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WEBVTT
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good morning my dear brethren and

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sisters and our lord jesus christ

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as our brother ron has indicated the

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theme of our exhortation this morning

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is taken from those two verses in the

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first of corinthians chapter 11

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namely verses 28 and 29

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but let a man examine himself

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and so let him eat of that bread and

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drink of that cup

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for he that eateth and drinketh

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unworthily

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eateth and drinketh condemnation to

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himself

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not discerning the lord's body

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but in our studies yesterday we

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considered the various ways in which the

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apostle paul

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had presented before us the theme of the

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body

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and in the first seven chapters he

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directed our attention to the personal

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body

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the personal body that each one of us

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possesses

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your body is the temple of the living

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god

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and in chapters 8 through to 14 the

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theme

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progressed

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as he expanded our conception of the

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body

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to that of the body of christ

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the body of christ yes the literal body

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of jesus himself in the first instance

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and that body which hung upon the cross

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so that the theme of the letter had very

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much associated with it the word of the

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cross

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but as we know from not only corinthians

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but other scriptures

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that body is a multitudinous body

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and this morning we gather together as

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that

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multitudinous body of christ and

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therefore in the context of first of

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corinthians chapter 11

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as we read the words there discerning

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the lord's body

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it is obvious that there were those in

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the meeting in corinth who were really

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eating and drinking to themselves

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the rich were being gluttonous and

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becoming drunk

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the poor the slave class

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being deprived and therefore they were

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going along as individuals

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they didn't see themselves as part of

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the multitudinous lord's body

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nor did they have that spirit that

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pervaded the lord jesus christ

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personally when he allowed his own body

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to be hung upon the cross

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and so we submit brethren and sisters

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that as we gather together this morning

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our minds go back to the spirit of the

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lord as he hung upon that cross

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but as we gather together and consider

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those about us

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a small part of the multitudinous body

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of christ

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we want to consider our personal

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relationship

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to this multitudinous body

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in the second of corinthians at chapter

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11

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the apostle paul

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likened the body of christ to a bride

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which had been espoused

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and in the second of corinthians at

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chapter 11

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and at verse 2

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paul says there

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for i am jealous over you with godly

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jealousy

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for i have espoused you to one husband

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that i may present you

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as a chaste virgin to christ

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and he actually goes on to say that he

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had concern

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but i fear lest by any means as the

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serpent beguiled eve through his

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subtlety

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so your minds should be corrupted

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from the simplicity that is in christ

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and therefore he had great concern for

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this body which he here styles a bride

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espoused to christ

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and he saw the need

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both for himself and for others

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to show a responsibility to that body

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to ensure that in the day when that body

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or that bride

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which is more particularly the theme

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we're going to pick up this morning when

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it stands before the lord jesus christ

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that it will be as beautiful

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as it can possibly be

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so whereas yesterday we were talking

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about the theme of the body being one

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we're going to be saying exactly the

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same things today but we're extending it

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to incorporate the theme

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being that of a bride

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and so when we look at the ecclesia

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collectively the symbol which is

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presented to us is

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the bride of christ

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and so we would say that collectively as

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the ecclesia we are the bride

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but as in a few moments we turn to the

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song of solomon which we are going to

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use really as the grounds for our

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exhortation this morning

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we're going to see that there are very

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various parties various individuals and

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various groups presented before us

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in this beautiful song

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and the bride once again there

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represents the ecclesia

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but it represents the ecclesia as the

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corporate body

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we are all together part of the one

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bride

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but in the beauty of that song

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it also presents to us our individual

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roles

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and just as in a natural wedding

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where the bride selects helpers

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virgins attendants bridesmaids call them

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what you will

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whose one role in that wedding service

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whose one role in that wedding service

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is to make the bride as beautiful as

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possible

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for presentation to her husband

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in the weddings of the world today

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i think very often the bridesmaids think

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that the wedding resolves around

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revolves around themselves

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and maybe we've lost sight of the fact

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that they are there for one reason alone

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and that is to do everything to make the

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bride as beautiful as possible for

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presentation to her husband

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have we made the point

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of what our exhortation is going to be

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we are gathering together here as

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individuals and each one of us as

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individuals find our part in the song of

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solomon as what is called the virgins

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the attendants

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and this morning what we want to do is

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to examine

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through the song of solomon

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all of the things that the virgins say

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either to

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or about the bride

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and of course the purpose

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in saying this and in doing this

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is that we might individually now

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examine ourselves and say is this my

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attitude

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to the bride

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is it my attitude to the bride and we're

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going to see in this beautiful song

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some of the things that the virgins say

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as they look at that bride and when they

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look at that bride they can only see

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beauty in the bride

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the bride deprecates herself and she

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says oh i'm not that good

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and you know it's a real challenge

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brethren sisters and i don't say this in

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any platitudinous way it is a real

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challenge

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for any one of us to just look at the

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ecclesia

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and to look past the failings of

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individuals

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and see that bride in its ultimate

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beauty

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so that whenever we look at that bride

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all we can see is beauty

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we should be able to do that

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and to do that we've got to develop a

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positive attitude towards the truth

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and towards the bride or the body

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and so as we go through this of course

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we're going to have to do a little bit

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of one might say mental gymnastics to

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use a colloquial expression

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because on the one hand we see ourselves

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as the bride the corporate body

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and then in the next minute we see

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ourselves as the individuals looking at

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that bride

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because we have to see ourselves in both

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of those roles

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and so to read my summary here i would

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say this that collectively as the

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ecclesia

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we are the bride

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individually we are the virgins

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as the virgins we are helping to prepare

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the bride

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for the time of her marriage

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how we do it

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and in what spirit we do it

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is in many respects the tenor

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of the words of the virgins to the bride

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in the song of solomon

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so turning back to the song of solomon

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we first of all look just by way of

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proof for what we are saying to chapter

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4 and verse 7

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because in chapter 4 of song of solomon

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and verse 7

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we have some words there which are

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actually the words of the of the

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bridegroom might i just mention that as

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we are perhaps turning our passages up

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there

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um

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that

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we have another colouring in exercise to

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do and one of the things we need to do

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with the song of solomon is to go

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through and color in who is speaking at

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any given time

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this is probably

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one of the most valuable coloring in

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exercises we can do

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because in most of our bibles we don't

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know who is speaking at any given time

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some translations are helpful and try to

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suggest it but if we can at least

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identify who is speaking

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then we're at least 50 percent of the

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way to understanding a book which to

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many people

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is a bit of an enigma a bit of a

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difficulty

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so that on some occasions we have the

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virgin speaking to the bride

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on other occasions the bride to the

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virgins

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sometimes the bride is speaking to the

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bridegroom

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sometimes the bridegroom's speaking to

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the bride

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and on some occasions the bride

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speaking to herself we might call it the

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bride in reverie

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and it's extremely valuable valuable to

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be able to go through and identify this

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i submit that we have two choices

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perhaps brother asks book on the song of

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solomon or brother h p mansfield's book

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called romance for eternity

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you might say well how do we

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know how do these men these brethren

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know who is speaking well some

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translations such as rotherham for

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example

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identify the fact that a certain verse

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is in the masculine singular so

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obviously that's the bridegroom speaking

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uh if it's in the feminine singular then

280
00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.870
it's obviously the bride speaking

281
00:10:52.880 --> 00:10:55.509
if it's in the feminine plural then it's

282
00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.590
the virgin speaking

283
00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.470
and i would say in about probably 98

284
00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.509
of the cases there is no difficulty in

285
00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.069
ascertaining who is speaking

286
00:11:06.079 --> 00:11:09.110
in regard to who they may be speaking to

287
00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.949
or more grammatically correct to whom

288
00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:12.550
they may be speaking

289
00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:14.550
sometimes of course we may have a slight

290
00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:16.949
difference of opinion uh is the bride

291
00:11:16.959 --> 00:11:19.110
speaking to the bridegroom or is the

292
00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.949
bride speaking to the virgins perhaps

293
00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:22.949
about the bridegroom but those things

294
00:11:22.959 --> 00:11:24.949
are uh incidental

295
00:11:24.959 --> 00:11:26.470
and this morning we just want to take

296
00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.710
one of these themes

297
00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.190
just as a matter of interest that i have

298
00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:32.790
done one special effort on the song of

299
00:11:32.800 --> 00:11:33.910
solomon

300
00:11:33.920 --> 00:11:35.910
at the brighton ecclesia about 12 months

301
00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.990
ago and rather than go through it verse

302
00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.389
by verse what we did was we said well on

303
00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.870
the first night we'll say we'll take the

304
00:11:42.880 --> 00:11:44.870
bridesmaids the virgin speaking to the

305
00:11:44.880 --> 00:11:46.949
bride next time we'll do the bride

306
00:11:46.959 --> 00:11:48.310
speaking to the virgins and to go

307
00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.190
through it thematically in some ways is

308
00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:52.790
certainly easier

309
00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:55.590
and perhaps more directly exhortational

310
00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:57.350
of course if we're able to do it verse

311
00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:59.590
by verse which is not all that easy then

312
00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.670
of course it would be even better

313
00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:03.269
so i want to pick up then this morning

314
00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:06.550
just this one aspect of what the virgins

315
00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:09.190
that is you and i as individuals think

316
00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.910
about and therefore in effect

317
00:12:11.920 --> 00:12:15.670
are saying to the bride concerning the

318
00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:18.870
preparation to meet the bridegroom

319
00:12:18.880 --> 00:12:21.190
but i turn to song of solomon 4 verse 7

320
00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.629
and i guess we're all there by this

321
00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.590
stage

322
00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.870
because that verse says

323
00:12:26.880 --> 00:12:29.990
thou art all fair my love

324
00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.550
there is no spot in thee

325
00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:34.389
and you might notice in the margin at

326
00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.150
least in the version i've got here the

327
00:12:36.160 --> 00:12:39.110
oxford wide margin bible it says they're

328
00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:43.829
cited generally in ephesians 5 verse 27

329
00:12:43.839 --> 00:12:45.829
we don't have to turn that to that at

330
00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:50.069
the moment but in ephesians chapter 5

331
00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:52.230
it is part of that section of our life

332
00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.230
of submission in christ

333
00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.310
and it speaks about wives submitting

334
00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:58.150
themselves to their husbands

335
00:12:58.160 --> 00:13:00.949
it talks about husbands love your wives

336
00:13:00.959 --> 00:13:03.430
even as christ loved the ecclesia and

337
00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.350
gave himself for it

338
00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.990
and then he speaks about the husband

339
00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.470
preparing the wife that there might be

340
00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:13.910
no spot or blemish in thee

341
00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.829
and it's generally conceded that that is

342
00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:18.389
an illusion back here to the song of

343
00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.590
solomon

344
00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.990
and in as much as paul in ephesians 5 in

345
00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.069
the last few verses says i'm not just

346
00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:26.230
talking about husbands and wives i'm

347
00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:30.310
talking about christ and the ecclesia

348
00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.910
so therefore we are saying that on the

349
00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:34.949
basis of song of solomon 4 verse 7

350
00:13:34.959 --> 00:13:36.629
the allusion to that in ephesians

351
00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.949
chapter 5 verse 27

352
00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:40.949
and the fact that paul says in ephesians

353
00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:42.629
5 he's really talking about the

354
00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.710
relationship between

355
00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.189
christ and the ecclesia

356
00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:49.030
we are there i think given sufficient

357
00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:51.110
grounds for saying that the song of

358
00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.629
solomon is not just a as some would some

359
00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.829
would say

360
00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:58.710
a love song written by a distraught

361
00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.750
shepherd

362
00:13:59.760 --> 00:14:02.150
whose loved one had been stolen by

363
00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:04.629
solomon i think that is totally

364
00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.030
degrading the bible i don't agree with

365
00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:08.470
that one little bit

366
00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.629
but that in fact it is a beautiful love

367
00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.430
song

368
00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.430
in which solomon

369
00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.590
who it says wrote a thousand songs but

370
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.790
of all of them

371
00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:19.430
this was the song of songs

372
00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.269
this was the ultimate

373
00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.550
that's what it says that the the song of

374
00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:26.710
songs which is solomon and the

375
00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.629
expression there actually means that it

376
00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:32.069
was it was the ultimate of songs

377
00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:33.990
and it's so doing therefore i believe we

378
00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:37.910
are justified in examining this song

379
00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:40.470
by way of exhortation this morning

380
00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:43.269
and to consider how you and i as

381
00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:47.110
individuals feel about the bride

382
00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.949
about the community

383
00:14:48.959 --> 00:14:50.949
and what we see as our responsibilities

384
00:14:50.959 --> 00:14:53.030
in that regard

385
00:14:53.040 --> 00:14:55.030
now the chapters in the song of solomon

386
00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:57.189
are not really at all helpful the

387
00:14:57.199 --> 00:14:59.509
chapter divisions i mean they've been

388
00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.750
put in by later compilers

389
00:15:01.760 --> 00:15:03.750
it is generally regarded however that

390
00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:07.269
the book is is really divided up into 12

391
00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.629
songs

392
00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:10.389
and what i would like to do initially is

393
00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:13.590
just to briefly cover the first song so

394
00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.990
we can see the way in which the the

395
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.150
tenor of the song develops

396
00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:19.269
and then the remainder of our

397
00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.189
exhortation will be simply to look at

398
00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:22.870
and we don't have to examine them in any

399
00:15:22.880 --> 00:15:24.069
depth at all

400
00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:26.310
the lessons will be obvious we want to

401
00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.829
just look at this one aspect of what the

402
00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:33.269
bridesmaids the virgins say concerning

403
00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:35.269
the bride

404
00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.069
so

405
00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:38.069
it really starts in verse two and in

406
00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:40.230
fact song 1

407
00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.749
goes from

408
00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.910
chapter 1 verse 2

409
00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:46.470
through to chapter 1 verse 8. so let's

410
00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:49.030
just do an overview of those verses to

411
00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:51.670
to get the picture of the of the drama

412
00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:53.829
and of the beauty of of this particular

413
00:15:53.839 --> 00:15:55.030
song

414
00:15:55.040 --> 00:15:57.749
the song actually opens abruptly

415
00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.990
with the bride addressing the attendant

416
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.910
virgins

417
00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:03.670
and she simply says

418
00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:05.350
let him kiss me

419
00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:08.150
with the kisses of his mouth now of

420
00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:10.150
course it's obvious here that the the

421
00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:12.790
bride is anticipating the coming of her

422
00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:15.110
bridegroom who of course it goes without

423
00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.509
saying is the lord jesus christ and the

424
00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.509
greatest desire she has and this is the

425
00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.829
corporate occlusion now the bride saying

426
00:16:21.839 --> 00:16:23.590
let him kiss me with the kisses of his

427
00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.069
mouth this is the very opening of of

428
00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:28.870
this beautiful of this beautiful song

429
00:16:28.880 --> 00:16:31.829
because here is one whose whole life

430
00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:33.910
has been a mental and an emotional

431
00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.350
preparation

432
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.269
in anticipation of the day when she

433
00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.870
shall experience

434
00:16:38.880 --> 00:16:40.389
the great joy

435
00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:43.670
of the bridegroom's physical presence

436
00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.350
hence the expression

437
00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.110
let him kiss me

438
00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.870
with the kisses of his mouth she doesn't

439
00:16:48.880 --> 00:16:51.590
even name him she doesn't even name him

440
00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.550
and isn't isn't that just typical of any

441
00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.590
bride

442
00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.189
bride-to-be

443
00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:59.590
her wedding day is approaching she can't

444
00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.990
think about anything else

445
00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.949
she is counting the days and that also

446
00:17:04.959 --> 00:17:06.630
has a lesson for us and we'll we'll sort

447
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.789
of end on that note as a matter of fact

448
00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.270
she's counting the days

449
00:17:11.280 --> 00:17:13.750
any time you speak to her she's speaking

450
00:17:13.760 --> 00:17:15.829
about the wedding

451
00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.909
unfortunately in the world today many

452
00:17:17.919 --> 00:17:19.669
bride-to-be's when you talk about them

453
00:17:19.679 --> 00:17:20.870
they're talking about their wedding

454
00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:22.150
dress and they're talking about the

455
00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.750
wedding reception they're talking about

456
00:17:23.760 --> 00:17:26.470
all sorts of things but ideally

457
00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:29.270
and i suppose deep down but ideally

458
00:17:29.280 --> 00:17:30.789
there should be but one thought in her

459
00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.669
mind

460
00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:33.830
and that is the bridegroom so she

461
00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:35.510
doesn't even name him

462
00:17:35.520 --> 00:17:37.750
everybody knows who she is thinking

463
00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:40.070
about are we like that

464
00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.750
you know when we go to work or something

465
00:17:41.760 --> 00:17:43.590
and we just talk

466
00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:45.430
about our life

467
00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.870
that they know that whatever we're

468
00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:48.390
saying is coming from the background

469
00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.310
that despite what we might be doing at

470
00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.350
work

471
00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.950
really we are waiting for the coming of

472
00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.630
christ

473
00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.710
and of course i think people feel a bit

474
00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.549
sorry for us a bit sympathetic for us

475
00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.669
and they think they were a little bit

476
00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:01.909
naive but they should be able to

477
00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:03.590
understand that everything we're

478
00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:05.590
thinking about is the coming of christ

479
00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:07.510
but at this stage we're not talking

480
00:18:07.520 --> 00:18:09.270
about the world out there

481
00:18:09.280 --> 00:18:11.590
and incidentally there is another group

482
00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:13.909
in the ecclesia not in the ecclesia i

483
00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:15.270
mean in the song of solomon that isn't

484
00:18:15.280 --> 00:18:17.110
part of the ecclesia

485
00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:18.789
and that is the queens and concubines

486
00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.710
that just occur on one occasion and they

487
00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.870
doubtless represent some of the outside

488
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.750
people the gentiles observing this this

489
00:18:25.760 --> 00:18:27.750
process of development but let's just

490
00:18:27.760 --> 00:18:29.270
try and keep our theme narrow this

491
00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:30.549
morning we won't try and do a whole

492
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.669
bible school series in one exhortation

493
00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:35.270
let him kiss me with the kisses of his

494
00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:37.270
mouth so she doesn't even name him it's

495
00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:38.870
quite unnecessary

496
00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.549
because the virgins know that there is

497
00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.549
only one thought in her mind

498
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:45.110
she is totally absorbed by it

499
00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.549
there could not be a more fitting

500
00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.710
opening to the song

501
00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.150
now if you then

502
00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.710
go and color it in you'll notice

503
00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.549
that the remaining part of verse two and

504
00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:59.590
all of verse 3 is now the response from

505
00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:01.270
the virgins

506
00:19:01.280 --> 00:19:03.909
some translations will now say they the

507
00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:06.470
virgins but i suggest that romance for

508
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.789
eternity by brother mansfield and you

509
00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.310
can compare it with brother asks book

510
00:19:10.320 --> 00:19:11.990
they are very very similar just minor

511
00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.190
differences

512
00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.669
now have the virgins responding and this

513
00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:17.909
in fact of course is is the first

514
00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:19.830
example of what we want to look at this

515
00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:22.310
morning although it is my intention to

516
00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:24.150
just gloss it at the moment and then

517
00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:26.390
we'll come back and look at them all in

518
00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.950
order but here's the first occasion so

519
00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.350
addressing the bride

520
00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:34.230
the virgins explain to her the reason

521
00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:37.029
why they have been drawn to her

522
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.390
in other words

523
00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.110
why have you and i desire to become part

524
00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.710
of this community

525
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.390
oh there's all sorts of reasons why we

526
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.830
want to be baptized we want to be

527
00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:48.230
baptized to declare the glory of god we

528
00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.990
want to be baptized so that we might be

529
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.909
saved and be in the kingdom and in its

530
00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:54.870
context that's that's acceptable enough

531
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.150
but the theme we're looking at this

532
00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:57.909
morning is why

533
00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:59.750
do we want to be identified with this

534
00:19:59.760 --> 00:20:00.870
bride

535
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.830
why do we and when we look at that bride

536
00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:05.990
what do we say

537
00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.549
and so they express the reason why they

538
00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.070
are drawn to it let's read the words

539
00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:12.710
halfway through verse 2

540
00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.630
for thy love

541
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:17.430
is better than wine

542
00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.149
because of the savor of thy good

543
00:20:20.159 --> 00:20:21.750
ointments

544
00:20:21.760 --> 00:20:25.590
thy name is as ointment poured forth

545
00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:28.870
therefore do the virgins love thee

546
00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.590
now that's you and me speaking about

547
00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:35.270
theoclesia about the corporate ecclesia

548
00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:36.710
we're spending a lot of time talking

549
00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.230
about the desire for the unity of the

550
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:40.870
body that goes without saying we are now

551
00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:43.350
looking at this glorified body

552
00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:47.190
and we say it's because of the savior of

553
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.070
thy good ointments

554
00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:52.390
really because of the anointing

555
00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.190
and because of the name she bears

556
00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.590
she's been espoused under one husband

557
00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:59.510
said paul in second of corinthians that

558
00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:01.750
we read earlier and thus she bears his

559
00:21:01.760 --> 00:21:02.630
name

560
00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:04.549
we've been baptized into the name of the

561
00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:06.870
father and of the son

562
00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:09.590
and she's been anointed with that spirit

563
00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:11.510
oh yes there's a sense in which we can

564
00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:13.110
say we're anointed with that spirit

565
00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:16.549
today the spirit of that word that new

566
00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.710
disposition which comes to us

567
00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.549
from that word

568
00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.750
and so

569
00:21:21.760 --> 00:21:24.710
this manifests itself in a way that

570
00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.950
others can see it

571
00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.830
and so in verse four

572
00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:34.789
bride says to the to the virgins draw me

573
00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.470
they respond

574
00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:38.950
we will run after thee

575
00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.710
the bride says

576
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.470
the king hath brought me into his

577
00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.669
chambers

578
00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:45.830
yes brethren and sisters we are already

579
00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:48.070
brought into the chambers what was john

580
00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:50.710
chapter 14 about in my father's house

581
00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:53.350
are many abiding places

582
00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:56.390
i go to prepare a place for you

583
00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.149
and if i go i will come again and

584
00:21:58.159 --> 00:22:00.549
receive you unto myself but already we

585
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:02.630
are part of that household

586
00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.310
we're just waiting for that household to

587
00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:06.710
be manifested in glory but already we

588
00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:09.110
are part of that household we've been

589
00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:11.990
brought into the king's chambers

590
00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.350
but coming back to the theme of the

591
00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:15.190
virgins because it's the virgins we want

592
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.789
to concentrate on

593
00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:18.549
and the virgins say

594
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.710
we'll be glad

595
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:23.029
and we will rejoice in thee can we say

596
00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.310
that when we come together as an

597
00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:27.430
ecclesia we're glad to be here we're

598
00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.909
rejoicing to be identified with making

599
00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:32.549
this ecclesia this bride as beautiful as

600
00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.549
possible

601
00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.549
we will remember thy love more than wine

602
00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.270
the upright love thee

603
00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:43.909
and so the the verbal exchange therefore

604
00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:47.510
between the virgins as the individuals

605
00:22:47.520 --> 00:22:50.310
and the bride herself continues

606
00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:53.510
as the bride can only speak of her lord

607
00:22:53.520 --> 00:22:55.909
while the virgins in turn

608
00:22:55.919 --> 00:22:59.029
are totally dedicated to the bride

609
00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:03.669
to extol her virtues

610
00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:05.350
in verse 5

611
00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:07.669
it's almost an argument now

612
00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:09.909
because the bride says ah there's no

613
00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:13.350
beauty in me i'm only black

614
00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:17.029
and the virgins say oh but you're comely

615
00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.190
the bride says oh ye daughters of

616
00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.630
jerusalem

617
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:24.789
i'm just like those tents of kida

618
00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:27.110
to which the virgins respond

619
00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:28.789
the way we see you

620
00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:31.190
you're like curtains in the in the

621
00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.909
palace and the of solomon

622
00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:36.789
and so you see it's relative isn't it

623
00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:38.390
it's all relative

624
00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.110
the bride and even today as we consider

625
00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:42.470
the ecclesia

626
00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.789
we think of how far we come short of the

627
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.310
glory of god

628
00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:49.190
but we've got to be able to look past

629
00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:51.430
the problems of the present time

630
00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.990
and to recognize that god has

631
00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.549
constituted us righteous hasn't he he's

632
00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.750
given us a white linen garment a garment

633
00:23:59.760 --> 00:24:01.590
of righteousness and when god looks down

634
00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:04.549
upon us he has told us that he doesn't

635
00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:07.510
see sins flesh anymore he sees a garment

636
00:24:07.520 --> 00:24:08.549
there

637
00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.710
and the golden girdle of tried faith is

638
00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.350
keeping it in place that's how god looks

639
00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:15.510
upon us and he's told us that

640
00:24:15.520 --> 00:24:18.310
and we've got to come to believe it and

641
00:24:18.320 --> 00:24:20.149
as the individual members we want to do

642
00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:21.669
everything possible

643
00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:24.230
to make that athleisure as beautiful as

644
00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.549
it can possibly be

645
00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:29.269
and so in verse 5 the bride being

646
00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:31.990
conscious of present imperfections

647
00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.149
deprecates her beauty

648
00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:36.630
while the virgins viewing the perfected

649
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.669
bride

650
00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:40.310
speak only of her virtues

651
00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:42.310
and i think brethren and sisters that is

652
00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:44.549
a very challenging lesson for every one

653
00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.510
of us

654
00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:47.590
i'm sure every one of us is saying

655
00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:49.269
oh but

656
00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.950
yes but

657
00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.430
yes but

658
00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.669
how can i look at a perfect ecclesia

659
00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:58.070
there isn't a perfect athleisure

660
00:24:58.080 --> 00:25:00.070
well we're not talking about perfect

661
00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.430
individuals

662
00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:05.350
but god has said i have sanctified you i

663
00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:07.190
have made you holy

664
00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.669
romans is all about the fact that god

665
00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:13.669
has constituted us saints he's imputed

666
00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:16.149
unto us he's reckoned unto us he's

667
00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:18.630
accounted unto us righteousness

668
00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.870
his righteousness we have been made the

669
00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:23.590
righteousness of god in christ

670
00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:25.110
therefore we should be able to look at

671
00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:27.590
our community and say that community in

672
00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:29.110
god's eyes

673
00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:31.750
is going to one day be perfect in beauty

674
00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:33.990
now my responsibility as one of the

675
00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.029
virgins

676
00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.029
is to make it as beautiful as possible

677
00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:39.190
therefore when i look at the bride

678
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.310
i don't talk about it in a removed way

679
00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.830
when you talk about the ecclesia when

680
00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:45.990
you go home do you talk about it as

681
00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.029
them

682
00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.390
or they

683
00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.230
or it

684
00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.710
or do you talk about it as us

685
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.230
and we

686
00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.510
you know that's just an interesting

687
00:25:55.520 --> 00:25:57.029
little test

688
00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.350
do i feel removed from it

689
00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:01.830
or do i feel very much identified with

690
00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:02.549
it

691
00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.390
and as i said we have to do a little bit

692
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.110
of

693
00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.950
shall i say mental gymnastics here and

694
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:09.590
saying well i am the bride i'm part of

695
00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:12.310
that bride but i'm also an individual

696
00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:14.149
virgin

697
00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.190
and so

698
00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:18.149
therefore as the theme goes on

699
00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:21.190
we find in verse six for example

700
00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:23.909
that the bride says look not upon me

701
00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:25.269
because i'm black

702
00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.390
because the

703
00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.990
the sun has

704
00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.430
looked upon me

705
00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:32.149
my mother's children were angry with me

706
00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:34.390
they made me the keeper of the vineyards

707
00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:38.149
but my own vineyard have i not kept

708
00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:39.750
and although it's not the theme that we

709
00:26:39.760 --> 00:26:41.909
want to develop this morning i think in

710
00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:44.230
verse 7 we now have the bride actually

711
00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:46.470
turning to the bridegroom and say

712
00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:49.430
tell me o thou whom my soul loveth

713
00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:51.029
where thou feedest

714
00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.269
where thou makest thy flock to rest at

715
00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.310
noon

716
00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:56.630
for why should i be as one that turneth

717
00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.669
aside

718
00:26:57.679 --> 00:27:01.269
by the flocks of thy companions

719
00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:03.590
so you see finally the bride turns to

720
00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:06.070
address her absent groomer to seek words

721
00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:08.470
of reassurance from him

722
00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:10.630
and this she now receives in in the

723
00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.390
words of verse 8

724
00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.990
where the bride is encouraged to

725
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.070
patiently continue in well-doing so

726
00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:18.149
verse 8 would now be the bridegroom

727
00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:19.830
responding

728
00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:21.430
if thou know not

729
00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.990
o thou fairest among women

730
00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:26.630
go thy way forth by the footsteps of the

731
00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.590
flock

732
00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:30.310
and feed thy kids beside the shepherd's

733
00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.669
tents

734
00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:33.510
now that's the end of the first song and

735
00:27:33.520 --> 00:27:35.909
what i wanted to do there simply was to

736
00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:37.830
for the sake of those who perhaps know

737
00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:39.990
very little about the song of solomon to

738
00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.909
show how there is interaction between

739
00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:45.110
the various parties

740
00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:47.029
but having done that we now want to do

741
00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:49.350
what we said we wanted to do and

742
00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.950
i would just like to summarize again

743
00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:54.070
what the exhortation is going to be

744
00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:55.830
as the ecclesia

745
00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:57.510
the bride itself

746
00:27:57.520 --> 00:27:59.909
we are humbled when we contemplate our

747
00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:01.669
imperfections

748
00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:03.669
but we have the divine assurance that

749
00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:06.310
the father's love toward us

750
00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:09.269
is such that he will cover our sins

751
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.789
he has already done that with that

752
00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.389
garment he gave us at the time of our

753
00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.590
baptism

754
00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:15.990
and he will cause us to stand approved

755
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.590
and righteous

756
00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:21.190
in the day of the bridegroom's appearing

757
00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.510
but now let's change our roles

758
00:28:23.520 --> 00:28:25.990
as individual virgins

759
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.710
we rejoice in the work of preparing the

760
00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.950
bride for her marriage

761
00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.310
and

762
00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:34.470
despite the disappointments we may at

763
00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.990
times receive

764
00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.909
from the activities of perhaps other

765
00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:39.510
virgins

766
00:28:39.520 --> 00:28:41.909
we don't dwell on these things

767
00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:45.909
but we keep our eyes ever on the bride

768
00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:48.630
and our ears ever attentive

769
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:51.350
for the sound of the bridegrooms

770
00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:53.430
appearing

771
00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:56.230
and so then the song presents us

772
00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.990
with the principal lesson that has the

773
00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.750
virgins our role

774
00:28:59.760 --> 00:29:01.990
is to assist in the preparation of the

775
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.350
bride

776
00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:07.510
there is a need for watchfulness

777
00:29:07.520 --> 00:29:09.750
let's consider then the occurrences

778
00:29:09.760 --> 00:29:10.789
where

779
00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:13.190
the virgins speak to the bride

780
00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.789
and then we'll ultimately conclude our

781
00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.230
exhortation

782
00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:19.269
with exhortation for watchfulness

783
00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:21.029
from the words of the great bridegroom

784
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.789
himself

785
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.190
i've noted here around about

786
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.430
approximately 10 occasions and as i said

787
00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.630
we're not going to expound them we're

788
00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.149
just going to read them and summarize

789
00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:31.029
them

790
00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.470
the first occasion we've already

791
00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:35.110
considered in chapter 1 and verses 2 and

792
00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:36.389
3

793
00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:38.549
where the virgins there express

794
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:40.870
that they love the bride

795
00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:43.669
because of the name she bears

796
00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:45.990
and because of her relationship to the

797
00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:48.149
anointed one brethren and sisters when

798
00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:50.310
we go around and say i find more

799
00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:51.909
affinity with the people that i work

800
00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:52.710
with

801
00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.510
i find my neighbors more kind to me than

802
00:29:55.520 --> 00:29:57.510
my brethren and sisters

803
00:29:57.520 --> 00:29:59.750
something's gone wrong

804
00:29:59.760 --> 00:30:01.750
just because as we've said we may at

805
00:30:01.760 --> 00:30:03.590
times be disappointed

806
00:30:03.600 --> 00:30:06.710
with the activities of other virgins

807
00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:10.310
never take it out on the bride

808
00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:12.870
and so we love the bride

809
00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:15.830
because of the name she that is we if

810
00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:17.510
you like bear

811
00:30:17.520 --> 00:30:20.070
and because of her relationship to the

812
00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:21.750
anointed one

813
00:30:21.760 --> 00:30:25.510
we can't criticize the ecclesia

814
00:30:25.520 --> 00:30:29.190
the ecclesia in god's sight is perfect

815
00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.549
because he has

816
00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.789
made it such and i hope you understand

817
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:34.470
the context in which i'm saying that

818
00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:36.389
we're not talking about perfect morality

819
00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:38.549
this side of the kingdom

820
00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:40.470
and so we look at the ecclesia and we

821
00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:43.909
will be positive about the ecclesia and

822
00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:46.149
about the beauty we see in her

823
00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:48.870
because of the wonderful garment she has

824
00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:51.029
even that garment that white garment of

825
00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.870
righteousness

826
00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:55.669
verse 4 we also considered they love the

827
00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:57.110
bride because of the loving

828
00:30:57.120 --> 00:31:00.630
characteristics they see in her

829
00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:03.430
verse 5 of chapter 1 they can only see

830
00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:05.350
beauty in the bride

831
00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:07.909
even though the bride in her modesty

832
00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:10.950
deprecates herself

833
00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:13.190
well the next occurrence uh and this now

834
00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:15.830
takes us outside of the first song it

835
00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:17.509
moves into the second song which

836
00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:19.590
incidentally goes from chapter one verse

837
00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:20.549
nine

838
00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:22.789
uh through to chapter two verse seven

839
00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:25.110
but that's incidental to our remarks

840
00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:26.310
this morning

841
00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:29.269
and in chapter one and verse eleven

842
00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:31.190
we've now got another statement by the

843
00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.710
virgins

844
00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:34.389
we read there

845
00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:38.070
we will make the borders of gold

846
00:31:38.080 --> 00:31:40.950
with studs of silver

847
00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.190
now of course to do a detailed verse by

848
00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.870
verse study of the song of solomon we're

849
00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.950
going to come across a lot of symbols

850
00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:49.509
symbols with which we would be familiar

851
00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:51.830
from other parts of the scripture

852
00:31:51.840 --> 00:31:53.909
a silver of course is

853
00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:56.710
as we have it here in verse 11

854
00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:59.430
and gold as we have it are symbols of

855
00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:02.389
redemption and tried faith

856
00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.430
and so

857
00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.909
they desire therefore to add to the

858
00:32:05.919 --> 00:32:07.750
bride's beauty

859
00:32:07.760 --> 00:32:09.909
with that which they can provide for her

860
00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:11.190
perfection

861
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:13.669
because they are to be part of her

862
00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:17.269
gold of faith and silver of redemption

863
00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:19.190
so brother and sisters

864
00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:22.389
your personal and my personal

865
00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:24.389
appreciation of that great work of

866
00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:26.389
redemption that's been done for us and

867
00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:28.230
of that faith which we're called upon to

868
00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.509
develop

869
00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:31.190
is going to make the bride more

870
00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.630
beautiful

871
00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:35.590
but it's up to you and me as individuals

872
00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:36.789
to do it

873
00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:39.350
don't say what's the ecclesia doing for

874
00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.710
me

875
00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:43.110
whenever in the natural or spiritual

876
00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:44.070
sense

877
00:32:44.080 --> 00:32:46.149
could a group of attendants say what's

878
00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:48.950
the bride doing to help me

879
00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:51.430
it's just totally out of the question

880
00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.950
totally out of the question in this

881
00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:55.350
context you and i are here as

882
00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:57.990
individuals to look after the bride and

883
00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.909
forget about ourselves

884
00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.830
that's the theme for this morning i know

885
00:33:01.840 --> 00:33:03.669
i'm making absolute statements and i

886
00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:05.269
know that in some circumstances you can

887
00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.710
say well of course there's this and that

888
00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.789
and something else but this is the

889
00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.870
ultimate in desire

890
00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:13.110
and so we as individuals say we're going

891
00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:15.110
to make that bride beautiful

892
00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:17.669
and your and my appreciation of the work

893
00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:19.110
of redemption

894
00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.149
and our

895
00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:23.269
faith when put to the test

896
00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.710
it's not going to make you and me as a

897
00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.549
virgin more beautiful

898
00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.750
it's going to make the bride more

899
00:33:27.760 --> 00:33:29.990
beautiful that's what it is

900
00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:32.230
it's with the intention of making the

901
00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:34.870
bride more beautiful we're going to make

902
00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:37.029
it for you

903
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.110
turn over to chapter 2 and

904
00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:41.669
verse 15.

905
00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:46.149
we realize that not all is always well

906
00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:48.630
within the ecclesia

907
00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.430
and very often the bride the ecclesia

908
00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.470
suffers

909
00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:55.430
because of external influences

910
00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:57.669
external influences which may impinge

911
00:33:57.679 --> 00:33:59.350
upon the ecclesia

912
00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:02.389
and so in chapter 2 and verse 15

913
00:34:02.399 --> 00:34:04.470
the virgins say

914
00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:06.630
take us the boxes

915
00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:09.909
the little foxes that spoil the vines

916
00:34:09.919 --> 00:34:13.109
for our vines have tender grapes

917
00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:14.550
and of course one of the things that

918
00:34:14.560 --> 00:34:16.470
perhaps makes the song of solomon shall

919
00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.629
we say more complex rather than use the

920
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:21.030
word difficult is because he brings in

921
00:34:21.040 --> 00:34:23.109
so many different symbols

922
00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.710
so many different uh

923
00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:27.109
i would say aspects of imagery rather

924
00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.550
than just symbols

925
00:34:28.560 --> 00:34:30.470
and now we've got of course the ecclesia

926
00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:33.270
identified with the with the vineyard

927
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:35.750
and we got the foxes here

928
00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:38.389
and so they longed to see the erratic

929
00:34:38.399 --> 00:34:39.990
the eradication

930
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:43.109
of what we might call the fox elements

931
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.230
that which would ruin the vines

932
00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:49.030
in yahweh's vineyard and of course it's

933
00:34:49.040 --> 00:34:52.710
yet but another symbol of this ecclesia

934
00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:54.629
so we long for the day when those fox

935
00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:56.790
elements will be eradicated

936
00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:59.430
you see the song of solomon is not only

937
00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:02.390
idealistic but it's also realistic and

938
00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:05.349
it realizes that as virgins

939
00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:07.349
we have a desire to make the bride

940
00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:08.390
beautiful

941
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:11.349
but we have a responsibility also

942
00:35:11.359 --> 00:35:14.310
to to protect it from anything that is

943
00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:16.710
going to mar its beauty and here it's

944
00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:20.790
said in the in the symbolism of a vines

945
00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:23.750
in a vineyard where the foxes are are

946
00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:26.630
stealing the grapes

947
00:35:26.640 --> 00:35:30.069
a chapter three then and in verses a 6

948
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:31.829
to 11.

949
00:35:31.839 --> 00:35:34.390
we see therefore we see there in those

950
00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:37.829
verses the the bridesmaids the virgins

951
00:35:37.839 --> 00:35:40.230
viewing with with great delight

952
00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:42.150
the future prospects of this bridal

953
00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:43.270
party

954
00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:45.030
as it moves out of the wilderness up to

955
00:35:45.040 --> 00:35:47.030
jerusalem so we're now projected in the

956
00:35:47.040 --> 00:35:48.630
future

957
00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:50.470
we're now projected to the time when

958
00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.630
this bride is going to

959
00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:54.230
come with a husband because we know the

960
00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:56.470
first work of christ that is coming

961
00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.630
is the resurrection of the dead

962
00:35:58.640 --> 00:36:00.390
and what is called the marriage of the

963
00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.069
lamb

964
00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.990
and i say for those who perhaps haven't

965
00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.069
followed this theme through that in the

966
00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.670
bible we have the marriage of the lamb

967
00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:09.430
and the marriage supper of the lamb

968
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:11.270
these two events are separated by

969
00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:14.150
something like nearly 50 years

970
00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.910
the marriage of the lamb

971
00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:18.710
is the immortalization of the saints

972
00:36:18.720 --> 00:36:20.150
but don't just think of it in those

973
00:36:20.160 --> 00:36:22.950
terms that's what's in it for me but of

974
00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.790
course it's a fact

975
00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:27.829
but as brother thomas once said there

976
00:36:27.839 --> 00:36:31.990
must be perfection of character first

977
00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:35.190
and perfection of substance after

978
00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:36.790
so when we look to the coming of the

979
00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:38.470
lord jesus christ and what we often

980
00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:40.550
speak of as the judgment seat

981
00:36:40.560 --> 00:36:42.870
we should see the judgment seat

982
00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:44.950
very positively

983
00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:46.950
as being the final stage in the

984
00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:49.910
perfection of our character

985
00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:51.910
when the character is perfected at the

986
00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:54.310
judgment seat our whole life having been

987
00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.750
brought before us

988
00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:58.310
then the body can be perfected

989
00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:59.750
so when we talk about the marriage of

990
00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:01.190
the lamb and we say that's the granting

991
00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:02.710
of immortality

992
00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:04.310
what we really should be saying is it's

993
00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:07.430
the perfecting of our character

994
00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:10.069
or subsequently then to be granted

995
00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:11.750
immortality

996
00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:13.829
and the first work that will then happen

997
00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:14.710
is

998
00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:17.510
as deuteronomy 33 so beautifully depicts

999
00:37:17.520 --> 00:37:19.750
the march from sinai

1000
00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:22.310
via the wilderness ultimately coming to

1001
00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:24.630
zion with ten thousands of the saints

1002
00:37:24.640 --> 00:37:27.750
the march of christ and his bride

1003
00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:29.829
but it won't be until such time as the

1004
00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:31.750
world has been subdued

1005
00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:33.910
the temple opened

1006
00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:36.069
and there at the opening of the temple

1007
00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:38.150
the guests are brought and the guests as

1008
00:37:38.160 --> 00:37:39.510
they come along

1009
00:37:39.520 --> 00:37:41.829
celebrate with christ and the bride

1010
00:37:41.839 --> 00:37:43.750
their marriage of what is commonly

1011
00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:46.870
called the marriage supper of the lamb

1012
00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:48.310
and so with that as a background i

1013
00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:51.430
submit that here in song 3 and verses 6

1014
00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.030
to 11

1015
00:37:53.040 --> 00:37:55.750
the virgins are looking to the time

1016
00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.829
when that bride is going to march forth

1017
00:37:57.839 --> 00:38:00.630
with their lord you see brethren sisters

1018
00:38:00.640 --> 00:38:02.310
i said that our theme is also going to

1019
00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:04.950
be watchfulness

1020
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:07.270
we've got to be motivated by that vision

1021
00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:08.550
of the time

1022
00:38:08.560 --> 00:38:10.470
when the bride will do this

1023
00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:12.950
and so here we find the virgin saying in

1024
00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.589
verse 6 of chapter 3 who is this that

1025
00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:17.109
cometh out of the wilderness like

1026
00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:18.710
pillars of smoke

1027
00:38:18.720 --> 00:38:21.270
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense

1028
00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:24.150
with all powders of the merchant

1029
00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:27.990
you see he's coming forward to conquer

1030
00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.710
behold his bed which is solomon's three

1031
00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:33.030
score valiant men are about it of the

1032
00:38:33.040 --> 00:38:34.950
valiant of israel

1033
00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:38.390
they all hold swords being expert in war

1034
00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:41.349
every man hath his sword upon his thigh

1035
00:38:41.359 --> 00:38:43.829
because of fear in the night

1036
00:38:43.839 --> 00:38:45.750
king solomon made himself a chariot of

1037
00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.910
the wood of lebanon he made the pillars

1038
00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:49.829
thereof of silver the bottom thereof of

1039
00:38:49.839 --> 00:38:50.790
gold

1040
00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:52.870
the covering of it of purple

1041
00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:55.589
the midst thereof being paved with love

1042
00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:58.470
for the daughters of jerusalem

1043
00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:01.430
go forth oh ye daughters of zion and

1044
00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:04.150
behold king solomon with the crown with

1045
00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:05.829
his mother crowned him in the day of his

1046
00:39:05.839 --> 00:39:07.430
espousals

1047
00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:09.430
and in the day of the gladness of his

1048
00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.790
heart

1049
00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:13.589
so as individuals we are encouraging

1050
00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:15.750
each other as the bride to look to the

1051
00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:16.950
future

1052
00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:19.349
oh yes we are as we are about to partake

1053
00:39:19.359 --> 00:39:21.750
of the emblems going to discern our

1054
00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:23.829
needs we're going to discern the needs

1055
00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:25.910
of the bride here as it's preparing

1056
00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.030
itself

1057
00:39:27.040 --> 00:39:29.109
but one of the needs is to keep our eyes

1058
00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:31.510
on the future if as a community we can

1059
00:39:31.520 --> 00:39:34.230
only keep looking inwardly

1060
00:39:34.240 --> 00:39:37.190
and try to solve the problems of the day

1061
00:39:37.200 --> 00:39:38.870
then we're going to become problem

1062
00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:40.470
oriented

1063
00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.349
the only way to make the bride beautiful

1064
00:39:43.359 --> 00:39:45.670
is to yes examine the needs of the

1065
00:39:45.680 --> 00:39:47.990
present but it's got to be the vision of

1066
00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.589
the future

1067
00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:51.030
those of us who were able to gather

1068
00:39:51.040 --> 00:39:52.710
together last weekend at lake placid

1069
00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:54.230
will remember that that was the theme of

1070
00:39:54.240 --> 00:39:56.230
the song of solomon not the song of

1071
00:39:56.240 --> 00:39:58.550
solomon the book of deuteronomy

1072
00:39:58.560 --> 00:40:00.950
and they are standing on the borders of

1073
00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:03.990
the land with the land just there

1074
00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:05.510
what were they doing

1075
00:40:05.520 --> 00:40:08.550
some were looking back to egypt

1076
00:40:08.560 --> 00:40:10.069
and deuteronomy says you can't look back

1077
00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:12.230
to there it's now you're now opposite to

1078
00:40:12.240 --> 00:40:14.790
that you're opposite to zerf

1079
00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:16.710
and there was balaam who said every time

1080
00:40:16.720 --> 00:40:18.550
i try to curse israel

1081
00:40:18.560 --> 00:40:20.390
my words are turned into blessing so

1082
00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:22.069
that's no good i'll tell you balak what

1083
00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.109
you can do

1084
00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:25.349
send in the daughters of moab

1085
00:40:25.359 --> 00:40:27.910
send in your daughters and corrupt them

1086
00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:30.630
through immorality and fornication

1087
00:40:30.640 --> 00:40:33.190
and the great sin of baal peor

1088
00:40:33.200 --> 00:40:35.510
the worst of the sins of the 40 years

1089
00:40:35.520 --> 00:40:36.790
took place

1090
00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:39.270
within virtually weeks

1091
00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:42.150
of the ecclesia about to enter the

1092
00:40:42.160 --> 00:40:43.589
promised land

1093
00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:45.589
the type of course about entering into

1094
00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:48.550
immortality brethren sisters the same

1095
00:40:48.560 --> 00:40:50.550
problems face us today

1096
00:40:50.560 --> 00:40:52.550
deuteronomy is the book for today

1097
00:40:52.560 --> 00:40:54.790
corinthians is the book for today song

1098
00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:57.349
of solomon is the book for today

1099
00:40:57.359 --> 00:40:59.670
and so we recognize there are fox

1100
00:40:59.680 --> 00:41:01.990
elements but we recognize that we've got

1101
00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:03.910
to keep our eye on that much of the

1102
00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:05.990
rainbow angel and we want to be part of

1103
00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:08.150
that bride

1104
00:41:08.160 --> 00:41:09.750
what we're doing of course at the moment

1105
00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:11.829
is preparing the bride to meet her

1106
00:41:11.839 --> 00:41:13.990
husband and to be there so we need to

1107
00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:15.510
know a little bit about the events of

1108
00:41:15.520 --> 00:41:17.109
the future we study what we call the

1109
00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:19.670
events subsequent to christ's return

1110
00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:21.829
and in so doing having done that when we

1111
00:41:21.839 --> 00:41:23.589
turn to the song of solomon we see it

1112
00:41:23.599 --> 00:41:25.510
there in the beauty of the language but

1113
00:41:25.520 --> 00:41:27.270
let's move on

1114
00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:29.910
the next occurrence is chapter 5 and

1115
00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:32.950
verse 9.

1116
00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:36.069
and in in chapter five and uh and verse

1117
00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:37.270
nine

1118
00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:39.430
the virgin's desire to know from the

1119
00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:42.390
bride more details about the special

1120
00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:44.390
qualities of her beloved of the

1121
00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:46.790
bridegroom now isn't that a discussion

1122
00:41:46.800 --> 00:41:48.550
with each other in our discussion with

1123
00:41:48.560 --> 00:41:49.910
you with each other we want to talk

1124
00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:52.069
about christ

1125
00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.829
we don't want to talk about the mundane

1126
00:41:53.839 --> 00:41:54.950
things

1127
00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:58.230
and so in chapter 5 and verse 9

1128
00:41:58.240 --> 00:42:02.069
the virgins say what is thy beloved more

1129
00:42:02.079 --> 00:42:03.990
than any other beloved

1130
00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:07.109
o thou fairest among women what is thy

1131
00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:09.190
beloved more than another beloved that

1132
00:42:09.200 --> 00:42:12.309
thou dost so charge us

1133
00:42:12.319 --> 00:42:14.950
the problem is he they say all you can

1134
00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.470
do is talk about

1135
00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:18.069
your bridegroom

1136
00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:19.589
you can't talk about anything else

1137
00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:21.510
you're totally obsessed with the

1138
00:42:21.520 --> 00:42:22.710
bridegroom

1139
00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:24.630
and that's the way we should be

1140
00:42:24.640 --> 00:42:27.750
and so as virgins we we say in effect

1141
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:30.870
what is so beautiful about him and if we

1142
00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:33.030
can imagine the the situation in real

1143
00:42:33.040 --> 00:42:35.190
terms that as we talk to each other we

1144
00:42:35.200 --> 00:42:37.270
are extracting from each other the

1145
00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:39.670
the appreciation of the beauty of this

1146
00:42:39.680 --> 00:42:42.630
one for whom we are awaiting

1147
00:42:42.640 --> 00:42:45.430
and so in chapter 6 and verse 1

1148
00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.190
they are keen to know more about his

1149
00:42:47.200 --> 00:42:48.470
activities

1150
00:42:48.480 --> 00:42:50.069
where he has gone

1151
00:42:50.079 --> 00:42:53.270
and how they may find him

1152
00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:56.470
6 1 whither is thy beloved god

1153
00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:59.270
o thou fairest among women

1154
00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:02.069
whither is thy beloved turned aside

1155
00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:05.589
that we may seek him with thee

1156
00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:07.910
and so you see how the virgins and the

1157
00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:10.470
bride are really one

1158
00:43:10.480 --> 00:43:13.109
in this spirit

1159
00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:15.109
in chapter 6 and

1160
00:43:15.119 --> 00:43:18.390
and verse 13

1161
00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:19.910
return

1162
00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:22.470
return o shulamite

1163
00:43:22.480 --> 00:43:24.870
and by the way the word shulamite is the

1164
00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:27.190
feminine form of solomon

1165
00:43:27.200 --> 00:43:29.349
and we know that this is the song of

1166
00:43:29.359 --> 00:43:32.069
solomon solomon of course is the king

1167
00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:33.030
here

1168
00:43:33.040 --> 00:43:35.190
who would be the type of of the great

1169
00:43:35.200 --> 00:43:37.670
king the bridegroom himself but you see

1170
00:43:37.680 --> 00:43:40.309
this is his bride and so she bears his

1171
00:43:40.319 --> 00:43:42.470
name she bears his name in the feminine

1172
00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.349
form

1173
00:43:43.359 --> 00:43:45.430
and so the virgins say return return o

1174
00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:48.150
shulamite return return that we may look

1175
00:43:48.160 --> 00:43:50.790
upon thee

1176
00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:52.950
and the bride says back to them

1177
00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:55.990
what will you see in the shulamite

1178
00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.750
and they say

1179
00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:59.109
as it were

1180
00:43:59.119 --> 00:44:03.190
the company of two armies

1181
00:44:03.200 --> 00:44:05.190
and so you see it set in the context now

1182
00:44:05.200 --> 00:44:06.950
of a beautiful bride

1183
00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:09.270
but you know she's going to be involved

1184
00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:11.829
in war we say well now that's a bit hard

1185
00:44:11.839 --> 00:44:14.390
to really just jump from a i'm picturing

1186
00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:16.309
a wedding service i'm picturing a bride

1187
00:44:16.319 --> 00:44:18.230
they're all beautiful submissive to her

1188
00:44:18.240 --> 00:44:20.230
husband now you're talking about war

1189
00:44:20.240 --> 00:44:22.069
well that's not unusual what about psalm

1190
00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:23.349
45

1191
00:44:23.359 --> 00:44:25.589
psalm 45 is all about the marriage of

1192
00:44:25.599 --> 00:44:27.430
the bride or husband but how does the

1193
00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.910
bridegroom march in he marches in with a

1194
00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.829
sword on his side

1195
00:44:31.839 --> 00:44:33.430
because he knows that as soon as this

1196
00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:35.270
wedding is over we've got to go forth

1197
00:44:35.280 --> 00:44:37.910
the battle and as he sets out from sinai

1198
00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:39.270
with his bride

1199
00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:41.030
it's habakkuk habakkuk how have you

1200
00:44:41.040 --> 00:44:42.790
pronounced it this part of the world

1201
00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:45.030
habakkuk chapter three

1202
00:44:45.040 --> 00:44:46.950
i saw the sentence of kushan and

1203
00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:48.150
affliction

1204
00:44:48.160 --> 00:44:50.870
you know the midian trembled

1205
00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:53.030
we have to go forward to battle

1206
00:44:53.040 --> 00:44:55.270
there's no time to waste because the

1207
00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:56.950
world has to be brought into subjection

1208
00:44:56.960 --> 00:45:00.710
because we can't rejoice with our bride

1209
00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:03.829
groom until the world is subdued and

1210
00:45:03.839 --> 00:45:05.349
that's when the marriage supper of the

1211
00:45:05.359 --> 00:45:07.510
lamb will take place

1212
00:45:07.520 --> 00:45:09.670
and so in

1213
00:45:09.680 --> 00:45:12.790
in chapter seven and verses one to five

1214
00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:16.790
and uh he there extols the sorry they

1215
00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:19.990
there extol the the beauty of the bride

1216
00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:22.790
as they minutely examine her from her

1217
00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:25.190
feet up to her head

1218
00:45:25.200 --> 00:45:27.829
and then finally in chapter eight and

1219
00:45:27.839 --> 00:45:30.790
verse five the final picture sees the

1220
00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:33.109
bride and the groom coming up in

1221
00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:35.910
procession from the wilderness

1222
00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:37.910
and the last words attributed to the

1223
00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:40.870
virgins uh in this particular song of

1224
00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:41.829
songs

1225
00:45:41.839 --> 00:45:44.390
is in verse five of the last chapter who

1226
00:45:44.400 --> 00:45:45.670
is this

1227
00:45:45.680 --> 00:45:48.069
that cometh up from the wilderness

1228
00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:49.910
leaning upon her

1229
00:45:49.920 --> 00:45:51.510
beloved

1230
00:45:51.520 --> 00:45:53.270
well brethren and sisters uh we've

1231
00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:55.750
picked up just that one thing

1232
00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:56.950
and i think it's obvious what we're

1233
00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:58.470
trying to say is that we've gathered

1234
00:45:58.480 --> 00:46:01.589
together this weekend to talk about

1235
00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:03.349
the body of christ

1236
00:46:03.359 --> 00:46:04.870
the body of christ in the song of

1237
00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:07.270
solomon is the bride

1238
00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:09.349
in corinthians we're told that the body

1239
00:46:09.359 --> 00:46:11.589
is one but it's got many members and all

1240
00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:13.990
the members of that one body being men

1241
00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:16.150
being many are one body so also is

1242
00:46:16.160 --> 00:46:18.230
christ so it says there's one body but a

1243
00:46:18.240 --> 00:46:19.670
lot of members

1244
00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:21.349
the song of solomon says there's one

1245
00:46:21.359 --> 00:46:23.910
bride but there's a lot of virgins

1246
00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:25.990
it's just the same thing

1247
00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:28.950
and so just as we as members of the body

1248
00:46:28.960 --> 00:46:31.589
have a responsibility to the body so as

1249
00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:33.510
virgins we have a responsibility to the

1250
00:46:33.520 --> 00:46:35.510
bride

1251
00:46:35.520 --> 00:46:37.270
but i'd like to turn by way of

1252
00:46:37.280 --> 00:46:39.430
concluding remarks to the gospel of

1253
00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:41.030
matthew

1254
00:46:41.040 --> 00:46:43.589
because it's obvious and we're going to

1255
00:46:43.599 --> 00:46:45.829
matthew 24 incidentally

1256
00:46:45.839 --> 00:46:48.470
it's obvious that the great role of the

1257
00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:50.870
virgins in real terms

1258
00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:53.589
is watchfulness

1259
00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:56.470
now when we talk about watchfulness

1260
00:46:56.480 --> 00:46:59.109
there's two types of watchfulness

1261
00:46:59.119 --> 00:47:02.150
there's watchfulness without

1262
00:47:02.160 --> 00:47:03.910
in other words watching the things that

1263
00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:06.150
are going on in the world and the signs

1264
00:47:06.160 --> 00:47:07.990
of the times

1265
00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:10.550
and there's watchfulness within

1266
00:47:10.560 --> 00:47:13.190
the well-being of the household

1267
00:47:13.200 --> 00:47:16.069
without i hope making it too complicated

1268
00:47:16.079 --> 00:47:18.069
uh if we were to now

1269
00:47:18.079 --> 00:47:20.630
do another exhortation and say let's

1270
00:47:20.640 --> 00:47:22.829
take all the things that the

1271
00:47:22.839 --> 00:47:26.710
bride says to the virgins

1272
00:47:26.720 --> 00:47:29.990
the theme would be watchfulness without

1273
00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:31.829
because the bride in talking to the

1274
00:47:31.839 --> 00:47:34.309
virgins is talking about all the signs

1275
00:47:34.319 --> 00:47:35.910
the bride can see about the nearness of

1276
00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:38.309
her bridegroom coming

1277
00:47:38.319 --> 00:47:41.430
but the virgins in talking to the bride

1278
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:44.069
is talking about watchfulness within

1279
00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:45.990
and all the things we need to do to make

1280
00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:48.790
it beautiful make that bride beautiful

1281
00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:50.470
so let's just forget that other point

1282
00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:52.230
just for the moment so when we talk

1283
00:47:52.240 --> 00:47:54.230
about watchfulness at the moment i'm

1284
00:47:54.240 --> 00:47:56.069
talking about one of the two aspects of

1285
00:47:56.079 --> 00:47:57.750
watchfulness

1286
00:47:57.760 --> 00:47:59.990
it's the one which we as virgins need to

1287
00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:02.390
do to make the bride beautiful and its

1288
00:48:02.400 --> 00:48:03.750
watchfulness

1289
00:48:03.760 --> 00:48:10.390
within the household matthew chapter 24

1290
00:48:10.400 --> 00:48:18.549
and verse 42

1291
00:48:18.559 --> 00:48:22.790
matthew 24 and verse 42

1292
00:48:22.800 --> 00:48:25.190
watch therefore and this is the

1293
00:48:25.200 --> 00:48:26.950
exhortation arising out of what we

1294
00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:30.069
commonly call the olivet prophecy

1295
00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:32.069
watch therefore

1296
00:48:32.079 --> 00:48:35.270
for ye know not what hour your lord doth

1297
00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:36.870
come

1298
00:48:36.880 --> 00:48:38.549
but know this

1299
00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:40.309
that if the good man of the house had

1300
00:48:40.319 --> 00:48:43.190
known in what watch the thief would come

1301
00:48:43.200 --> 00:48:45.030
he would have watched

1302
00:48:45.040 --> 00:48:47.030
and would not have suffered his house to

1303
00:48:47.040 --> 00:48:49.829
be broken up that is not speaking about

1304
00:48:49.839 --> 00:48:52.230
us making a detailed study study of the

1305
00:48:52.240 --> 00:48:53.990
signs of the times by pouring over all

1306
00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:55.829
of the magazines or whatever it is to

1307
00:48:55.839 --> 00:48:58.150
see what is the latest move in russia or

1308
00:48:58.160 --> 00:49:00.230
kosovo or somewhere else

1309
00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:02.950
that has its place and god willing

1310
00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:05.190
tonight we will talk about such things

1311
00:49:05.200 --> 00:49:07.349
when we talk about the balkan crisis not

1312
00:49:07.359 --> 00:49:09.270
just the bosnian one but the the whole

1313
00:49:09.280 --> 00:49:11.270
balkan crisis in relation to bible

1314
00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:14.150
prophecy and that's fine

1315
00:49:14.160 --> 00:49:15.589
but i'm going to suggest brethren

1316
00:49:15.599 --> 00:49:18.309
sisters watchfulness within is far far

1317
00:49:18.319 --> 00:49:20.150
more important

1318
00:49:20.160 --> 00:49:22.230
even if we didn't know what was going on

1319
00:49:22.240 --> 00:49:24.150
out there we could still make the bride

1320
00:49:24.160 --> 00:49:26.150
beautiful

1321
00:49:26.160 --> 00:49:28.150
we could actually do without the signs

1322
00:49:28.160 --> 00:49:29.670
of the times that's an additional

1323
00:49:29.680 --> 00:49:31.589
blessing that god's given us

1324
00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:33.829
it's an additional blessing which people

1325
00:49:33.839 --> 00:49:36.630
in generations past didn't have

1326
00:49:36.640 --> 00:49:38.390
there were times when

1327
00:49:38.400 --> 00:49:39.910
the saints would not have been able to

1328
00:49:39.920 --> 00:49:41.349
see the signs of the times they wouldn't

1329
00:49:41.359 --> 00:49:43.430
have known what was going on or many of

1330
00:49:43.440 --> 00:49:45.190
them hadn't even happened

1331
00:49:45.200 --> 00:49:46.790
when john received the apocalypse the

1332
00:49:46.800 --> 00:49:48.950
events hadn't happened

1333
00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:50.630
but they could still work hard to make

1334
00:49:50.640 --> 00:49:52.470
the bride beautiful

1335
00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:54.470
and so the good man of the house is

1336
00:49:54.480 --> 00:49:57.190
watching he's watching to see that the

1337
00:49:57.200 --> 00:50:01.349
household is in a state of good health

1338
00:50:01.359 --> 00:50:05.109
notice what he says in verse 45

1339
00:50:05.119 --> 00:50:06.470
who then

1340
00:50:06.480 --> 00:50:08.470
is a faithful

1341
00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:10.470
and a wise servant

1342
00:50:10.480 --> 00:50:12.390
whom his lord hath

1343
00:50:12.400 --> 00:50:14.150
doesn't mean made ruler he's appointed

1344
00:50:14.160 --> 00:50:15.109
him

1345
00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:17.270
within the household

1346
00:50:17.280 --> 00:50:20.710
to give food in due season

1347
00:50:20.720 --> 00:50:22.390
and you might like to just follow this

1348
00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:23.990
through but that word household if you

1349
00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:25.589
haven't noted it before

1350
00:50:25.599 --> 00:50:28.390
is a rather unique word

1351
00:50:28.400 --> 00:50:30.470
it only occurs four times

1352
00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:34.309
it's translated twice as household

1353
00:50:34.319 --> 00:50:35.750
and on the other two occasions it's

1354
00:50:35.760 --> 00:50:37.670
translated as healing

1355
00:50:37.680 --> 00:50:39.430
it's actually the greek word therapy

1356
00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:41.750
from which we get therapy and of all of

1357
00:50:41.760 --> 00:50:43.190
the things that he could have called the

1358
00:50:43.200 --> 00:50:45.349
body of believers here

1359
00:50:45.359 --> 00:50:48.230
he called it a body of therapists so is

1360
00:50:48.240 --> 00:50:49.990
the point clear

1361
00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:51.190
who has

1362
00:50:51.200 --> 00:50:53.109
then the lord appointed

1363
00:50:53.119 --> 00:50:55.589
as a faithful and a wise servant

1364
00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:58.150
within the body of therapists so

1365
00:50:58.160 --> 00:50:59.990
watchfulness within means that we have

1366
00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:03.109
to give good food good spiritual food to

1367
00:51:03.119 --> 00:51:05.430
keep people in a state of good spiritual

1368
00:51:05.440 --> 00:51:06.710
health

1369
00:51:06.720 --> 00:51:09.190
and we administer food in juice season

1370
00:51:09.200 --> 00:51:11.349
it's it's exactly the same as the song

1371
00:51:11.359 --> 00:51:13.349
of solomon with the virgin saying we

1372
00:51:13.359 --> 00:51:14.950
want to make the bride beautiful it's

1373
00:51:14.960 --> 00:51:17.270
just just different symbols saying the

1374
00:51:17.280 --> 00:51:18.950
same thing

1375
00:51:18.960 --> 00:51:21.030
i'm sure by this stage the message is

1376
00:51:21.040 --> 00:51:23.829
clear you and i have responsibilities

1377
00:51:23.839 --> 00:51:25.430
not to ourselves but to the body of

1378
00:51:25.440 --> 00:51:26.549
christ

1379
00:51:26.559 --> 00:51:28.710
and to use the extreme absolute language

1380
00:51:28.720 --> 00:51:30.950
that i used yesterday we think about

1381
00:51:30.960 --> 00:51:34.470
everybody except ourselves

1382
00:51:34.480 --> 00:51:36.790
and so it is in that context

1383
00:51:36.800 --> 00:51:38.390
that in the first of corinthians chapter

1384
00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:40.069
11 i say

1385
00:51:40.079 --> 00:51:42.549
that when the lord says

1386
00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:45.510
that we must examine ourselves

1387
00:51:45.520 --> 00:51:47.670
and so eat of that bread and drink of

1388
00:51:47.680 --> 00:51:50.630
that cup what sort of examination does

1389
00:51:50.640 --> 00:51:52.309
he have in mind

1390
00:51:52.319 --> 00:51:54.470
well let's go back to those words and

1391
00:51:54.480 --> 00:51:56.870
just read them by way of conclusion

1392
00:51:56.880 --> 00:51:59.910
the examination he has in mind

1393
00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:01.670
yes it does mean

1394
00:52:01.680 --> 00:52:04.549
what am i doing in my personal life am i

1395
00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:07.589
living a life of holiness am i

1396
00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:10.630
acknowledging god in all my ways am i

1397
00:52:10.640 --> 00:52:14.069
endeavoring to uphold his righteousness

1398
00:52:14.079 --> 00:52:17.750
but the word of warning that paul gives

1399
00:52:17.760 --> 00:52:20.549
that for those who could possibly eat

1400
00:52:20.559 --> 00:52:21.750
and drink

1401
00:52:21.760 --> 00:52:24.630
unworthily and how often how many people

1402
00:52:24.640 --> 00:52:25.670
have said

1403
00:52:25.680 --> 00:52:27.750
i i wonder if i'm partaking of the

1404
00:52:27.760 --> 00:52:30.630
emblems unworthily this morning i wonder

1405
00:52:30.640 --> 00:52:32.390
if i haven't been good enough during the

1406
00:52:32.400 --> 00:52:33.510
week

1407
00:52:33.520 --> 00:52:35.190
it's not talking about that at all

1408
00:52:35.200 --> 00:52:36.549
because we haven't been good enough

1409
00:52:36.559 --> 00:52:38.630
during the week

1410
00:52:38.640 --> 00:52:41.750
the eating and drinking unworthily is

1411
00:52:41.760 --> 00:52:44.309
clearly defined

1412
00:52:44.319 --> 00:52:46.549
let's read those two verses that we

1413
00:52:46.559 --> 00:52:49.750
started with by way of conclusion and in

1414
00:52:49.760 --> 00:52:51.510
this spirit might we partake of the

1415
00:52:51.520 --> 00:52:52.870
emblems

1416
00:52:52.880 --> 00:52:56.710
it's verses 28 and 29 let a man examine

1417
00:52:56.720 --> 00:52:58.309
himself

1418
00:52:58.319 --> 00:53:01.190
that's corinthians 11

1419
00:53:01.200 --> 00:53:04.710
28 let a man examine himself

1420
00:53:04.720 --> 00:53:06.390
sow let him eat of that bread and drink

1421
00:53:06.400 --> 00:53:08.549
of that cup

1422
00:53:08.559 --> 00:53:10.549
now he says this is the way

1423
00:53:10.559 --> 00:53:12.309
you shouldn't do it

1424
00:53:12.319 --> 00:53:14.790
and by expressing it in negative terms

1425
00:53:14.800 --> 00:53:17.349
we can very readily invert it and take

1426
00:53:17.359 --> 00:53:19.109
the positive message

1427
00:53:19.119 --> 00:53:22.230
because he says he that eats and drinks

1428
00:53:22.240 --> 00:53:24.150
unworthily

1429
00:53:24.160 --> 00:53:26.309
has been doing it in the same spirit as

1430
00:53:26.319 --> 00:53:27.190
these

1431
00:53:27.200 --> 00:53:29.589
corinthians they were only concerned

1432
00:53:29.599 --> 00:53:31.349
about themselves

1433
00:53:31.359 --> 00:53:33.349
they brought along food and drink for

1434
00:53:33.359 --> 00:53:36.790
themselves too bad about anybody else

1435
00:53:36.800 --> 00:53:40.470
they weren't thinking about the body

1436
00:53:40.480 --> 00:53:44.069
and so he says those sort of people eat

1437
00:53:44.079 --> 00:53:45.190
and drink

1438
00:53:45.200 --> 00:53:47.750
condemnation to themselves

1439
00:53:47.760 --> 00:53:49.750
because they haven't seen themselves as

1440
00:53:49.760 --> 00:53:51.750
part of the body of christ

1441
00:53:51.760 --> 00:53:53.910
part of the bride of christ

1442
00:53:53.920 --> 00:53:56.470
part of that community of therapists if

1443
00:53:56.480 --> 00:53:59.990
you like of matthew 24

1444
00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:03.270
they were not discerning the lord's body

1445
00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:05.349
and so yesterday morning we started off

1446
00:54:05.359 --> 00:54:07.589
in first of corinthians chapter one

1447
00:54:07.599 --> 00:54:09.589
and we said that the theme was all about

1448
00:54:09.599 --> 00:54:10.790
the body

1449
00:54:10.800 --> 00:54:12.790
and the theme was about the word of the

1450
00:54:12.800 --> 00:54:14.470
cross

1451
00:54:14.480 --> 00:54:16.230
he says you've got knowledge

1452
00:54:16.240 --> 00:54:18.150
you're preaching the truth

1453
00:54:18.160 --> 00:54:20.870
but you haven't learned what it means to

1454
00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:22.870
hang upon a cross

1455
00:54:22.880 --> 00:54:24.390
and if we brother and sisters can go

1456
00:54:24.400 --> 00:54:26.230
away from this weekend determined that

1457
00:54:26.240 --> 00:54:29.190
we as individuals to take a figure are

1458
00:54:29.200 --> 00:54:31.750
going to hang upon the cross

1459
00:54:31.760 --> 00:54:35.190
to make this bride more beautiful

1460
00:54:35.200 --> 00:54:36.789
than we've gained the whole spirit of

1461
00:54:36.799 --> 00:54:38.549
what corinthians is all about

1462
00:54:38.559 --> 00:54:40.950
what the song of solomon is all about

1463
00:54:40.960 --> 00:54:42.950
what the book of deuteronomy is all

1464
00:54:42.960 --> 00:54:43.990
about

1465
00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:46.870
and so in this frame of mind might we as

1466
00:54:46.880 --> 00:54:47.829
one

1467
00:54:47.839 --> 00:54:49.270
eat this bread

1468
00:54:49.280 --> 00:54:51.910
and drink this wine in remembrance of

1469
00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:53.750
what our lord has done

1470
00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:56.230
and in anticipation of his soon and

1471
00:54:56.240 --> 00:54:59.799
glorious return