Introduction: In our last time together, the Shulamite tells the court ladies about a dream she once had about her shepherd. She is a great story-teller! She captures the attention of each one of these women. In fact, they become so enthralled by the story, they ask a question of the Shulamite.
1. The question of the harem. - Song 5:9
"What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?"
- In other words, what makes your shepherd so special?
- The charge they are referring to is found in verse 8, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love."
- Her personal witness of her betrothed shepherd drew the others to him.
2. The answer of the Shulamite. - Song 5:10-16
- Here is her opportunity to tell the others about the one whom she loves!
- Though this girl was not perfect, to him, she was! He loved everything about her. He loved her from head to toe.
- If you will remember, he mentioned:* Her eyes.
* Her hair.
* Her teeth.
* Her lips.
* Her speech.
* Her temples.
* Her neck.
* Her bosom.- Now, it is her turn to describe him. Just as he described her in chapter 4:2-5, so she describes him in chapter 5:10-16. She mentions:
* His complexion.
* His head.
* His hair.
* His eyes.
* His cheeks.
* His lips.
* His hands and nails.
* His legs.
* His countenance.
* His mouth.
* His loyalty and friendship.- She loves everything about him as well. Was he perfect? To her, he was.
- She recognized in him the same things he saw in her.* She thought he was very handsome.
* She thought he was very strong.
* She thought he was very kind, proven not only by his actions, but also by his words and thoughts of her.
* She knew he was a one-woman man, because he had doves' eyes as well. He said this of her in chapter 4:1, "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks..."
* Notice the phrase in verse 16, "...he is altogether lovely." It is only found here in the Song of Solomon, and it means he is "fervently cherished and desired," especially by her.
In that the Song of Songs is a picture of what the relationship between Jesus and us is supposed to be like, this passage holds special meaning.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."
Could you give an answer for what you believe about Jesus? Could you talk about Jesus in a simple conversation like the Shulamite did to the rest of the court ladies?
Herbert Buffum, Jr., penned "Let's Talk About Jesus."
Let's talk about Jesus
The King of kings is He;
The Lord of lords supreme,
Through all eternity
The great I Am the Way,
The Truth, the Life, the Door;
Let's talk about Jesus
More and more.
Conclusion: If the truth were known, many of us can talk about just about anything but Jesus. I believe the Shulamite's words represent our witness concerning the Lord Jesus. We ought to be able to willingly and freely talk about the One Who saved us.
One of my favorite songs is one I learned as a teen. It is entitled "Some Folks May Ask Me."
Some folks may ask me, some folks may say,
Who is this Jesus that you talk about every day?
He is my Saviour; He set me free.
Now listen while I tell you what He's done for me.He is my everything; He is my all.
He is my everything, both great and small.
He gave Himself for me; made everything new.
He is my everything. Now how about you?
This girl was ready to talk about her shepherd. Let's take the challenge here personally and learn to "talk about Jesus" when "folks may ask" us.
Sing "Some Folks May Ask Me."