Touch, taste, smell, hear, hearing and sight, right.

So if you look at it again with me, from verse one, it says, oh, that he would kiss.

Right, he kissed me with the kisses of his mouth.

That's touch.

Your caresses, that's touch, are more delightful than wine.

That's taste.

The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating.

That smell, your name is perfume poured out.

That's hearing and seeing, since the mention of Solomon is like a Pavlov's dogs experiment, where the dogs would hear the sound of a bell and salivate even if no food was present.

Right, but for these women, in Song of Solomon, just hearing Solomon's name is entrancing and ravishing.

And that covers the sense of hearing, hearing his name.

But the name also covers the sense of sight, since in the Bible, a person's name can represent or mean their character, which is seen by both man and God.

That is why the women say your, your name is perfume poured out.

No wonder young women, young women, young women adore you.

So do you remember what we read earlier in chapter 3, verse 11, when it says, in chapter 3, verse 11, the young women adore Solomon.

He says In chapter 3, verse 11, the young women adore Solomon.

He says go out, young women, young women of Zion, and gaze and gaze at King Solomon.

That sight.

And again, if you look at chapter 2, in chapter 2, verse 6, may his left hand be under my head and his right arm embrace me, that's touch.

In chapter 2, verse 12.

The blossoms appear in the cart yard.

That's appear.

That's sight.

The time of singing has come.

That's hearing.

The turtle dove cooing is heard.

That's hearing the fig tree ripens its figs.

That's taste.

The blossoming vines give off their fragrance.

That smell.

Also, notice the mention of time in verse 10 and verse 11.

In verse 11, it says winter has passed and in autumn, from March to May, rain, rains are over.

In verse 12, flowers bloom in the spring.

In verse 13, the fig tree blossoms in the summer, and so on.

So when you study this book, you'd be amazed at the uses of the senses and time, almost like it's intentional, at the uses of the senses and time, almost like it's intentional, in fact, since the Song of Solomon is so heavily sensual.

This discredits the notion that only the spiritual is good and that sensuality between a godly couple is wrong or evil or shouldn't be spoken about, or sensuality in a godly context is sinful.

So, song of Solomon, thus is the answer in advance to the Corinthian comment made to Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7.

1 Corinthians 7 · chapter mention

And for the sake of the children, I will quote the KJV, 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, verse 1.

1 Corinthians 7:1

Now, concerning the things thereof.

He wrote unto me it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

So it seems like the Corinthians had a misunderstanding regarding intimacy.

So Paul addresses them in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7, and maybe he does so in Hebrews, when scripture says in Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 4, marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

1 Corinthians 7 · chapter mention Hebrews 13:4

So do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time, as Song of Solomon says three times in chapter two, verse seven, chapter three, verse five, and chapter eight, verse four.

Thus the Song of Solomon affirms human love, including intimacy, sensuality, within the biblical context of divine grace and purpose.

We also learn from the Song of Solomon that a godly relationship should not only be based on physical appearance alone.

Where did you see that in the text we read, ethan?

I'm glad you asked If you look again.

Look again at chapter one, verse three and the second part.

It says your name.

Your name is perfume poured out.

No wonder young women adore you.

Godly relationships should not just be based on physical appearance alone, but based on one's character.

One's character, the mental and moral qualities distinct to an individual.

One's character is their personality, their reputation and integrity.

The character of Solomon is not just pleasing but attractive.

Does your name and character have a sweet fragrance like perfume or cologne poured out?

The Song of Solomon shows us biblical romance would involve five senses and Dr David Jeremiah says and I'm going to paraphrase his quote that the Song of Solomon teaches biblical human love is a full body experience.

End quote In Song of Solomon, chapter five, when illustriously describing Solomon, his bride compliments his skin complexion in chapter 5, verse 10,.

His head and hair in verse 11, eyes in verse 12, cheek and lips in verse 13,.

His arms and build in 14, legs in 15, and mouth in 16.

Then Solomon celebrates her in chapters 4, 6, and 7 when he describes her from bottom to top.

When he starts in chapter 7, verse 1 about her feet and legs, then her stomach and waist in chapter 7, verse 2.

Her upper torso in verse 3.

Neck, eyes and nose in verse 4.

Her head and hair in verse 5.

Then her overall physique with her paps and a poetic reference to her labia in verses 6 to 8.

Reference to her labia in verses 6 to 8.

And perhaps the only place I believe you will find something that is written in the style of a benediction or prayer is in chapter 7, verse 8 to 9.

You can turn there with me if you want to talk about it.

I'm not saying that this is a prayer or a benediction.

I'm just saying perhaps it is written in the style of a benediction and prayer In chapter 7, verse 8, when Solomon says I will climb the palm tree and take hold of its fruits.

That's the poetic reference I was making mention of.

Now pay attention to the next statement, when he says may your breasts be like clusters of grapes and the fragrance of your breath like apricots.

And in the Hebrew he says your palate like wine.

May your breasts be like clusters of grapes and the fragrance of your breath like apricots and your palate like wine.

Almost sounds like spoken like a benediction.

Like Yahweh, bless thee and keep thee.

Yahweh, cause his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee.

Yahweh, lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee shalom.

Or like what all the people that were in the gate and the elders in Ruth, chapter 4, verse 11, say we are witnesses.

Ruth 4:11

Yahweh, make the woman that has come into thine.

These are Old Testament examples of what, to me, solomon styles his statements which almost sound like a prayer.

His statements, which almost sound like a prayer.

But notice something interesting within Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9 in our CSB's version.

Song of Solomon 7:9

Let's look at it again.

Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9 in the CSB.

Song of Solomon 7:9

So in the beginning of the verse the part A section Solomon is speaking.

But pay close attention to the second half of the verse, in part B, as we read from the beginning of Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9, which Solomon starts by saying your mouth is like fine wine.

Song of Solomon 7:9

Then the woman says flowing smoothly for my love, gliding past my lips and teeth.

Did you catch it?

Before Solomon can finish his statement, the wife knows what he's going to say.

Isn't that romantic when couples and spouses can finish each other's sentences.

Me and Shan, my Shulamite, we do this often, and before we finish each other's thoughts, we also have the same usual response bro, get out my head.

And in Song of Solomon, chapter 7, verse 9.

Song of Solomon 7:9

There are many lessons here, especially for those who desire, or about to be, or want to be, married.

Perhaps, then, at least one indicator, that is, that this person you are in Christian courtship with is a good match, would be the questions Do you both think the same in on certain things.

Do you have the same interests, do you want the same or similar outcomes and do you both plan to strive to achieve them together?

Do you complement each other with sublime language that's CO, mpl, I MENT and do you complement each other C-O-M-P-L-E-M-E-N-T, complementing, completing that which you lack personally to make you feel whole.

If the Apostle Paul was your ancient Near Eastern version of Kevin Samuels and Paul was your relationship guru, I guess he would also include do not be unequally yoked.

So that wasn't my intro, that was just my prequel to my intro.

So now we're going to get into some facts about the Song of Solomon and I'm going to go now into my introduction, body and conclusion.

But thank you for listening thus far.

The Song of Songs or the Song of Solomon.

Jerome called it the Canticles and he derived that, I believe, from the Septuagint, perhaps to the Latin meaning hymn and or chant Hymn or chant Canticles.

Egyptian theologian Origen of Alexander called this book an epithelium.

Say that seven times fast.

An epithelium, which means a wedding song.

That's origin.

Leave it to origin to come up with a word like that.

In this book we get a biblical definition of what honorable, god-ordained human love between a man and a woman is all about.

The book is divided into three parts.

Chapter one to three is the anticipation, which is the courtship section.

One to three is the anticipation, the courtship section, and then from three to five is the consummation, the wedding, consummation and the wedding.

And from chapters five to eight is the celebration of marriage and the honeymoon.

So you have the anticipation, the consummation and the honeymoon.

So you have the anticipation, the consummation and the celebration.

Solomon writes this book in his early years reigning as king over Israel, around 970 to 960 BC, and mentions himself a perfect seven times by name.

He writes during times of peace, after the Holy Spirit gives him the gift of wisdom.

So I know at least.

One of the big questions that I have to talk about is of whom is this woman Solomon is referring to?

Ok, so she is called Shulamite twice, which is a name or title which means peaceful peaceful in the Hebrew feminine, just like Solomon's name in the masculine means peace.

So some say perhaps the name Shulamite was a pet name of endearment or something like a nickname of sorts, or it was given to her as a way of stating that she belongs to Solomon and Solomon belongs to Shulamite, as stated in Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 16, chapter 3, verse 6, and 7, verse 10.

Song of Solomon 2:16

The beloved is mine and I am my beloved.

John Calvin believed she is the Egyptian princess mentioned in 1 Kings, chapter 3, verse 1.

1 Kings 3:1

That states Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by marrying Pharaoh's daughter.

And there might be some evidence to that theory to back it up, such as in Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 9, when Solomon says to Shulamite I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.

Song of Solomon 1:9

Okay, so in Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 9, to compare Shulamite to female horses within a group of male horses is cleverly coy.

Song of Solomon 1:9

You see, in First Kings, chapter 10, verses 26 to 29, it states that Solomon has fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he purchased not from Amazon but from Egypt.

1 Kings 10:26–29

That's a lot of horses.

So he's now seeing Shulamite and of course this would be kind of odd in armies in the ancient Near Eastern period to have a female horse.

But it's believed that maybe this was an ancient war tactic to have one female horse run in front of the male horses.

So the male horses will pursue the female horse.

So perhaps, if that is the case, solomon is saying to Shulamite I wish there was a thousand of you to chase, but you're just too unique, you can't be replaced.

But you're just too unique, you can't be replaced.

So Calvin thought Shulamite is Pharaoh's daughter, even though she isn't really described as as royalty in the Song of Solomon, but rather almost like a commoner, like a common girl that we might call a form of indentured servitude.

Still, others have suggested that the Shulamite is David's nurse, abishag, the Shunamite right.

So in David's last days he had a nurse and her name was Abishag.

Some people may argue that because Shulamite sounds a lot like Shunamite, that perhaps that's who King Solomon is referencing.

There is also a West Indian, east African tradition that says the Shulamite is the Ethiopian queen of Sheba from 1 Kings, chapter 10.

1 Kings 10 · chapter mention

And yes, that is a Western and especially Jamaican tradition.

Perhaps the most vehement one is Theodoret of Cyrus, the bishop of Cyrus in the early 400s.

He said the woman is the church and to say anything else is blasphemy.

Well, there's some real tough bishops back then.

But I tend to lean towards the notion that the Shulamite could have been a tan or black complexion.

Uh, semitic lady Solomon meets one day as she's working in a vineyard that he owns but rents out to her brothers and get this.

It might have been love at first sight.

Solomon says in Song of Solomon, chapter four, verse nine you have captured my heart, my sister, my bride.

You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes.

Is that love at first sight?

I hear, with all the coy-cattish sensuality in Song of Solomon.

Those who are so heavenly minded stumble over this book and some Orthodox Jews even avoid it altogether.

Stumble over this book and some Orthodox Jews even avoid it altogether.

In fact, ultra-orthodox Jews do not let men read this until they are 39 years old.

They have been broken off and now we're reading it today.

We've been grafted in.

So questions like where is the overt mention of prayer worship, the temple priest sacrifice, the whole decalogue, the all the thou shalt nots offering high holy days, or even vows before God?

Get this now.

For those of you who know me, just listen up real quick.

I believe God thinks so highly of human love that the Spirit inspired Solomon to make this entire book just to define it, and not just define it in the entirety of this book, but to do so without even God being distinctly mentioned at all, according to many Bible translators at all, according to many Bible translators.

Now, those of you who understand and know me know that I enjoy many Christian genres of theology, but sometimes I like to give more attention to those topics I feel may not always get explored.

Often One of my favorite topics involves onomatology, which is the study of names, their origins, histories and meaning.

And a lot of you know that, since Song of Solomon yet is one of my favorite wisdom, poetry, human conduct books in the Old Testament, even though God's titles are not found written explicitly in the book.

In the book, why is Adonai, elohim, el Elyon, shaddai, savioff, not used fully when the Holy Spirit is using Solomon to give us this book on honorable human love?

And there's many debating questions about that.

Maybe one reason, you know, solomon says in Ecclesiastes that Pastor Doug tackled so well in chapter 7, verse 16, do not be overly religious or overly righteous.

And I think perhaps, since human love is a gift from God, it's not necessarily religious.

I would say it's more spiritual, it's mystical and physical.

It's spiritual, it's mystical and physical.

Right, five times in the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite calls Solomon the one who my soul loves.

There's the spiritual.

It's mystical because Proverbs, chapter 18, agar says there are three things I don't understand, four things that are too wonderful for me the way a bird flies, the way a snake can slither, the way a boat can float and how people fall in love.

Proverbs 18 · chapter mention

So it's mysterious.

Paul would second that too.

He says that the imagery of Christ loving the church is a mystery, right?

So that's the mystical part.

And of course it's romantic.

We have it right in front of us, you know, and it's a book on physical sensuality.

So I wouldn't say that it's definitely or overly religious, because if love is religious, then it's really not love, right, it's more like you're programmed, you're only doing this because you know.

It's almost like the law was supposed to be a schoolmaster to get people to Christ.

But the problem is they stumble and they stay at the law, just doing it for the sake of religion but not for relationship.

So if you're only getting her flowers because it's a particular day, you're doing it religiously and I don't think love is religious, which may be why God is in the background, because Malachi tells us he's there at the weddings.

He's the one who joined man and woman together to begin with, and my wife will tell you I would buy flowers and she'd be like what's the flowers for?

I said because it's Wednesday.

And tell the truth.

What happened now with the flowers?

Tell the truth, when I kept getting you flowers, tell the truth, she's not going to say it, but she had to tell me to stop getting flowers.

It's too much, but that's how I felt.

You know, it didn't have to be something.

Or or high holiday that says this is the day you're supposed to give your wife flowers, because then I think it become robotic and I don't think God made us to be like that.

We're supposed to love the Lord with all our strength, with all our might and all our soul, right?

So yes, it is spiritual, it's mystical, it's romantic and it's physical.

Maybe that's why God decides to be in the background.

Another theory why God's titles are not distinctly mentioned in Song of Solomon is because maybe his name actually is referenced.

So, yes, our God has many titles but has a personal name.

Not all titles are names and not all names are actually titles.

So titles are more like job descriptions, right?

For instance, my name, my title, would be officer, but that's not my name.

Constable or detective, although I may answer if you called me, that you know correctly, if you address me that way, I might respond.

If you say pastor, you probably get Doug and Micah looking at you, but that's not their name, that's their title.

So, yes, our God has a lot of titles master, father, conqueror, king, lamb of God, almighty, messiah.

Although these are correct ways to address them, they're not necessarily his personal name.

Our God has a personal name, known as the Tetragrammaton.

Say that seven times fast the four Hebrew letters of his name, yahweh.

So yes, it's debated that our God's name does appear in the Hebrew text of this book, maybe not his titles, but the abbreviated form of Yahweh, and that's found in chapter 8, verse 6.

Chapter 8, verse 6.

And it's his abbreviated name, yah, y-a-h in the English, like Hallelujah, sometimes translated in our English text as capitals, l-o-r-d.

Lord, which is short for Yahweh.

Only when Solomon is giving one of the most powerful descriptions of love is when the Holy Spirit prompts him to use the shortened form of Yah to describe it.

Let's look at the passage, chapter 8, verse 6.

The Shulamite says set me as a seal upon your heart, that's ownership over your thoughts and emotions.

Set me as a seal upon your arm, that's ownership over your actions.

For love is as strong as death, universal and irreversible.

Jealousy, as cruel or unrelenting as the grave, cannot be shared.

It's exclusive and possessive.

Its flames are flames of fire, extremely passionate, a most vehement flame or an almighty flame, and invincible and persevering.

Here in the Hebrew we would find the name Yah, y-a-h, and when Solomon says an almighty flame or most vehement flame, the verse could be read like this Love is as strong as death.

Its flames are flames of fire, the flames of Yah.

In other words, yahweh is portrayed as the source of this powerful love and that you cannot fully define biblical human love and romance without our God being the source of it.

Think about that for a moment.

See law for a bit.

Right, pass the mic.

When it comes to godly relationships, if Yahweh didn't stoke the flame or fuel it, then perhaps the fire won't last.

The fire won't last.

Think about that.

It's suggested, generally speaking, that Yahweh is the one who brings godly couples together, since he is the source.

He then is the sustainer.

But let's reread chapter 8, verse 6 again, and then we'll read the following verse Chapter 8, sorry, chapter eight, verse six Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave.

Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame of the Lord.

Look at verse seven.

Chapter eight, verse seven Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.

Imagine the fire department trying with all their strongest equipment, most powerful hoses of water, attempting to put out a fire.

And no matter how much they use, they still cannot out the flames.

That's God's definition of biblical love.

Out the flames, that's God's definition of biblical love.

It's not a smoldering wick on a candle that someone can snuff out, or blow a gust of air to smother.

No, imagine a volcano erupting in the middle of the ocean and lava is constantly spewing out non-stop.

God's love is like an engulfed inferno, a mysteriously living volcanic, relentless element that no one can douse.

Its blaze.

Song of Solomon.

Chapter eight, verse seven continues If a man gave, gave for love, all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised of his house.

It would be utterly despised.

These are powerful metaphors.

Imagine having $198 billion.

That's supposedly Elon Musk.

Net worth $195 billion Warren Buffett it just came out that he has about 226 billion.

And if you were to add up the three, just three of the top wealthiest Americans, you will have over a half trillion dollars.

Yet understand this now how the Bible defines true love and honorable romance that even with the wealth of all the richest people combined, you still would not be.

It would not have enough money to purchase true, godly human love, godly human love.

So Jeff Bezos, he owns Amazon.

You know the website where you can just simply type in something in a search bar and you have a list of anything you can purchase, and I believe he should be able to purchase any item on his own website, especially since he owns it, and it's said that he has about $138.2 billion.

But Solomon, in all his God-given, holy Spirit-inspired wisdom, says that there is an item not even Jeff Bezos or anyone can afford, and that's love set on fire by Yahweh.

The question then is if love is priceless, how then can it be obtained?

The answer is that it must be given.

Ultimately, love is a gift from Yeshua, the Savior of Yah.

Love is a gift from Yeshua, the Savior of Yah.

There are about four different Hebrew words for love that are used in the Song of Solomon.

Specifically, in the Hebrew manuscripts of Songs of Solomon, I would say the main Hebrew word that is used would be the word Ahava.

Ahava, which appears 11 times, is the Hebrew word for love and often signifies powerful, intimate love between a man and a woman.

For instance, in Genesis, chapter 29, verse 20, scripture reads so Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his ahava, his love for her.

Genesis 29:20

The word ahava for love is so powerful when used to describe a man having for his woman that not even time itself is burdensome or holds some significance.

Some of you have been married for several decades and still going strong, and it may not even seem like a heavy-laden task, but a joyful excursion.

Not even certain aspects of physics is a bother when a man is in love, set on fire by God.

This is true and mentioned in some of our modern day poems.

Every time we meet, I wish I could freeze the pendulum and savor the scene so it couldn't leave or never end.

Look at Matthew, chapter 26.

Matthew 26 · chapter mention

Matthew, chapter 26.

Matthew 26 · chapter mention

In closing, I barely scratched the surface on this y'all, but this book ultimately is a book.

If you take it allegorically, shows how much love Yeshua has for us, as we read earlier in Song of Solomon, chapter three, verse 11, which says go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon wearing his crown His mother placed on him on the day of his wedding, the day of his heart, rejoicing.

And Yeshua says the queen of the South will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

That was Matthew, chapter 12.

Matthew 12 · chapter mention

Solomon in all his splendor, wisdom and extravagant lyrics is only a foretaste of Yeshua's divine glory and love he has for his bride, the church.

Messiah loves everything about us, from head to toe, and when he cleansed us with his own blood, he quotes Song of Solomon, chapter 4, verse 7.

Song of Solomon 4:7

Oh, my love, you are altogether beautiful.

There is no flaw, no imperfection, no blemish in you.

No flaw, no imperfection, no blemish in you.

We've been made perfect by the blood of Jesus.

We might sing beautiful Savior or fierce Lord Jesus, but when he came the first time, he had no form or comeliness, and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Yet, because of our relationship, is more than just physical appearance.

When we see him, as Isaiah says, he is the branch of Yahweh, which is beautiful and glorious In Isaiah, chapter 33, verse 17,.

Isaiah 33:17

Isaiah says our eyes will see the king in his beauty.

And last verse for tonight, since we are coming to the close of the chapter of Matthew.

I felt this would be fitting In Matthew, chapter 26, verse 28,.

Matthew 26:28

And you can ask Matthias, he printed this out before I knew what you guys were preaching and talking about.

So kudos to Brother Walter and excellent job this morning to Brother David.

But yes, let's look at Matthew, chapter 26, verse 28, which says For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28

Since the marriage relationship of this song reflects the values of God, we are here to made, made to understand that he intends for covenant relationship, including his with us, to be permanent, not revoked by the imperfections of any party to the covenant.

Similarly, there is a permanence to our covenant relationship with our divine and heavenly bridegroom, yeshua, which is not only until death or death do us part, but which overcomes death.

Oh death, where is your victory?

Because Yeshua is the resurrection and the life.

We who believed in him are sealed by the Holy Spirit as an engagement, down payment for redemption, and with that we can say, like the Shulamite in Songs of Solomon, chapter 8, verse 14, make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or young stag on the mountains of spices, maranatha.

God bless you.