Song of Songs 5

If you've been walking with me, thanks for joining me again.

So having introduced the theme of Christ likeness and looked at John 13, where Jesus washes the disciples' feet and says it's an example, and then 1 John 2:6, which says, "If we abide in Him, we ought to walk as He walked." We've been looking at some verses where Jesus says, "Come to me.

Come and stay," to, to, uh, Andrew and John in John chapter one, and then to Philip and Nathaniel, "Come and see." And then, "Come and find rest and take my easy yoke," from Matthew chapter 11.

And yesterday, we looked at the letter to the church in Laodicea from Revelation chapter three, where Jesus says, "Come and buy riches from me." Today, we're going to look at one of the most famous verses in the Bible, I guess.

It's at the end of Revelation chapter three, of that letter to the church in Laodicea, and let me just read those couple of verses.

"Behold, or here I am, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.

So learn a lesson here, time with the Lord must be unhurried.

[soft music] September 27th, evening.

"My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me." Song of Solomon 5:4.

Knocking was not enough, for my heart was too full of sleep, too cold and ungrateful to rise and open the door, but the touch of His effectual grace has caused my soul to stir.

How patient of my Beloved to wait when He found Himself shut out, and me asleep upon the bed of indolence.

I slept, but my heart was awake.

Song of Solomon 5:2.

Paradoxes abound in Christian experience, and here is one.

The spouse was asleep, and yet she was awake.

It was first used in Ugaritic in 1400 BC, borrowed by the Hebrews in 1000 BC, introduced in the Bible 11 times.

Song of Solomon 5:16 is the Mahmadim, who is the altogether lovely one, referring to Solomon himself.

It was subsequently employed by Saint Ambrose looking at So- Song of Solomon 5:16.

He said, "Who is the altogether other lovely one?" He is the Anointed One, the Messiah, who we're still waiting for to return a second time.

The Jews also use this title.