Song of Solomon 3:1-3

And so I invite you to turn with me to Song of Solomon, chapter three once again, the song of Solomon, after three. I want to read the first three verses. By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the broadways, I will. seek him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him not. The watchman, though go about the city, found me, to whom I said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth. God blessed to us, his sacred, holy word, this morning. The bride, having lost intimate contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, is troubled and spirit. She is restless upon her bed. She’s awake, for there are mountains of Bether, or division between her and her Savior. The bride increases the intensity of her search for Christ. I will rise now, we read in verse two. She’s going to be more vigorous. And we said, in our last study, she uses the public means the search for Christ. And go about the city, in the streets, and in the broadways, I will seek him whom I so love it. Now the city here, we said, is the church, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The streets and the broadways are where the people gather. In other words, this is where the word. of God is publicly preached. Wisdom cryeth without. She uttered her voice in the streets. She crieth in the chief places of concourse. In the opening of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words. Proverbs 1, 20, 21. Still, the bride is disappointed as we see here at the end of chapter 2, I found him not. And so here in chapter 1, or chapter verse 2, I should say. Now in verse 3, the bride appeals to the watchman of the city. Now since the city speaks of the church, the watchman here should be seen as the elders of the church. Son of man, speaking to Ezekiel, I have made thee a watchman under the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning for me, Ezekiel 317. You are watching. We also see it in Isaiah chapter 62.6. I have set watchmen upon thy walls of Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. In the New Testament, we have that passage in Hebrews 13. obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your soul. And so I think the elders here are then the watchmen. So we see here in a way the church faces danger from within and without. There’s dangers without the watchmen have to keep an eye on, but there are also problems within. Elders must be diligent about their duty. They go about the city to keep watch over the city for good of all the people of God. So the elders of the church are Christ’s gift to be of spiritual benefit to your soul. And we should learn to appreciate them. Notice here, secondly, that the bride is focused, is found. by the watchman. Found me. Now this speaks of the elders finding her by the preaching of God’s word. The watchman spoke to her condition when they opened up the scriptures and taught them. She had lost intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ and her mind and conscience were moved by the preaching. For the word of God is the Lord. Lord sharp, two-edged sword, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God speaks to you through the preaching of the Word. He’s able to address your particular situation. He’s able to find you by the preaching of the Word of God. So this is a primary means to restore your intimate fellowship with Christ. It would be foolish to neglect the preaching. of the word. Third, we see here the bride’s question of the watchman. To whom I said, saw ye him whom I soul of it. She thinks here that the elders are able to assist her in restoring intimate fellowship with Christ. So she appeals to the spiritual knowledge of the elders to help her with her problem. Ministers certainly should be well acquainted with the coming and withdrawal of Christ’s intimate fellowship through their own experience. Elders should know more about experimental religion than most Christians. So you can tap that knowledge, gain insight in order to find your own cure. Now, elders should not reject the sincere seeking of wisdom. We Christians who struggle over the relationship with Christ, they need to be tender and gentle in this regard. While it’s not stated that she immediately found Christ, she does so shortly after consulting the watchman, because you’ll notice verse 4, that she finds Christ. Well, let me conclude this morning by saying this. Use all the means available to you to receive Christ’s intimate fellowship. Prayer, private Bible study, hearing the public preaching of the Word of God, seeking the help of the elders. Secondly, don’t be discouraged when your intimate fellowship with Christ is not quickly restored. You know, fellowship with Christ is a precious thing, and therefore it requires some serious effort on your part to find. And so you have to learn to appreciate it, I think, and that’s why it doesn’t automatically get restored. Thirdly, remember Christ restores his fellowship when and how he pleases. We have to learn to wait on Christ, who is in charge of that. Lastly, use the Lord’s Supper. as a means of valuing where you stand with Christ. The scripture says to examine yourself before taking the Lord’s supper. Are you at a distance or close when it comes to fellowship with Christ? Evaluate your own heart in that regard. Let’s go with the Word of Christ.