Song of Solomon 4:8

This morning invite you to turn with me the book of the Song of Solomon. I’m going to be looking at chapter four. I want to read verses 6 through 8. We’re going to be looking at verse 8 in particular this morning. Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away. I will get me to the mountain of myrr, the hill of frankincense. Now art all fair, my love. There is no spot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon. With me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Mount Amana. From the top of Geneer and Herman. the lions dens from the mountains of the lefts. God bless to us is holy and sacred word this morning. Now this book is an allegory, as we’ve said all along, that involves Christ as the bride, or the bridegroom, and the church. the bride. This is a common teaching throughout scripture. We sang Psalm 45 this morning and you saw how Christ was portrayed as the king and we as his bride. We find it in Ephesians 5 as well in the New Testament. Now Christ has just spoken of the beauty of his bride. He has compared us with physical things, but we have shown that these physical things are meant to portray a spiritual meaning. The eyes here speak about enlightened eyes, eyes of our understanding being opened. Hair speaks about consecration to God. talked about the Nazarites and Samson. Teeth, we talked about faith, partaking of Christ, eating of Him. Lips, we said this spoke of our speech and our edifying talk. The temples spoke about our modesty, that we would blush at sin. The neck is the exercise of faith, and the protection it provides in many different areas, thus all the shields of the earrings are the dangle from our neck. And then the breasts. That speaks of food and spiritual nourishment that we should be giving others. Now Christ calls upon his spouse to come away with him to separate from the world. And that’s what this text is really about. You find the world full of attractions here. We have all these mountains that are mentioned. Lebanon is well known as a noble range north of the promised land. It is called that goodly mountain. It’s populated by forests. Moses, according to Deuteronomy 3, desired to visit it, but was not permitted to do so. It’s a beautiful place. Full of cedars and full of sweet smell of flowers and so forth. You recall that Solomon built. his dwelling place for a pleasure there, his home there, as a summer house, I guess. It was so attractive, it’s compared, really, to Christ’s countenance in chapter 5 in verse 5, the Psalm Psalm. Amana is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, except under the name of Albana. But Amana is put in the footnote. Probably located in the north, the northern part of what it’s called, anti-Zabonnas. It was so named from the river which originated at its base. A pleasant place. I prefer, you recall, by naming, he was going to have to dip in the muddy Jordan. He preferred to dip in this particular river, but the prophet told him the washing of the Jordan. Zanier and Herman were names for the same mountain. Herman, perhaps the name for the same mountain. the whole mountain and Seneer, or Sirion, the name for the part of it that’s belonged to the Sidonians. Seneer, the part that belongs to the Amarites on that mountain range. Now, all these mountains lay in the same. region in the northern Palestine area and abounded in the grand the grandest views and most attractive mountain scenery beautiful places all of them now these mountains are used to convey to you the most excellent excellent eminent best earthly satisfactions that are to be found. These are the things in which the man of the world delights. Something thought to be excellent, but really of no value to your soul. As a believer, you are warned against taking a, delight in finding your satisfaction in the things of this world. And this is what scripture tells us. Look at with me at 1st Timothy, excuse me, not Timothy, 1st John, chapter 2, 15 and 16, if you would. Scripture says this, love not the world. is the things that are in the world. If any man loved the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, the cry of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. So here is a warning about hanging our hat on all the things associated with this world. And we have to be careful with this regard. John here is actually presenting a test on whether or not you love the father. Is he love the father, you’re not going to love the world. Remember what it was said of Demas, he hath forsaken me, having loved this, present world. And when we put that in connection with 1 John chapter 2, that means the love of the father did not dwell in this man. The Bible uniformly condemns the world again and again in Christ and his apostles warn the saints against it. Christ came into the world that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to Galatians 1 4. The Bible says the whole world lieth in iniquity and wickedness in 1 John 519. The Bible speaks about the pollutions of the world. 2.20. It is said of the unregenerate that they walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince, the power of the air, a spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Satan rules this world. So the world refers here to the world’s system, you know, dominated by lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The world is synonymous then with the kingdom of Satan for the unregenerate part of mankind, if you would. It is fallen human nature, acting under the influence of the devil. The love of the world is to make its vanities the chief objects you pursue. In other words, the things of the world. These earthers are the chief objects you pursue. things cannot be where you find your happiness. You are to live as a stranger and a pilgrim in this life, or you have a life to come. You have a better country. Here are some texts by which you can examine yourself. You determine whether you love the world or not with a father. Which do you. you seek with the more fervor the wealth and pleasures of this world for the riches of the riches of the grace of God and the approval of God. Which have the greater attraction, the pleasures of this world, which are passing, or the pleasures of God’s right? hand which are everlasting. Wherein lies your confidence? The money you, you know, laid up for a rainy day, or in a loving heavenly and father who is faithful and has promised to provide all your needs. Which occasions the deeper sorrow? Temporal losses? Or how about separation of fellowship of God, which takes up more of your time and interest, the seeking of earthly comforts and luxuries with the Word of God and the progress of the Gospel. What most dominates your mind? Thoughts and schemes after worldly advancements or resolutions? in efforts to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Do your good intentions materialize or are they just empty? These are things that you should consider. So you find the world is full of attractions. But we’re warned about that. Secondly, you were warned of the dangers of the world. All these mountains, despite their beauty, their grander, the smells of all the flowers of all the flowers and so forth, as attractive as they are. We’re told here very carefully that they are dangerous. There are dens of lions. These are called mountains of leopards. In other words, these are, these are called mountains of leopards. harmful wild beasts abundantly inhabit these mountains. So they are called mountains of prey. The wicked and ungodly persons may be compared here to lions and lions and leopards because they are cruel and perse who make the people of Godly people their prey. Thus we can never really find our happiness in this life because we are under attack by the world itself. The ungodly predominantly inhabit this world and they’re hostile to the righteous. David’s enemies. David’s enemies. He is said, for like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were, a young lion lurking in secret places. Going to Psalm 17, verse 12. Scripture says in Psalm 2213, they gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and a ravening and a roar. lying. Likewise, the Apostle Paul calls persecuting Nero, the lion that the Lord has delivered his, him from the mouth of, in his epistle to Timothy. He was portrays the lion. Evacoucque speaks of the cruel and wicked Caldeans who harmed the Israelites said that their horses were swifter than lepers. They were swift in carrying out their evil designs of HACA. 1-8. Scripture declares, marvel not, brother, if the world, hate you. Now, what’s interesting is the Bible doesn’t say just that the world dislikes you, or they’re not favorable toward you. But the Bible says they hate you. They hate you. The world doesn’t just dislike you. Thus, they’re like lions and leopards, harmful and dangerous to be around. And why is this? Because his own works are evil while yours are righteous. The same reason that Cain was envious of and killed Abel in the very beginning in Genesis chapter 4. Now as a disciple of whatever they see of Christ and you stirs up their anger up their anger. They hated Christ, they hated Christ, they’re going to hate you. If you have an image of Christ about you, you’re just going to stir up hatred for yourself. So we have to be cautious about this. Galatians 4 talks about Ishmael, how he persecuted Isaac. Even when he was young. And the Bible says, this is a picture. An allegory, if you would, of the world’s hatred. toward the believer. The seed of the woman is persecuted by the seed of the flesh. It’s not changed since. You’re born of the spirit, and they’re born of the flesh. And there’s always going to be hostility. So the world’s always going to persecute the believer. So you’re warned here that as beautiful these mountains are, they’re dangerous. These lions and leopards lurking about. Finally, you are called to come away from the world by Christ. Come with me, my spouse. Russell read for the scripture reading this morning in 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Come out from among them and be separate, said the Lord. and touch not the unclean thing. And he would receive you. And we will be sons and daughters to him. That’s exactly what we’re seeing here in this passage, I think. That’s the same idea, at least. It’s being laid out before us. There’s another mountain on which Christ would have you dwell. It’s found in verse 6 of our house. passage here in Psalm Solomon in chapter 4. Let’s look at that real quickly. Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away. I will get me to the mountain of Murr into the hill of Frankenstein. I don’t know if you remember what we said about this passage last week. But the passage is speaking here about Mount Zion, where Christ dwells. That’s where he would take us, away from the worldly mountains, to where he reigns, where he is king. It’s almost as if Christ is saying to us here in verse 8, what doest thou here, my spouse? What are you doing here? come away with me. So your beloved would have you as his bride leave the former and seek his society in the retreat of the latter. So this verse gives a sound reason for dwelling with Jesus in the place where the mercy seat is to be found. That’s where you want to be. You want to be where Christ is present, where his mercy is open to us, where the blessing of Christ rest upon us. These other mountains represent the world with all their high places and pleasures and attractions, but they’re dangerous to yourself. Beautiful to the eye, filled with lurking places. of the most stealthy and deadly foes. The glory of the Lord’s house is more brighter and more glorious than the mountains of prey that we read about here. Scripture says, and it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house, that the be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow into it. Now, let me say this. You will find Christ’s company more pleasant than their company. Though the ways of sin may seem pleasant for a while, yet at length they will appear as haunts of lions and leopards. That will soon be evident. Though the company of sinners may seem now as sweet and delightful, they will be found at the last. to be bitter and more bitter than death. The Christ’s ways are always ways of pleasantness. It is good for the believer to always be in his company. I like what Peter said on the Mount Transfiguration. It is good for us to be here. Yes, it’s good for you to be in Christ’s glorious presence. you’re going to find pleasures inexpressible, the lights the same. More than he ever did in this life, the believer will find it when he is in Christ’s company. You will find Christ’s company more profitable than these other places. You know, the company and behavior of the wicked is harmful. It’s vexing to your soul. The Bible says that evil communications or associations corrupt with good manners. But the company of Christ is always profitable. You always obtain something good from it. It has a powerful influence on your inward man. And your outward walk as you go through this life. It grants you inner peace and usefulness to others. You are undoubtedly the gainer when you part company with the wicked and you associate with Christ. Christ’s company is much more safe also than that. theirs. The company of the wicked men is dangerous, as we’ve already mentioned repeatedly. There’s not only danger not only in being infected by their sins, but also of participating in their flags because of it. It is ruinous to be in this world, and it leads to everlasting destruction. But the believer is always safe in Christ. Always safe to be in Christ’s company. Though you will have to go through the fires of tribulation and persecution, it’s still safe. He promises to guide you by its country. counsel and he promises to be with you through these dangerous situation. And you will be guided and comforted in this way. And so this is a call to come away. You know, when we get to communion, when we take communion, it is a call really to come away. It’s a call to come away from the world. It’s a call to fellowship. with Christ each time we have communion. Let us see it in the light of this text. Come away from the world. Fellowship with me. He delights in us. We need to delight in him. Let’s have a word of prayer. Father, we thank you for your blessing upon us. We thank you for this word of encouragement and warning. I pray for your blessing upon us, Lord, and you would help us as your people to delight in the things of Christ and find pleasure in them. We pray, Lord, that we would relish your presence and your intimate fellowship. Be with us as your people. You know how far we fall sometimes. How short we fall. but we pray you love us and help us anyhow and kind to us and provide for our needs. And we ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.