Love And Affection of The Lord

Q: What does the Bible say about God's love for His people?

The Bible expresses God's love through the metaphor of a groom's affection for his bride, as seen in the Song of Solomon. Throughout the Scriptures, God's love for His people is depicted in intimately personal terms. In the Song of Solomon, the relationship between the Bride and Groom symbolizes the deep affection Christ has for His Church. This love is not merely emotional but is rooted in the covenantal promise God makes to His people, as expressed in passages such as 2 Samuel 23:1, where David acknowledges God's everlasting covenant. This underscores that God's love is committed, steadfast, and redemptive, culminating in Christ's sacrificial love demonstrated on the cross.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of eternal security is true?

Eternal security is affirmed through God's promises and His faithfulness to His covenant people. The doctrine of eternal security is rooted in the assurance that once God has chosen His people, they are eternally secure in His love and grace. As reflected in the teachings of the Song of Solomon, God's people are described as those who dwell in the garden of His grace, where they are nurtured and sustained. Psalm 84:4 highlights the joy of those who dwell in God’s house, emphasizing that they will continually praise Him. This security is cemented by the belief that God’s calling and promises are irrevocable, reminding us that those whom He redeems will be preserved until the end.

Q: Why is prayer important for Christians?

Prayer is essential for Christians as it fosters a personal relationship with God and aligns believers with His will. Prayer serves as the lifeline connecting believers to God, allowing them to communicate their joys, trials, and needs. In the passage from Song of Solomon, the Lord invites His people to express themselves freely, saying, 'Cause Me to hear thy voice.' This illustrates that God desires active engagement in relationship with His bride. Furthermore, Proverbs 15:8 reassures believers that the prayers of the righteous delight the Lord, affirming the value of heartfelt communication with Him. Through prayer, believers not only express their dependance on God but also receive guidance and consolation, thus strengthening their faith journey.

Q: What does it mean to dwell in the gardens as Christians?

To dwell in the gardens signifies being part of God's collective Church, nurtured by His grace and truth. In the context of the Song of Solomon, dwelling in the gardens symbolizes belonging to the community of faith where believers are nurtured in their relationship with Christ. This imagery highlights that while the Church is one, it exists in diverse congregations. The idea of gardens represents places of spiritual nourishment and growth. God tends to His people like a caretaker, ensuring they flourish in faith and unity, as noted in Psalm 84:4: 'Blessed are they that dwell in thy house.' Being part of these gardens means finding support and communion with fellow believers, experiencing the collective joy and strength that comes from being part of the body of Christ.

with me to the book of Song of
Solomon, chapter 8. About a year and a half ago,
I just went back and looked at
the notes. About a year and a half ago,
we started Song of Solomon. This took it a few verses at
a time. But in this blessed book, we,
by God's grace, if He has taught us anything, we've been able
to hear the words of love and affection between the Lord Jesus
Christ and His bride. Lord willing, I plan to finish
these last two verses tonight, and so ends the book for a while
of Song of Solomon. I told someone the other day,
it's like, I don't know, like a friend, you know. We've been
here so long, you know. But the words of love and affection
between two people are precious. They really are people that love
each other. But the last words between two people, those are
treasures. That's a treasure. Final words,
those are the words that you remember. I mean, I'm sure that
all of us can, you know, think back on loved ones, it's past. Think back on the last words.
What was the last thing you heard him say? 2 Samuel 23, verse 1 says, Now
these be the last words of David. It's what he said. He said, Although
my house be not so with God. I had some in his family that
just weren't believers. His son Absalom, they loved him. He said, Although my house be
not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant
ordered in all things. And sure, he said, this is all
my salvation. It's all my desire." Although
he make it not to grow. Meaning in that last phrase,
although he make it not to grow. He said, my redemption is complete. My desires are fully answered. There's no room for anything.
Nothing to be added. I shall not want." Now you think
about those last words. If you'd hear one that you loved,
one who had your heart, and they'd tell you, this is all my hope,
getting ready to leave this world. This is all my hope right here.
The Lord's made with me an everlasting covenant. I've trusted Him. I've rested in Him." Now, you
know, you let that one go, you know,
with some confidence, you know. You say, well, the last words
of our Lord from the cross was this, it's finished. Oh, if we ever grabbed hold of
the it that was finished, All that the law required for
God's people. All things that the Father gave
Him to do. All things for our redemption.
All prophecies fulfilled. Everything that was needful for
the putting away of my guilt. To hear Him say for Marvin Stonica,
everything that's needed, everything that's required, It's finished. It's over. Done. Nothing for you to do. You know, that would be a precious
word to hear, wouldn't it? Moments before our Lord ascended
into heaven, He said to His disciples, you shall receive power. After
that, the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth." Why? Because God has a people
that is going to be called out to darkness by the gospel. Well, as we consider these last
two verses of the book of Song of Solomon, we've got such words
as these. We've got some words. It's the
last words. There are some words that the
Lord spoke to His bride. Last words out of this book and
some words that the bride says to her Lord. The first words that are spoken
are spoken here by the Lord in verse 13. And He says, Thou that
dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to Thy voice. Cause me to hear it. Now you know, think of these
words as he speaks. You that dwell in the gardens. Now this is talking to all that
believe. You that dwell in the gardens. Now the Lord has one church,
and it is one church Collectively. But it's divided
in this world into gardens. There's gardens. We had some
friends that were here. Brother Henry was with us. Bob
and Carla Boyd. Different ones from different
congregations. They're from different gardens.
Gardens. They dwell in the gardens. But
there's just one garden. We have fellowship, one with
the other. Though Brother Henry Mahan doesn't
attend you know, all the time, this congregation, we have fellowship
with them. These gardens are located in
places that's raised up by the Lord, by His grace, united in
Christ. And it's here that these believers
dwell in unity of this Spirit. They dwell in gardens in the
midst of a desert of this world. That's where they are, just here.
It's like an oasis, isn't it? It's just like you come here
and it's just like, you know, for just a few minutes, I can
just sit down and I can relax. And I just want to hear, as I've
said before, tell me one more time how the Lord put away my
guilt. Just tell me one more time of
Him who is all of my hope." This is a garden right here. You that
have gardens, isn't it wonderful to be able to see the fruit of
your labor? To see the flowers or see the
vegetables, you know, just little tomato plants and stuff like
that. You know, those are yours. They're
the fruit of your labor. You that dwell in the gardens,
gardens that are watched over by the great a husband who feeds
and waters, protects, hedges about, that fruit might be produced,
dwelling, the fruit of righteousness. The Lord reveals who belong in
these gardens in time by regeneration, but they've always been hid. known unto the Lord eternally
because He chose them and eternally loved them. But in time, He calls
them out of darkness, and they are made to be seen as those
that dwell. Some of you have dwelled in this
garden longer than others. Some have been here years and
years and years, and some a few years, and some just maybe a
few months. But those that dwell a few months
are just as settled, just as welcome. They rejoice just as
much. And you dwell with them. It is
these gardens that the Lord speaks through pastors that He has raised
up His people. They hear and they are nurtured.
Psalm 84, verse 4 says, Blessed are they that dwell in thy house.
They will still be praising Thee. Whenever the Lord puts one in
His garden, Neal, they're there. God's people don't leave. They
don't leave His garden. Now, I'm not saying that they
might not leave this garden and go to another garden. They may
move and go dwell in that assembly, but they're still in His garden.
They don't leave His garden. God's people never leave His
garden. They dwell. Thou that dwellest, you stay,
you settle there. Those that dwell in the garden,
they dwell in the garden, but they dwell in the garden not
alone. He said, where two or three are
gathered together in My name, I am in the midst of you in a
way that you and I have sadly to say, I bet you, We've not
even thought about it that much since we've been here. Have we
really thought about His presence? He said, I'm in the midst of
you. I know His place is in heaven as our great high priest, interceding
as our advocate, but He abides with us in our place. For right
now, our place is in the garden. It's where we are. But I want
you to notice the fellowship. that's in the gardens. He says,
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to Thy
voice. The companions, the associates,
the knit-together ones, they hearken or they give heed or
they mark or they regard to Your voice. That is, as it agrees
with the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's people speak
frequently one to another concerning Him. Malachi 3.16 says, Then
they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and the
Lord hearkened and heard it. And a book of remembrance was
written before Him for them that feared the Lord and that thought
upon His name. I've said this before. You know
this. Listen to believers when they
get together. Oh, I may talk about the weather
a little bit. It's hot, it's this, it hasn't
rained, stuff like that. Just give them a few minutes,
though. You know where the conversation will gravitate to? Him. They'll talk about Him, concerning
Him. Communion between God's people
is a mark of their calling. That's a mark of a believer.
They speak of Him. They that feared the Lord spoke
often one to another, and the Lord hearkened. Thy companions
hear thy voice. But listen as our Lord speaks
of the personableness of His words to His people. He says, Thy companions, or Thee
companions, Hearken to thy voice, but then he says, cause me to
hear it. That is to say, you speak to
others of your joys, your trials, and your needs, but he says to
her, tell me. Tell me. We're reminded, Song
of Solomon 2.14, he says, O my dove, thou art in the clefts
of the rock. in the secret places of the stairs.
Let me see thy countenance, and let me hear thy voice, for sweet
is thy voice." Amazing thought that the Lord would tell us.
He said, you talk to each other. You talk to each other about
your trials and your tribulations and your problems, and that's
good. He said, let me hear it. Be more
free with me than you are with your companions. Pour out your
heart to Me and ask and you shall receive." Imagine Him who is
our All and in All saying to us, cause Me to hear your voice. Proverbs 15, verse 8 says, "...the
sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." All
these things that the unbelievers are doing religiously doing in
the name of religion the sacrifices of the wicked is an abomination
to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. He
says, Speak to me. And then the Lord, that was His
last words to her. And then in verse 14 we see the
last words of this book of the bride to the Master. The bride says unto him, Make
haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young heart
upon the mountains of spices." Make haste. Flee away or put
to flight. Who? My beloved, the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is in the heavens. We know
that. Psalm 115, 2 and 3 says, Should
the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in
the heavens. He hath done whatsoever He hath
pleased. Well, what's the desire of the
bride as she dwells in the garden? Lord, come for me and receive
me unto Yourself. Come quickly. That's what the
bride says in the book of Revelation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Come
for me. Be thou like a rower to a young
heart upon the mountains of spices." Be swift. Fly to my relief. Isaiah 65, 24, speaking of the
swiftness of the Lord toward His people, says this, It shall
come to pass before they call. You know, I thought about, I
was thinking today of how needful it is that we call upon the Lord. A moment ago, Brother Scott was
reading. And as he was reading, I was
trying to listen to what he was reading and applying what he
was reading to me. And then I was asking, Lord, help me. Help
me. In a few moments, I'm going to
stand before Your people. I'm going to stand before those
that you've eternally loved. Those that you laid down your
life for. And I'm going to speak. Let me
speak right. Let me speak with some consistency
and some honor. Let me say some things that will
be to your glory, to their good, to my good. And I read this Scripture,
Psalm 65, verse 24, ìIt shall come to pass before they call,
I will answer. And while theyíre yet speaking,
I will hear. The bride, before she even says,
ìLord, make haste.î While sheís asking, Iíll hear. The Lord has promised that He
would return, and there is a patient waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ. A believer waits. But while she
waits, she anxiously waits. Lord, come quickly. Daily, the
believer has the longing within and a looking toward that time
where time will be no more. And she will behold Him eternally
by sight, no more by faith. We dwell now in the gardens. But soon, for every believer,
heaven shall be the mountain of spices." That will be our
final home. Now we're in the garden of spices.
That's what was spoken of. We're in the garden of spices
now. But the bride says, make haste, my beloved, be like swift
roe, sure, young heart upon the mountains of spices. The bride
looks far and loves his appearing. This is the joyful expectation
of the saints. And what do we base our joy upon? Well, it's upon His Word. John
chapter 14. Let me ask you something. When we read these words, ask
yourself this. Do I believe this? John 14, 2-6. In my Father's house are many
mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. And whether I go, ye know, and
the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord,
we know not whether thou goest, and how can we know the way?
And Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father,
but by me." The bride says concerning Him, Lord, make haste. Make haste that where You are,
there I may be. Lord, You've promised. I'm basing
all my hope, everything, on Your Word, based on what You said,
based on Your authority. You promised me. Lord, Your honor
the honor of Your Word. That's all I've got. I don't
have anything else. He has told me that without Him,
I can do nothing. Carl, I believe that. He's told
me that He is the way. Lord, I believe. I believe You. I trust You. My beloved, Lord, I trust that
all of my righteousness is Your righteousness imputed to me. I believe that You paid my debt.
I believe You to be my offering. Lord, I believe what I owed,
You paid. I believe You've taken my sin away. I know that the
presence of sin is with me, and I grieve over that. The presence
of this old body, the pains, the hurts and trials of this
life, Lord, You make haste. My beloved, be like a road. Take
me to Yourself. This book ends with a request,
just like it began, the song of Solomon Chapter 1, verse 1
and 2, it says, The Song of Songs, which is Solomon. This is what
the bride asked for. Lord, let him kiss me with the
kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine. Oh my, what would you give in
exchange for his love? Let him kiss me. Your love is better than anything.
That's my request. Let him kiss me." And then it
ended with this last verse right here. Make haste. My beloved,
be thou like a roe to a young heart upon the mountains of spices. So ends the book of the Song
of Solomon, the book of love. We've seen some truly Amazing
statements in this book. Statements that could only be
made between two that were intimately acquainted with each other. There
are some things that a man will only tell his wife. That ought
to be that way. And vice versa. There should
be some things that were so private that only a man and his wife
or wife and her husband should say. Things just not for open
conversation, just not brought out anyplace else. Words of love,
words of comfort, words of peace, joy. We've been able to delve
into, by the revelation of the Spirit of God, some conversation
that only a believer understands and perceives. If you take an
unbeliever who tries to read something like this They don't
know what you're talking about. But it's a blessed book, been
blessed in my heart, and I know that yours too. Lord willing,
next time, I'm kind of vacillating between which book to start.
As of this point, I really don't know yet, but pray, Lord, give
me some direction before next time, and we'll take another
book and look at it. Okay. latest anniversary closing.

Love And Affection of The Lord

What does the Bible say about God's love for His people?

How do we know the doctrine of eternal security is true?

Why is prayer important for Christians?

What does it mean to dwell in the gardens as Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

Comments

Joshua

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

Love And Affection of The Lord

What does the Bible say about God's love for His people?

How do we know the doctrine of eternal security is true?

Why is prayer important for Christians?

What does it mean to dwell in the gardens as Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

Comments

More from Marvin Stalnaker

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Marvin Stalnaker

Joshua

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book