Song of Solomon
Christ the Bundle of Myrrh
Song ch 1v 1-14

Pastor Jack Anderson

Introduction. The Song of Solomon commences with these words,” The Song of Songs which is Solomon’s

In First Kings 4:32 we are told that Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs 1005 songs Before us we have the most excellent of all the songs, which were written by this prolific composer.

The notes of this beautiful song have been a source of blessing and inspiration to multitudes of God’s dear children throughout the changing centuries of time.

We have, in the Song of Songs, a beautiful love story presented in poetic form. It highlights the love of the Bridegroom for his bride, and the love of the bride for her bridegroom.

This love is emphasised in picture language that portrays the wonderful union, which exists between Christ the heavenly Bridegroom, and His Church, His beloved Bride.

Throughout scripture metaphors, based on the marriage relationship, are used for Israel’s relationship with God and for the Church’s relationship with Christ.

This is beautifully summed up for us in the words of Song of Sol 2:16 “My beloved is mine, and I am His”

Every true believer can say He is my Bridegroom and I am His Bride

This is a Divinely Accomplished Union

When the Bride says, “My Beloved is mine and I am His” it is the initiative of the Bridegroom that is being emphasised.

How wonderful it is-- that as believers are married to another, even the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory and the lover of our souls. We the Redeemed of the Lord can say with the bride in the song of Solomon-“My beloved is mine and I am his”

Here is an expression that is Precious “My Beloved”
Here is an Experience that is Personal—“My Beloved is mine”—
Here is an Emphasis that is Perfect—“I am His and He is mine”

In Him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily and we are complete in Him”

2. This is a Wonderful and Gracious Union.

We are unworthy of our Lord and Saviour. There was nothing of beauty in us to attract His Love. As Paul reminded us in Eph 2—

1. We were Dead in Trespasses and in sin we possessed no spiritual life and could do nothing of ourselves to please God
2. We were Deluded by the Devil, walking according to the course of this world, according to prince of the power of the air.
3. We were Disobedient to God, for we were the children of disobedience.
4. WE were Defiled and Depraved and doomed to perish

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

We have been Loved with everlasting love, and led by Grace that love to know.

Grace Grace God’s Grace !
Grace that gives pardon and peace within
Grace Grace God’s Grace
Grace that is Greater than all my sin

It is by grace alone that we can say, “My Beloved is mine and I am His”

1. This is a Divinely Accomplished Union
2. This is a wonderful and Gracious Union.
3. This is an Eternally Sealed Union.

We are eternally united with Christ our heavenly Bridegroom, not even death will part us. Who shall separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus?

His forever only His-- Who the Lord and me shall part
Heaven and earth made fade and flee
First born light in gloom decline
But while God and I shall be
I am His and he is mine

I know He’s mine, that Friend so dear
He lives with me; He’s ever near
Ten thousand charms around Him shine
But best of all I know He’s mine. I Know He’s mine

We the Redeemed of the Lord can say with the bride in the Song of Solomon "My Beloved is mine and I am his. In verse 2 The Bride speaks of

The Preciousness of the Bridegroom

Song 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

V2 The Brides Desire

The Shulamite bride says there is no love like his; let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. Her desire is to have intimate fellowship with her beloved. We have experienced a greater love than the Shulamite the Precious love of Jesus, which never fades or fails.

We have experienced the kisses of His mouth! The Kiss of His forgiveness! The Kiss of Reconciliation! The Kiss of Peace! He has made peace with God for us through the blood of His Cross.

Illustration--A friend visited an elderly woman badly crippled by arthritis. When asked, "Do you suffer much?" she responded, "Yes, but there is no nail here," and she pointed to her hand. "He had the nails, I have the peace."

She pointed to her head. "There are no thorns here. He had the thorns, I have the peace." She touched her side. "There is no spear here. He had the spear, I have the peace."

This is what the atonement of Jesus Christ means for us--He gave of himself so that we might have the peace. But do we have the desire in our hearts to have a deeper and more intimate fellowship with the One who loved us so much that He gave Himself to the rigors of the Cross?

In verse 3 The Bride speaks of the Excellency of His name Song 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

She just loved to hear His name mentioned to her it was just like a precious ointment that was poured forth. Surely we can say of our Saviour; His Name is like a precious Ointment that is poured forth.

Oh the Precious Name of Jesus How it thrills our souls with Joy
Precious Name Oh how sweet
Hope of earth and joy of heaven

The Name of Jesus is a great study. His Name is

A) Sacred Name – the Angel said to Mary

Luke 1:35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

There is no Name so Sweet on earth No Name so sweet in heaven The Name before His wondrous birth to Christ the Saviour given

B) His Name is a Sovereign Name

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Kingdoms rise and fall according to his will. He is Sovereign in the affairs of men and Nations.

He is the Sovereign ruler of the skies, ever gracious ever Wise. All our times are in his hand All events at his command” Bow before His majesty and worship Him today.

C) His Name is a Saving Name His Name shall be called Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

D) His Name is a Sweet Name – its like honey in the Rock. His name is sweet to every believer. How sweet the Name of Jesus sound in a believer’s ear It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear

E) His Name is a Satisfying Name John 14- And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do

Jesus will meet you at your point of need if you call upon Him Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

The Name of Jesus is a Soothing Name – with a beautiful fragrance, It is like a precious ointment that is poured forth which cleanses, purifies and heals the wounded soul. Oh the Excellency of His Name.

He is the One Altogether Lovely One! The Fairest of Ten thousand! The Rose of Sharon! The Lily of the Valley

The Bright and Morning Star! The Son of Righteousness!

Oh how I love Jesus the sweetest Name on Earth

1. The Preciousness of the Bridegroom
2. The Privilege of the Bride

Song 1:4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Song 1:12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof

The Brides Delight The king has brought me a Shulamite girly into his chambers. She has been brought into the private apartments of king Solomon. She is privileged indeed. She is delighted because of the intimacy of his communion and fellowship.

The Bridegroom of the Church ever longs for communion and sweet fellowship with His people more than His people long to have real fellowship with Him. But are we not too apt to seek the Lord because of our need than for the joy of sweet and holy fellowship? This should not be!

The Bride’s Delight-- The king hath brought me into his chambers. Song 1:12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

What a little casket of gems we have in this verse!

1) We have the Phrase “The King sitteth” in type we see our blessed Lord who is our Prophet, Priest and King—Sitting!
He is seated at the Father’s right hand having finished the great work of our redemption! He is now exalted above all others a Prince and a Saviour for all who will believe.

2) “The King sitteth at His Table” This denotes Fellowship, and Ownership. It’s the king’s table. The Redeemed of the Lord do not meet around their table.

It is not the Brethrens table or the Baptist’s table or any other denominations table. It’s the Lord’s Table it belongs to the king of kings. He has instituted the Table for fellowship with Him and to show forth His death until He comes.

The Bride’s Delight was to be at the King’s table v 4 Draw me She longs for a deeper fellowship with her beloved, she desires to know him better. She wants to be often in his Presence to know more of his love, she desires to be drawn closer to her beloved.

The nearer we are to him, the more we shall desire to be drawn closer still. The more time that you spend with someone the better you get to know them
The Hymn Writer penned it ever so well when he wrote.

Draw me nearer nearer nearer Blessed Lord to the Cross-where thou hast died
Draw me nearer nearer Blessed Lord to thy precious bleeding side.

3) “My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof” It was the custom in those days that the guests of the king should be anointed with oil with a sweet smelling ointment. This sweet smelling ointment would be given to the guest by the host the king.

We as Believers have received from our Lord and King Jesus Christ the sweet smelling ointment of His Saving and Sustaining Grace. Like the psalmist we can say, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

We have been anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, and as we gather around the table, there is not only the sweet savour of His good ointments and the wonderful fragrance of His presence.

But there ought ever to be the sweet spikenard of our grateful worship and adoration – which is to our Lord a beautiful odour of the expression of our love for Him- a sacrifice of praise that is well pleasing to Him.

You will remember when the Alabaster box of ointment was opened in the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany, the place was filled with the richness of a sweet smelling odour. Jesus was well pleased but others complained

Jesus commend this dear woman and it is still the same today. When in His presence we open the Alabaster box of our hearts and there come from the beautiful fragrance of real sincere worship and praise

THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE BRIDEGROOM
THE PRIVILEGE OF THE BRIDE
THE PORTRAIT OF THE KING

V :13 A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

Lets consider the significance of the Myrrh, as the Bride compares her beloved king as a bundle of Myrrh.

1. The Superiority of Christ’s Position
Myrrh was a most excellent spice, which had many uses in the ancient eastern world. It was used to trade with. God ordered Moses to use Myrrh in the anointing oil that would be poured on the priests before they could take up their duties as priests in Israel. 500 shekels of pure Myrrh was used in the anointing of the priest for holy service.

The usage of Myrrh for anointed service would remind us that the Lord Jesus is God’s anointed One, who has been anointed above all others. He is our Prophet Priest and King! Anointed of God. Jesus testified of himself

Luke 4

There is none among the sons of men! None among the angels of heaven to be compared to Him. All His garments smell of Myrrh.

The garments of Christ are sweet smelling because they are perfumed with the scent of heaven, and with the odours of the godhead.

2 THE SWEETNESS OF CHRIST'S PERSON
Myrrh is referred in ch 5:5 as "sweet smelling myrrh"

Myrrh was obtained from the gum of the Myrrh tree. The tree would sweat of its own accord without an incision having to be made producing this gum stacte. It was noted as the best possible perfume that a lady could use.

The eastern women used to put the myrrh into little bags and they would wear them around their necks. Close to the breast, close to the heart, sending out a beautiful fragrance. The Bride in the Song of Solomon is saying my beloved is precious.

Jesus is Precious. He is like the bundle of Myrrh which lies close to the hearts of his people. Oh the sweetness of his Person and the Fragrance of his lovely Name.

JESUS IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW
AND HE JUST THE SAME AS HIS LOVELY NAME
AND THAT’S THE REASON WHY I LOVE HIM SO
FOR JESUS IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW.

There's the Sweetness of His Deity
The Sweetness of His Sinless Perfection
The Sweetness of his great Love
The Sweetness of his word
The _Sweetness of his Atoning Sacrifice
The Sweetness of His Righteousness
There is the Sweetness of his Presence when he walks with us and talks with us a1ong the road of life.

In every-sense he is like a bundle of Myrrh.-which lies close to the heart of the believer and send forth a beautiful fragrance to enrich the soul

Then the Bundle of Myrrh would speak to us of

3 THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTS PASSION
For although, the Myrrh had a sweet smelling savour it was very bitter to taste. Thus it would remind us of the sufferings of Christ.

For his sufferings were a sweet smelling savour to God the Father as his Son submitted himself to the will of the Father. It pleased the Lord to bruise him. There is a sense in which the sufferings of Christ gave pleasure to God. Yet at the same time we can see the bitterness of the sufferings of Jesus.

1) As we look into the garden of Gethsemane we hear Him say "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death "

Then He goes a little further and he bows with His face to the ground and prayed.
O my Father if it be possible Let this cup be removed from me. Nevertheless not as I will but thy will be done

In that garden the Lord Jesus fully realised the extent of the bitter sufferings, which lay before Him as he faced the death of the Cross. Such was intensity of the agony in the garden "He sweat as it where great drops of blood

FOR ME IT WAS IN THE GARDEN
HE PRAYED NOT MY WILL BUT THINE
HE HAD NO TEARS FOR HIS OWN
BUT SWEAT DROPS OF BLOOD FOR MINE

2) We can see His bitter Sufferings. In the Buffeting and the Scourging he received from the hands of his enemies. When they cruelly flogged him until his back was in raw flesh and opened like a furrow in a field.

We see his Sufferings as the creature spat on the face of the one who had created them. For by Him where all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth."

3) We see the bitterness of his Sufferings as he was betrayed by one of his own for thirty pieces of silver

4) We can see the extent of his sufferings as he was denied by Peter three times "I know him not I am not one of his disciples.

5) We see his bitter sufferings as they stripped him Naked, placed a Crown of Thorns upon his brow , pierced his hands and his feet and then suspended him on the Cross of Shame between heaven and earth.

Listen to the added suffering as they mocked him crying out " If thou be the Son of God come down from the cross. He saved others let him save himself.

6) We see the bitterness and suffering when He was made sin for us, and God's Holy Wrath was poured out in full measure upon him.

THE WRATH OF GOD THAT WAS OUR DUE UPON THE LAMB WAS LAID AND BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD THE DEPT FOR US WAS PAID.

7) Oh the Bitterness of His Sufferings when he cries with a loud voice from the cross "My God My God why hast thou forsaken me?" This was the most bitter of all his sufferings-When God the Father turned away leaving Him to die alone and for the first time their Fellowship was broken.

The Myrrh was a bitter sweet commodity and so were the sufferings of Christ. They were bitter to Jesus on the Cross,-but they were sweet to the Father as he witnessed His Son purchasing Redemption for a fallen race, and being obedient unto death even the death of the cross.

There is the sweetness of the Salvation which he has purchased by the shedding of his blood. The bitter cup, which he drank, is the grounds of the believers Joy. The Joy of Sins Forgiven! The Blessing of Justification! The Blessing of Reconciliation, and peace with God.

The Blessing of Pardon for the past! His Presence for today! and the Prepared home He has for us in the future.

But the Myrrh being bitter to taste and sweet to smell would teach us a very important lesson. If we have the sweetness of Christ as our own and Personal Saviour there will also be the bitterness of the cross. The Believer is a Cross bearer. Jesus said "Take up thy cross and follow me

BEAR THE CROSS FOR JESUS BEAR IT EVERY DAY
THOUGH THE PATH BE RUGGED BEAR IT ALL THE WAY
BEAR THE CROSS FOR JESUS WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE
BEAR IT AND REMEMBER ALL HIS LOVE FOR THEE

He, who would seek to wear a crown, must first carry his cross. He, who has that which is Sweet, will also experience that which is bitter. Believers usually get their share of the bitter, the problems the trials the various troubles. But we can be more than conquerors through Christ our Saviour.

The Portrait of the King as seen the myrrh speaks to us of

THE SUPERORITY OF CHRIST’S POSITION—
THE SWEETNESS OF CHRIST’S PERSON—
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST’S PASSION
THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST’ PRESENCE

The Myrrh, lying between the breasts, would not only speak to us of Christ dwelling in our hearts by Faith, it also reminds us of His continuing presence. 1:13 A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

Jesus is always there no matter how dark or long the night might seem to be the Lord is ever present. For He has promised “ Lo I am with you always!

Jesus is no distant deity-- but a constant reality, a very present help whenever needs occur. When we come to the bitter waters of the Marah experiences of life the Lord will be there.

He is the Bundle of Myrrh to His own to sweeten every trial and to lighten every road.

The Bundle of Myrrh, which was around the neck of the Shulamite Bride, sent forth a beautiful fragrance It was always within her view and she could touch it at anytime. The Lord is always in view and within the reach of all who are walking in fellowship with Him.

REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD AS HE GOES BY
YOU WILL FIND HE IS NOT TOO BUSY TO HEAR YOUR HEARTS CRY
HE IS PASSING BY THIS MOMENT YOUR NEED TO SUPPLY
REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD AS HE GOES BY

CONCLUSION

—One final word about the Significance of the Myrrh.

1. You will find Myrrh at the Birth of Jesus! The wise men brought their gifts of Gold—which speaks of His Deity! Frankincense that speaks of His Purity & Beauty and the Myrrh that speaks of His Suffering.
   
2. You will find Myrrh at the death of Christ when Nicodemus brought a mixture of Myrrh and aloes to embalm the body of Jesus.

But nowhere in the Bible will you find Myrrh mentioned at the Second coming of Christ. WHY? Because His sufferings are over The Battle is over the Victory is won and Jesus Christ is Lord.

LIFTED UP WAS HE TO DIE
IT IS FINISHED WAS HIS CRY
NOW IN HEAVEN EXALTED HIGH
HALLELUJAH WHAT A SAVIOUR

We are resting on a finished work and we say with heart felt devotion

“ A bundle of Myrrh is my beloved unto me