I ask you to take your Bibles
and turn with me to the book of Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon. You find Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
and then Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon chapter 1. Before we begin this evening,
let's ask our Lord's blessing. Our Father, how we thank you
for this blessed time. Lord, how desperately do we need your touch, your Spirit, to hear
your words, Lord, we ask You to forgive us where we failed
You. We ask You to bless the Gospel
tonight. Speak, I pray, for Christ's sake.
Amen. Song of Solomon chapter 1. I'd
like to read verses 1 and 2. I've had this book, Song of Solomon,
on my heart for the last few days. I wanted to look. We went through this book. You
remember that? It's been quite a few years ago now, but what
a blessing. But I'd like to look at the first
two verses. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses
of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine. The Spirit of God reveals this
precious book to be a song. The title of it is, The Song
of Solomon. But now knowing, according to
the words of our Lord, that a greater than Solomon is here. Therefore, we know that a greater
than Solomon is being spoken of." This song is actually the
song of Christ Himself, of who Solomon is but a picture. This is the song of Christ. the song of His message, the
song of the Gospel. The whole text of this song is
the beautiful message of salvation by His precious grace and mercy
for His bride. And it is the expression of His
heart to her and her heart to Him. This is a love song. It's a precious love song. As I've said this before, if
I were to write a little note or a letter or
a poem and I would I wrote this for my wife. I wrote this for
Glenda. And let's say I laid it down
and someone else came and picked it up and read this and said,
oh, look at this beautiful poem that Marvin wrote to me. I said,
well, no. No, I didn't write that to you.
No, I wrote that to my wife. This song, this is a letter,
and it's written from the Lord Jesus Christ to His bride. And everything that He says to
her and she says to Him is personal. It's a personal thing. And they
speak to each other. And everything that we see we
see of their speech, their communion, their heart to each other. The Scripture sets forth that
this is a song, a new song. That's what the Word says, singing
unto Him a new song, a fresh song, knowing that He hath put
A song in my mouth even prays unto our God." It's a new song. It's not a new song as far as
the word time is concerned. It's not new like that, but it's
fresh. It means it's a song that was
not there before. Before the Lord calls His people
out of darkness. Before He gives them a new heart. They don't think like this. They
don't have a heart for this. They don't look for Him. They
don't long after Him. This is a song. But it's not
just a song. The Scripture sets forth in verse
1, it's the song of songs, which is Solomon's, which is actually
the one who Solomon pictures. The Song of Solomon. I want you
to just keep your finger right there. Turn back to 1 Kings chapter
4. 1 Kings 4. The Song of Solomon. Solomon was a very wise man. 1 Kings chapter 4. And I want to begin reading a
few verses out of 1 Kings 4. And this is what the scripture,
this is what the Lord said about Solomon. It says, verse 29, 1
Kings 4, 29, And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding
much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the
seashore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled
the wisdom of all the children of the East Country, all the
wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men,
than Ethan the Ezraite, and Heman the Chalcol, and Darda the sons
of Mahahal. And his fame was in all nations
round about. He spake 3,000 proverbs. And his songs were a thousand
and five. And he spake of trees from the
cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springeth
out of the wall. He spake also of beasts and of
fowl and creeping things and fishes. And there came of all
people to hear the wisdom of Solomon from all kings of the
earth which had heard of his wisdom." God had given this man
wisdom. And he wrote down, the Scripture
said we just read. He wrote down all these proverbs.
We've been going through proverbs. The Proverbs of Solomon. How
he'd write of all these things. They all pointed to Christ. The Spirit of God blessed him
to write these things. And songs. He wrote a thousand
and five songs. But this is the song of songs.
This is the epitome of all the psalms. It's the song of the
Lord's heart to His bride and her heart to Him. I know Solomon pinned them. God
gave them wisdom. But I'll tell you, this is from
the Spirit of God that blessed it for this man to speak of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the verses of this song. These were written in the eternal
counsels of God's grace. And they speak totally of His
majesty and they set forth the joy and the security and the
comfort of His dear bride. And only a believer in the Lord
Jesus Christ can, by faith, enter in to the wonder of this blessed
song. Only a regenerated sinner can
sing this song and sing these verses that says, I know something
about that. That speaks to my heart. That
bears witness to my heart. Well, that precious song begins
with the desire of the bride. And she's here. taught this glorious
melody by grace. And here's what she says. Here's
where the song starts. It starts with her speaking. And she says this, Let him kiss
me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine. Let him kiss me with the kisses
of His mouth. I need to be kissed over and
over and over again. Whenever I see the frailty of
my flesh, when I see myself falter, when I know something and I certainly
don't know all the times when I have committed sins of omission,
things that I should have done that I just didn't realize. I just failed. Lord, I need Your tender embrace. I need to be comforted. I need
to be reminded again, Lord, by Your kiss. I need to be assured
of Your love for me. Lord, as David said, take not
thy Holy Spirit from me. I need the kisses of your mouth. He that has loved his people
eternally, let that affection be found on
this sinner. Let him kiss me. Tell me of him who is my personal
Savior. I read of those that He's loved
in Scriptures. His affection was far in the
written Word of God. I'm convinced of His love for
those that I've witnessed myself. But Lord, kiss me. Lord, embrace me. Lord, teach
me again. It's not the flatteries of this
false religion of this world that I desire. I want you to
turn to Proverbs. Turn back to Proverbs just a
second. Hold your finger there. Proverbs
chapter 7. It's not the kisses of this old
false, fake, this worldly, fleshly, ugly, religion that pats a man
on his back and tells him how good he is and how God's proud
of him. Maybe if he was a professional
football player, you know, if he'd get up and give a personal
word of testimony, you know, just that influence right there. He was just a big country western
singer, you know. Just think of how many people
would be led to Christ, you know, if so and so. Don't tell me that. Proverbs 7, verse 9, In the twilight,
in the evening, in the black and dark night, and behold, there
met him a woman with the attire of a harlot and subtle of heart. And she is loud and stubborn.
Her feet abide not in her house. Now is she without. Now in the
streets lieth and waiteth at every corner. So she called him
and kissed him. And with impudent face said to
him, I have peace-offerings with me this day, have I paid my vows?
Therefore came I forth to meet thee diligently, to seek thy
face, and I found thee. I've decked my bed with coverings
of tapestry, and carved works of fine linen. I've perfumed
my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our
fill of love till the morning. Let us soulless ourselves with
love. Not that. Not that. No, don't
come and flatter me with hypocrisy. That woman that was spoken of
right there, she's an adulteress. She's a harlot. She's a trickster. And she tries to lure people
in with her supposed beauty, telling people how much She loves
him. What a great opportunity they
have to be a member of her association. Not that. Not that. No. Let him
kiss me. Him. Tell me of him who saves
sinners. Tell me of him who has everlastingly
loved a people. Tell me of him who gave himself
for me. Boy, my guilt made sin for me. Let Him. Let Him. The one that the Father said,
this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Lord, teach
me who that is. The one that the Father was well
pleased with, teach me of Him. Don't leave me to myself. Don't
let me be fooled. Don't let my old heart deceive
me. It's desperately wicked. It's
deceitful above all things. Lord, I read of those in this
Scripture that are blind. Blind. Lord, open my eyes. Lord, give me a heart, a new
heart. Lord, remove that. Behead that
heart of stone that I was born with. Give me ears to hear. Let
me see Him. Oh, that I might know Him. That
I might be found in Him. Lord, I'm going to die. Lord,
don't leave me alone. Let Him. David says, Whom have
I in heaven but Thee? There is none upon earth. that
I desire beside Thee. These kisses that were spoken
of back in verse 2, let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth.
These kisses are wonderfully known. They're felt in the heart
through the preaching of the gospel of peace. It's His mouth.
Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth. Lord, let me hear
that which came from You. Let me hear the, Thus saith the
Lord. That's what I want to hear. And
Lord, would You by Your Holy Spirit bear witness to my heart
and teach me and cause me to muse upon those
things? Give me understanding. Lord,
by Your Holy Spirit, teach me of Your affection. and kisses
that are for me. Salvation is Almighty God dealing
personally with a needy sinner. O blind Bartimaeus, Jesus, Thou
Son of David, have mercy on me, on me. I'm sure that blind Bartimaeus
We would love for the Lord to have mercy on Jericho." That's
where he was going. He was walking through Jericho.
But have mercy on me. Oh, the sweet knowledge of that
intimacy. The bride in this verse right
here speaks to those who know the Lord and really have no other
need of another description of Him Put that. Him. Notice what she says. Let Him
kiss me with the kisses of His mouth. For thy love is better
than wine. Lord, turn with me to John chapter
20. John chapter 20. Let me show you how intimate
this is. Mary Magdalene. had gone to the
sepulcher there on the day that the Lord was raised. John chapter
20 and verse 15. Now, the Lord has risen. Verse 1 tells us who was speaking. It's Mary Magdalene. And the
Scripture sets forth that she realized that the stone in that
first verse had been taken away. And in verse 15, here she was
looking. And the Scripture says that Jesus
saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? Now listen to her words while
she is supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir,
if thou have borne him hence, Tell me where thou hast laid
Him, and I will take Him away." He needed no other description
but Him. That's who we're speaking of
this evening. Him. Him. The Lord. Let Him kiss me with the kisses
of His mouth. Oh, the precious effect of His
love to His people. They love Him because He first
loved them. They marvel at the grace of Almighty
God who would set His affection on such vile creatures such as
we. Let Him kiss me with the kisses
of His mouth, for thy love is better than wine. You know, wine, the Scripture
says in Proverbs 31, 6, can be given to those that are of heavy
hearts. You can make that heavy-hearted
man, woman, you can make them marry for a while, but it's false. There's nothing to it. But His
love, the Scripture says, is better than wine. It reaches
farther. than the body His love reaches to my very soul. Wine
is for a while. And if it's abused, I know this,
it's going to make the heart heavy. It's going to make it
sad. But His love is everlasting. His love is always wonderful.
His love is always sweet. Wine. People think, well, that
will make me forget my problems. But His loving kisses teach me
that I have been eternally chosen. His kisses through the preaching
of His Gospel. And that is how He kisses His
people. He kisses them through preaching of Himself. Those kisses
teach me that the Father everlastingly loved me. put me in a surety. His kisses teach me that He came
into this world made of a woman, made under the law and lived
perfectly before God Almighty and pleased God. And that righteousness
that He earned, He kisses me in the revelation that He robes
me in Himself. And then teaches me also that
there's coming a time by His grace that I'm eternally going
to be with Him. And I'm going to behold His glory.
I'm going to be seated with Him. Oh, Lord, that I might enter
into that. I see through a glass darkly
right now. But I do know this. I do see. We sing this song right here.
Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth, for Thy love is
better than wine. And I'll be the first to admit,
I sing that in part. I sing it because of the presence
of sin with me. I find myself doubting. It grieves me that I doubt. But
to be able to say that, what an intimate request. Let Him, the One that this world
despises, the one that the Father has honored, the one that has
obeyed God Almighty on my behalf, Lord, would You kiss me? And
then give me a heart to kiss the Son and to enjoy that intimate
relation with Him. Revelation 15.3 in closing, the
song of Moses the servant of God in the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty,
just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." What a verse! What a verse! Lord, would You kiss me this
evening? Would You kiss me and cause me
to know of Your kiss? And Lord, that I have a heart
that would want to kiss You and to be found in Your blessed presence. Thanks be unto God who gives
us the victory for Christ's sake. Amen.