Sitting down under his Shadow
Song ch 2v 1-6

Pastor Jack Anderson

Introduction. The Song of Solomon sets forth, in tender symbolism, the love of Christ for the church His bride; and the love of the Bride, his church, for Christ the Bridegroom.

In this small section of scripture the Bride is speaking about her Bridegroom, and we have a glimpse of the sufficiency of our Lord and Saviour.

The bride speaks of her estimation of her loved One and she tells us what she possesses in him. She describes him (in verses 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, as her "beloved"

In verse 3 She compares him with the Apple Tree among the trees of the wood.

Song 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

This was the citron apple tree, which was the highest, and the greatest of all the trees in the wood. This tree, which was rich in fragrance, had beautiful foliage and was laden with an abundance of delicious fruit.

This was by far the best among all the trees of the wood. This picture reminds us that our Lord Jesus excels far above all others! His Greatness and His Excellency is over all and is blessed of God forever. Jesus our Lord is above all others. He is higher than the Highest and he reigns on high

1. He is the Altogether Lovely One! The Fairest of Ten thousand!
2. He is the Rose of Sharon (Ever blooming for His People)
3. He is the Lily of the Valley ( White in His absolute Purity)
4. He is the Pearl of Great Price!
5. He is the Hidden Treasure! Of many blessings
6. The Bright and Morning Star!
7. The Son of Righteousness!
8. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
   The Sovereign One) the one who sits on the heavenly Throne
9. He is the Paschal Lamb of our Redemption
   The Sacrifical One)
10. He is the Living Bread on which we feast He is The Sustaining One
11. He is the Living Water
    (from which we drink(The Satisfying One) He refreshes and Satisfies the Soul
12. He is the Good tidings of Great Joy
13. He is the Unspeakable Gift ( the Gift of God’s Love)
14. He is the Wisdom of God ( To Guide us through our earthly pilgrimage
15. He is the Word of God- a Lamp unto our feet and a light for our path.
16. He is the Chief Corner Stone the stone that the builders rejected is now the head
17. He is the Rock of Ages. some know the ages of the rocks but we who believe know the blest rock of ages.
18. He is the First and the Last (the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end
19. He is the Apple Tree among the Trees of the wood
    He is before all and above all and we are complete in Him

Song 5:16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend,

In verse 8 The Bride speaks of the “Voice of her Beloved” 2:8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

This Voice of my Beloved! This verse would seem to indicate, that the Bride heard the "Voice of her Beloved" before she saw his face. She not only heard his voice she recognized his voice.

The Bride, in the Song of Songs, was able to distinguish the voice of her Bridegroom from all others, even when he was still a long distance away.

Her heart leaps with joy and with excitement at the sound of the voice of her beloved who has come to her vineyard home to visit her.

"It's the Voice of my beloved"

How blessed it is, when Believers, who are the Bride of Christ, hear the voice of their Bridegroom and are able to recognize His voice and know of assurance when it is the Lord who is speaking. The Voice of our Beloved One ought ever to be recognized by His own. The Lord Jesus said

Hearing the voice of the Master, our Bridegroom, should ever thrill our souls and make us follow Him, totally surrendered to His leading and to His Sovereign will.
Friends we ought to know the Voice of our Beloved above all others for

1. There is Majesty in His Voice The Psalmist reminds us that the voice of the Lord is upon many waters. Never man spake like this man.
   
   The sound of His Voice thrills the Soul. The sound of His voice exhilarates and edifies His Bride, His Church

2. There is Mighty Authoritive Power in His Voice
   
   The Voice of Jesus is an all-powerful voice. His voice comes forth not only in word but in Power. He speaks and the Blind see, the Deaf hear, the Lame leap for joy and the dead come forth from the grave.

   He speaks, Peace be still and the raging sea and the roaring winds bow to His command. He speaks words of Forgiveness, of Mercy, of Grace, Words of comfort, words of consolation, and words of challenge.

The Voice of Christ, not only reaches the ear; it opens the eyes of those who are spiritually asleep.

His Voice touches the heart of the complacent. His voice brings comfort to distressed Saints.

The Voiced of Jesus is still able to calm the raging storms and the troubled waters that we encounter on the journey of life.

When, like His disciples of old, the little ship of our lives is in troubled waters and we are fearful. Then we see Him walking on the Sea of Life, and He says to us "Be of good cheer it is I, be not afraid” And soon the storm of trials and the Sea of adversity is calm, in obedience to His command.

1. THERE IS MAJESTY IN HIS VOICE
2. THERE IS MIGHTY AUTHORITY AND POWER IN HIS VOICE
3. THERE IS MANNA FOR THE HUNGRY SOUL IN HIS VOICE.

The Voice of Jesus brings Divine Refreshment and food to nourish our hungry souls. The Voice of the Beloved, brings us light to dispel our darkness! Instructs us in the Truth! Corrects us when we go astray!

Lifts us up, when we are feeling down! Gives strength to the weary! Brings comfort to the sad! It brings joy to rejoice the heart! How exhilarating is the Voice of Jesus to those who believe..

Surely we have all said, at some time or other the words of the two disciples who were traveling the lonely road to Emmaus.

Did not our hearts burn within us; while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scripture”.

Friends-- Keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the voice of your God and learn of him. In one short hour you could learn more from Him than you could learn from man in a thousand years.

Then the Bride in the Song concludes by saying, v 16 "my beloved is mine, and I am his."

It is exactly like this with the Lord and his people. we are married to Christ and how rich and how blessed we are! ----

Is it any wonder that David could say psalm in 87: all my springs are in thee.
Is it any wonder that Wesley could say, Thou, O Christ, art all I want; more than all in thee I find.

Let us give some thought to the rich blessings which are ours in Christ, our beloved'!

1. In Christ we have a Rest That is Perfect

We learn this from the words in verse 3. I sat down under his shadow." Indicating the perfect rest she found in his presence.

The Bride is saying to her Beloved you are so much more to me than any other could possibly be.

I have shade and rest and refreshment in your presence. -God’s presence brings Fulfillment to emptiness, Forgiveness to Sinfulness, Love to the Loveless

After his work on Calvary, Jesus "sat down", because his work was done.

And because he has finished the work of our redemption we may "sit down" and enter into a two-fold rest.

1. Peace with God—

2. The Peace of God-.

Do you know that—the rest we enjoy from the burden of sin, from a guilty conscience, from the dominion of sin and from the demands of the law. Can only be found under his shadow. Under the shadow of the One who died on the cross at Calvary.

With the psalmist we can say

1. In Christ we have a Rest That is Perfect

It is not our trust that keeps us, but the God in whom we trust who keeps us.

Under His wings I am safely abiding
Though the night deepens
And the tempests are wild
Still I can trust Him I know He will keep me
He has Redeemed me and I am His Child

2. In Christ we have a Protection that is Complete.

We learn this from the words in verse 3: "under his shadow" That is to say, under the shade of the citron tree, there is protection from the fierce rays of the sun.

The Figure of a Shadow is often used in the Bible to denote protection.

The Prophet Isaiah speaks of a shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Jot- ham said to the men of Shechem

The Believer is under the shadow of the Almighty Our soul Protected in Him for time and for eternity

Under the shadow of thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure:
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

HE IS OUR SHIELD

HE IS OUR BUCKLER

HE IS OUR HIGH TOWER

When the Lord delivered David out of the hands of his enemies and from the hand of Saul

1. In Christ we have a Rest That is Perfect

2. In Christ we have a Protection that is Complete

This protection is summed up beautifully in Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

3. In Christ we have Joy That is Full

We learn this from verse 3 How does the Bride feel as she sits with her beloved? She was filled with joy and great delight. (Amp) under his shadow I delighted to sit

We delight to be in the presence of those whom we love and we love to speak to those whom we love. We should always be delighted to be in His house, in His presence and listening to His voice. Jesus said to His followers

(Amp) I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

Believers can enter into and experience the Lord’s own Joy. A joy that was full even on the eve of His death. A joy that is supernatural, which can be experienced, even in the midst of trials and testing.

In Acts 16—In Prison Paul and Silas had on their bodies the marks of many stripes from the whipping they received and were cast into prison.

But at midnight Paul and Silas were having a worship service. They were praying and Praising God and the other prisoners were listening to them. Their Joy was full even in the dark dungeon of life.

Quote-- Tim Hansel “I cannot choose to be strong, but I can choose to be joyful. And when I am willing to do that, strength will follow”.

Quote--Billy Sunday If you have no joy in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere.

3. In Christ we have Joy That is Full

Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that kind of joy. Is your Joy Full today?

4. In Christ we have a Supply That is Bountiful

We learn this from the words in verse 3: "His fruit was sweet to my taste" The reference is to the fruit of the tree under which the bride was sitting with her beloved.

She found complete sufficiency and absolute satisfaction in his gracious provision for her. The Fruit was sweet to her taste!

What is this sweet satisfying fruit that we, as Christians, experience, and is only ours because of our union with the Lord Jesus?

It’s the fruit, which His hands have wrought out, and what His precious Blood has procured for poor lost sinners on Calvary

The blessings of His Grace, such as Peace through the Blood of His cross, Reconciliation, Justification, Sanctification.

Pardon for Sin, Adoption into the Family of God and nearness to God because we are accepted in the beloved.

All the Blessings of the New Covenant are in Christ’s hands for us to taste and to enjoy. How satisfying His fruit is! His fruit was sweet to my taste"!

Because of the Fruits Good Shepherd’s victory on Calvary I shall never want for rest, refreshment, nourishment, forgiveness, restoration, fellowship, guidance, deliverance from fear, comfort in sorrow, victory over enemies,

Are you enjoying Joy that is full? Is the Fruit, which has been provided by the Beloved really sweet to your taste?

Jesus the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my Breast
But sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence Rest.

5. In Christ we have a Guidance That Is Personal

The Bridegroom in the song lovingly puts his arm around the bride and leads her into the banqueting house. This is what the Lord is doing, and wants to do continually for us, he wants to lead us so that He can bless us.

His guidance is personal! His leading is gentle! His Direction is certain and Purposeful.

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
And be a kindly Shepherd behind me,
Today, tonight and forever.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Follow God, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail for His glory

6. In Christ we Have a Fellowship that is Sweet

This literally means—He brought me to the house of many delights. This is a place of joy and gladness and as ch 1:12 indicates the bride is seated at the Table with her Bridegroom King.

A little picture of the Church and the fellowship, that we enjoy with one another, and with Him our beloved heavenly Bridegroom. We are all strings in the concert of His joy.

We fellowship around His table! We fellowship Around His Word! We fellowship around His Throne! We fellowship in our service for the Master!

We fellowship, in our Joys, and we fellowship in our Sorrows! for we are one in Christ. The Banqueting House—is where we enjoy the good things, which our Lord has provided for us.

7 In Christ we Have a Victor who is Constant

We learn this from the words in verse 4:
"His banner over me was love". The Banner in Biblical times was used for a number of reasons.

1. A Banner would be set up as an indication of war.
2. A Banner would be set up to direct soldiers where to stand to defend a city.
3. A Banner would be set up to gather and to keep people together to a place of safety.
4. A Banner would be raised high as a Sign of Victory..

Christ the mighty conqueror of Calvary has won the Victory over all His enemies.

It is finished the battle is over! It is finished and Jesus is Lord! The Banner has been raised and it’s a banner of love!

Through faith in Him, and because of His victory, we are "more than conquerors" –through him that loved us. Think like a conqueror, Live like a conqueror and Act like one who is more than a conqueror in Christ

It is His banner that is over us, not ours; it is His victory we share, not something which is the result of our trying or self-effort.

The banner is the symbol of victory, and His banner is over us and over all God's children.

If we really do, have all this in Christ, our Beloved, what more can we want, in time or in eternity?

Every need so fully met in Jesus
Not a longing that He will not fill.
Not a burden but His grace will lighten.
Not a storm but His own peace will still.

May we learn to sit down under His shadow with great delight and we will find that His fruit is really sweet to you taste.

He is sweeter than them all
He is sweeter than them all
Give me Christ my Blessed Saviour
For He is sweeter than them all