Psalm 138. A Psalm of David. I will praise you with my whole heart. Before the gods I will sing praises to you. I will worship toward your holy temple and praise your name. For your lovingkindness and your truth. For you have magnified your word above all your name. In the day when I cried out, you answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth, when they shall sing of the ways of the Lord. For great is the glory of the Lord, though the Lord is on high, yet he regards the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your hands. Okay, we are in the Song of Songs 8. It's verses 8 through 14. These are the last verses of the book. This is entitled, Cause Me to Hear. This will be our 18th and final Song of Songs sermon. We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers. Then I became in his eyes as one who found peace. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. he leased the vineyard to keepers. Everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit 200. You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice. Let me hear it. Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. Now, isn't that kind of strange? Doesn't it just... I've always read that and wondered what is going on in this book. And you come to this ending and it doesn't seem to make any sense. I hope that this book has been a blessing to you. It's been the biggest of blessings to me. I never expected that we would see what we have seen in these sermons. And this final one, I hope it will bless you as well. The sermon was typed on 17 March of 2025. The verses in the sermon today seem to end with a whimper, instead of a great crescendo to the love story that has continued for eight chapters. Many other poems, love stories, and songs seem to drift off at the end as well, but in the Bible, one might expect a great resolution to the scene set before us so that we can say, everything will turn out just as it should. But because song, these songs, is a part of the Bible, there's no need for there to be a full and tidy resolution to what has been presented. This is because the Lord chose to focus on a select portion of the whole story of redemption. As we have seen, a main theme presented in the book is the time of year and the events surrounding the cross of Christ. Parts of the story look back from that moment to explain various things that relate to salvation. We have also seen redemptive pictures that stem from the cross of Christ. But there's no need to sum up the church age, explain the tribulation period, refer to the millennium, and so forth in Song the Songs. It is song the songs because of who is typologically highlighted and the love that stems from what he has done. To go beyond this would muddy the simplicity of the message. Our text verse comes from Revelation 2, it is verse 7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Man was placed in the Garden of Eden. He probably wasn't there very long before he was exiled. But God promised restoration would come. The Greek word translated as garden in the Garden of Eden, paradisias, is also translated as paradise. It is found only three times in the New Testament and 19 times in the Greek Old Testament. It signifies an enclosure or park. For all we know, when Jesus said to the man on the cross next to him that he would be with Jesus in paradise, that day he may have been referring to a place like the Garden of Eden for the departed souls of men. That would make sense because we are told the wicked go to a place that is not so great as they await the final judgment. Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the rich man tends to confirm this. A garden is a place of relaxation. Even if a particular garden may include planting and watering, those things generally bring us a state of enjoyment, not labor. In our verses today, the beloved of Solomon is said to be sitting in the gardens. Whatever she is doing, it gives a sense of one who is at rest and enjoying herself. Despite being in this difficult and tiring world, can you say that you are at rest and enjoying yourself in the Lord? We don't have to have stress-free, pain-free lives to be at rest mentally. When we are the Lord's, regardless of our physical surroundings, we can and should consider ourselves at rest. Hebrews 4 verse 3, a verse that I cling on to for my daily existence, says that we who believe We who have believed do enter that rest. Okay, why do I cling to that verse? Is because I haven't taken a single day off since September 28th of 2020. Then people get mad at me and they say, I should be taking time off and all that kind of nonsense. And they say, the Bible says you need to take a day of rest. I am in my day of rest, according to the Bible. Jesus died for my sins, I entered into my rest. My rest is being given to Jesus Christ. That's all there is to it. So no more complaining about my schedule. God modeled this day after the seventh day of rest following his creative efforts. Let us not fret too much over the world in which we live. It is temporary, and we will be going to another place, a better place soon enough, be it the paradise in Sheol or the paradise in heaven. Until then, be at rest in the garden, which is the hope of God found in Jesus Christ. May it be so for each of us. Great things, such as the promise of eternal life with God, are to be found in His superior Word. And so, let us turn to that precious Word once again, and may God speak to us through His Word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised. I've got a couple of thoughts for you today. The first is finding peace. Actually, I've got three thoughts for you today. The first is finding peace. Verses 8 through 10. There are many differing views on these final seven verses of Song the Songs. The differences refer to who the speaker is, who is being spoken of, and so forth. The differences also question whether this is a memory or if it is something happening at that time. These and other questions show how difficult it is to understand these final verses. One view suggests that they are so disconnected from the rest of the song that the song actually ends with verse 8-7, which we finished with last week, making these a later addition. Some see them as the words of the woman's brothers speaking of her when she was younger. Others see them as the words of the woman who is speaking about her own young sister. If so, then the plurals do not refer to her and the other siblings, but are a way of speaking of herself and her sister. In other words, if I had a little brother, which I don't, I only have two bigger brothers, but if I had a little brother I was speaking about, I might say, we have a little brother who needs correction in his thinking. The we would be my brother and me. I'm trying to tell him, listen, you need to learn a lesson. With these varied views in mind, the words begin with, verse eight, we have a little sister. Ahot lanu ketana, sister to us little. Whether referring to her in the past or her own sister in the present, the meaning is that there is a younger sister who is still undeveloped in body and mind. This is understood because the next words are set in parallel. Verse 8 continues, and she has no breasts. וְשָׁדַּיִּם אֵּן לָה וְשָׁדַּיִּם אֵּן לָה And breasts none to her. This means that a small female child is being referred to. The development of breasts is a mark of maturity towards womanhood, at least physically. In this state, regardless of her mental awareness concerning intimate relations, she would be deemed of marriageable age. This remains the case in much of the Middle East and Africa even today. It extends beyond there into Asia and parts of South America as well. The idea that a female can be a bride at 12 or 13 years old may be completely at odds with Western thought, but that is a minority opinion for most of human history. To us, mental development is the main consideration, something that comes years later. Of this young girl, the words continue with, verse 8 going on, What shall we do for our sister? Ma na'ase la'ahotenu? What do to our sister? As already noted, the question of who is speaking and who is being referred to is debated. Leaving that aside for now, the mature siblings ask the question about the care of this younger sister at a day yet ahead. Verse 8 continues, "...in the day when she is spoken for, Bayom she dubar ba, in the day that spoken in her." The note about her previously was that she had no breasts, thus the words here, without repeating the thought mean in the day that her breasts have developed, on that day she would be spoken for. As such, suitors would be coming by looking things over. Typically, the father would be approached to arrange a marriage. Depending on how she looked, a dowry would be set. If she were exceptionally beautiful, the dowry would be higher. If not so much, it would be reduced. Things like missing teeth, darker skin, or physical impurities like warts and scars would reduce the amount that a father could get for a daughter. The handling of a daughter was often like that of a prized cow or a donkey. And the payment for a daughter may be a cow or a donkey or even a goat. If you think I'm kidding, I've read you articles in the past during the Prophecy Update where people in Afghanistan will bring a goat to buy a daughter to this day. The day would come when her breasts developed and then her marriage would be arranged. This was often how things went in the life of a young maiden. The concern here, however, isn't the suitors coming by. When a young woman develops, she has her own inclinations as well. Thus, the next words are stated to explain the matter. If she is a wall, im choma hi. If wall, she. The choma is a wall, but the idea is not like a wall around a house. Rather, it is generally one of protection. For example, its first use in Scripture was at the Exodus from Egypt. There it said, So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground. And the waters were a wall, a choma, to them on their right hand and on their left. The walls of Jericho were described with this word, as are the exterior walls of many cities of the Old Testament. Understanding the meaning, the words metaphorically speak of her ability to handle her state of maturity. It is essentially asking, is she a wall of protection for her virginity? Is she guarding it and mentally able to retain it by shunning advances and not caving to her own cravings? If so, verse 9 continues, we will build upon her a battlement of silver. nivneh alecha tirat kesev, build upon her enclave silver. The word tirah is rare, being seen only seven times in scripture. It is variously translated as a fortress, a hamlet, a castle, a habitation, a palace, a row, and so forth. It comes from the word tur, a word meaning to range in a regular manner, thus it is a row. Based on the other uses, I define this as an enclave, meaning a district territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as within foreign territory. The meaning would be that they would adorn her with rose, an enclave of silver to highlight her beauty, something you wouldn't do with a daughter who tended towards being a floozy. Adorning her in such a way would only draw more attention and thus more temptation toward her. However, if she were a wall, highlighting her beauty would elevate her above the others as the epitome of virgin beauty. Saying an enclave of silver was built upon her means that she was enclosed and yet marvelously highlighted something we would think of in a modern, well-kept enclave. You're in an enclave, what do you do? You take care of your lawn, you trim the trees, you make it beautiful. That is what the idea is given here. As for Kasef, silver, it is the common metal for transactions throughout the Bible, often being translated directly as money. However, in typology, it consistently is used to signify redemption. With the idea proposed above concerning the younger sister being a wall, another possibility may arise concerning her. Verse 9 continues, and if she is a door. Ve'im delet hi. And if door, she. The delet, door, comes from dalah, to dangle. The word is used when referring to drawing out water from a well. When a bucket is drawn out in this manner, it swings to and fro, like a door swinging back and forth. Thus, the delet signifies something swinging as a door on its valve. When I say a valve, I'm talking about a door like this one that doesn't have hinges, okay? It swings differently than a door on hinges. This door here at the church is a perfect example of it. The meaning then is that she may grow up to be someone who is willing to swing open, allowing access when it should not be allowed. This could range from a girl who spends too much time hanging around with guys to one who is morally unsound in her interactions with them. If she turns out to be like this, verse 9 continues, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. Rather, natsur aleha luach aretz. confine her upon tablet cedar the word luach is a tablet for example it is used to describe the tablets of the ten commandments the word is derived from a root signifying to glisten thus it is a tablet which is polished and smooth this particular tablet is said to be of eretz cedar. That is from araz, to be strong or firm. This is set in contrast to the silver. If she is a wall, they will highlight her beauty for all to see. If she is a door, they will place over her a tablet of cedar. The idea of chastity belt is the intent, but not literally. Rather, she is to be kept chaste, as they keep her out of the public eye, as if she were hidden away behind a tablet of cedar. So which will it be? Verse 10. I am a wall. Ani choma. I wall. I identify the girl being spoken of as Solomon's beloved, who has been the subject of the entire song, rather than referring to her younger sister. It is looking back on when she was young and immature, wondering how she would turn out. Now she proclaims that she is a wall. Her morals and her interactions have proven her faithfulness as she matured and as a husband was anticipated for her. This appears evident from her repeated words to the daughters of Jerusalem about not wakening or awakening love until she inclined. Her walled state continued even as she matured. That is seen with her next words, verse 10 going on, and my breasts like towers. v'shadai ka migdalot, and my breasts according to the towers. She grew up and her breasts had become fully developed. Despite her mature age, she remained a wall. Therefore, verse 10 continues, then I became in his eyes as one who found peace. az hayati be'anav kei motset shalom, then became in his eyes, according to finding peace. The words are difficult and interpretations vary widely, but the meaning seems to be that because she remained a wall, Solomon's advances before their wedding night were rebuffed. Remember, all of the time she's at the door, let me in, let me in, and you know, she's just about to give in, she gives in, she comes to the door and he's gone, right? Okay. She remained a wall right to the end. If they weren't, Solomon would never have truly found peace with her. However, in being steadfast in awaiting love to arise, she became one who had found peace and who also became the source of peace for her beloved. Remembering that Solomon is shlomo, a word etymologically connected to shalem, to be whole or complete, shalom, which is safe, for example, peace, and shulamah, which is the exact same spelling in Hebrew minus the vowel points, reward or recompense, it appears she is making a pun on his name. She has found shalom with shlomo. Cause me to hear your voice. Let it go throughout the world. Open your mouth. It is the right choice. May the words come forth. Let them be unfurled. Many will hearken and join with you as long as the word continues to be spoken. Speak the word. This you shall do. And I have left behind for you a token Cause me to hear your voice. Let it go throughout the world. Let the nations triumphantly rejoice when the words of life to them are unfurled." Our second thought today is bolt, my beloved. Verse 11, Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. Rather, kerem haya lishlomo beva'al hamon. Vineyard became to Solomon in Baal Hamon. The sudden introduction of the acquisition of a vineyard is striking. It is as if the thought just jumped out of nowhere. And yet it is certainly intentional. Otherwise, the words would seem incongruous and even bizarre. The vineyard represents the cultural side of humanity. There are various vineyards that represent various cultures. The name ba'al hamon comes from two words. The first is ba'al, meaning lord or master. The next, hamon, signifies a multitude, like a horde. It can also signify a great commotion. Think of the horde coming and you hear all this commotion. That word is from hamam, which is an onomatopoeia meaning to make a loud sound, like our word hum. Therefore the name means Lord of Multitude. Next it says, verse 11 continues, He leased the vineyard to keepers. Rather, nathan et hakerem lanotrim, gave the vineyard to the guardings. The word least is the intent, but saying gave indicates that the custody has been given into their hands. The term the guardings signifies those who are put in charge of it and who are to ensure it is tended to properly. Anybody thinking of Jesus and a couple of his parables here? With this responsibility set upon them, it next says, verse 11 going on, everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. The verb is causative. Ish yavi befirro elef kesef – man he caused to bring in his fruit thousand silver. In Solomon's vineyard at Baal Hamon, each man guarding it, meaning tending to it, is expected to produce fruit according to one thousand of silver. The number is a multiple of 10, which means completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything. It implies that nothing is wanting, that the number and order are perfect, that the whole cycle is complete, as Bollinger's evaluation of the number 10. Next she says, verse 12, My own vineyard is before me. Her words are emphatic, karmi sheli lefanai, my vineyard, that to me, to my faces. This refers back to the words of verse 1-6. She is not referring to an actual vineyard, but to herself. There it said, not seeing me that I swore thee, that tanned me the sun, suns my mother burned in me, set me keeping the vineyards, my vineyard that to me not kept. In essence, she is saying that she is her own vineyard and has kept, maintained, and guarded herself, reserving herself for only one. That one and the benefits of her efforts are, verse 12 continues, you, O Solomon, may have a thousand. The thousand to you, Solomon. The proceeds of her efforts, the completeness of order, where nothing is lacking, belong to Him. She has yielded herself and her efforts to Him. Verse 12 continues, And those who tend to its fruit 200, Umatayim leinotrin et piro, and 200 to gardens its fruit. This is referring to those who watched over her, as noted in verses 8-8 and 8-9. Before she could tend to her own vineyard, those who tended to it are to be recompensed. Of the number 200, Bollinger, while providing sufficient examples from the Bible, says that it signifies insufficiency. What is that telling us, folks? Next, verse 13, you who dwell in the gardens, ha-yoshevet baganim, the sitting in the gardens. It is Solomon speaking to the beloved. She is in her place of contentment, sitting in the gardens. It is her place of rest and happiness. Verse 13 continues, the companions listen for your voice. חברים מקשיבים לכולך. Associates causing to hearken to your voice. The meaning of this and the next clause is debated. However, it appears that Solomon is telling her that those who have known her have heeded her words. The verb being causative means that when she spoke, it caused them to listen, hear, and attend to what was said. Because of this, he next says, verse 13 continues, let me hear it. Hashmi inni, cause me to hear. The previous clause used the word kashav, to listen, but implying paying heed, as in regarding and responding. Here it is the word shamah, to hear. The sense is to hear intelligently. She has caused others to hearken to her voice, and now he wants her to speak, or maybe to sing, so that he can hear. In response, she says, make haste, my beloved. Rather, b'rach dodi, bolt, my beloved. The words are similar to verse 217, but with some differences. Verse 217, revolve, resemble to you, my beloved. Here it says, bolt, my beloved, and resemble to you. The word here is b'rach. It means to bolt. but it is always in the sense of fleeing or driving someone away. There's no indication of location, and so it is unknown if she is asking him to bolt toward her, as in verse 2.8, or away from her, as in verse 2.17. The verb is used in this same form three other times each instance signifies to flee, as in away. As he bolts, she says to him, verse 14 continues, and be like a gazelle or a young stag. udme lecha litzvi le'ofer ha'ayalim and resemble to you to gazelle or to fawn the stags. The second clause is identical to the corresponding words of verse 2.17. The tzvi, the gazelle, comes from tzavah, to amass or to swell, and thus prominent. That also leads to the idea of beauty or splendor, which is a prominent trait. As such, the word is used to describe the gazelle because of its graceful beauty. The ophair is a fawn of the stags. The word is derived from aphar, dust, thus signifying the dusty color of the fawn. The ayala, the doe, is the feminine form of ayal, a stag. That ultimately comes from a root signifying strength. Think of Charlie Garrett. Being a fawn of the stags, it would have a strong form and be dusty in appearance. He is to be like one of these animals. Verse 14 finishes the verse, the chapter, and the book of the Song of Songs on the Mountain of Spices, al-harre v'samim, upon mountains' fragrances. The parallel thought in verse 217 was upon the mountains division. It is that which was to divide them until the right time. This time, however, she says the mountains of bosem, fragrance. Being plural, it is the mountains of fragrances. As always, a mountain is a lot of something gathered. In typology, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. The number is set at two. They form a whole. My word, it contains. No other number will do. But in these two, there is the severing of your chains. They provide what you need to find and be granted eternal life. So study up and do it with speed. In them is found the ending of strife. It is not one, five, seven, or three. No, the Testaments are numbered at just two. In them are words to make you free. Just these two will suffice. Nothing else will do. Our third thought today is Jesus in the details. This passage continues the thought from the first half of chapter 8. Verse 8 began with the thought of having a little sister. It is the redeemed, noting that a sister exists who is in a state of immaturity indicated by having no breasts. as has been seen her breasts picture the two testaments it is looking back on time when the beloved did not yet have access to the bible now i've been saying since the beginning of this book that the church is not the picture and israel isn't the picture it is the redeemed of all ages everybody remember that okay people have made category mistakes and they haven't come up with the proper typology i'm certain that this is correct but check with yourselves check with the bible read other commentaries because charlie garrett could be wrong Okay, that there is a younger sister means that there are those who are older. Without specifying who they are, they are the ones who watch over her. When her time comes, what will be done for her? Two choices were given for the time when her breasts had developed. The first option was that she would be a wall. If so, they would build upon her an enclave of silver. Silver signifies redemption. If she were a door, they would confine upon her a tablet of cedar, meaning a firm tablet. Without needing to consider the tablet of wood, she proclaims that she is a wall, so we don't need to talk about the tablet of wood. We know that she is a wall. Thus, by default, she is adorned with an enclave of redemption. It speaks of the status of believers since the coming of Christ, adorned in redemption. The idea is that any redeemed person is a part of the row of redeemed, wherever they may be. Thus, it is one enclave over the entire world, even if spotted in rows among the nations. The idea is that any redeemed person is a part of the row of the redeemed. The proclamation that her breasts are according to towers signifies that the two Testaments of the Word of God are fully developed and prominently on display. The symbolism is similar to that seen in Joshua and Judges in the sense that it excludes additions to the two-fold nature of the Bible. Back in Joshua and Judges, there was a passage we evaluated which excludes Mormonism, for example. They have a third addition to the Bible, don't they? It's called the Book of Mormon, another gospel of Jesus Christ. That is excluded. The Bible is telling us in advance what will be appropriate in the Word of God, long before there were two Testaments. In other words, adding the Apocrypha, as the Catholics did in the 1400s, or adding the Book of Mormon in the late 1800s is proven to be a false, heretical addition to the Word of God. With the statement concerning her breasts, she then said, then became, in his eyes, according to finding peace. The granting of peace is finally and fully realized in the completion of Christ's work, something only understandable with the completion of both Testaments of the Bible. From there, the words referred to the vineyard, the cultural expression that had become to Solomon in Baal Hamon, Lord of a multitude. It speaks of Christ receiving authority over the vineyard noted in Matthew 21. There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, They will respect my son. But when the fine dressers saw the sun, they said among themselves, this is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Being lord of a multitude speaks of Jesus as the Lord of all the redeemed. However, not all in the vineyard are the redeemed of the Lord. Each man was to bring forth a thousand of silver for its fruit. In other words, the expectation was to be completeness of redemption. The poem doesn't deal with that issue from Matthew any further because it isn't the subject of the love story. Rather, the woman picturing the redeemed is. She said that she had kept her own vineyard. She guarded it and reserved it only for one, her beloved. In doing so, she grants to Solomon the thousand. This means that the completeness of the redemption belongs to him. Picturing Christ alone. It speaks of the complete reliance on Him and His redemption alone. The redeemed have no share in the process. The note about the two hundred to those who guard its fruit speaks of insufficiency. In other words, it is referring to those who came before the woman. specifically noted in verses 8-8 and 8-9. As they came before the church, it refers to Israel, who guarded the fruit of the vineyard until the woman came. They were under the law, something insufficient for redemption. If you don't believe that, just read all the way through the Bible. The law can save nothing. Okay? This doesn't mean that none during the time of the law are redeemed, but it speaks of the wages of being under the law. They are insufficient to save. Whether before or after the coming of Christ, only faith in Him can save. Next, in verse 13, came Solomon's words about his beloved sitting in the gardens. Gardens are places where things are planted and watered. They then increase and bear fruit. They are also often places of order and arrangement, such as a rock garden. The Beloved is said to be the one sitting in the gardens. The word sit generally means to dwell. It is one of the many metaphors that Paul uses concerning the gospel. where one plants and another waters and God gives the increase. It is as if the nations are gardens and the voice of the beloved goes out, causing her associates to hearken to her voice. This is the call and the positive response to the gospel. Think of what I said about Remy. She's got a little ministry over in the Philippines that she's taken over since her husband died. And she's out telling people about Jesus. They're in a little enclave of Christians there and she's telling them. And the call goes out and people hear and they respond. See that? Solomon then says, cause me to hear. It is not a call for him to hear and hearken, but to hear, shamah, the sound of her causing others to hearken, kashav. In response, the poem closes with the words of the woman in verse 14. She tells her beloved to bolt in a manner similar to verse 217. The main difference, however, was instead of upon mountains division, he was to bolt upon the mountains of fragrances. Mountains, being synonymous with large but centralized groups of people, speak of the nations of the world. Being the mountains of fragrances, it refers to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians chapter 2. Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? In other words, it is essentially the church calling out to the Lord, while you are gone from us and until the day we are eternally united, we know you will be with us as we go throughout the world, sharing the knowledge of you to every nation, tribe, and tongue. With the poem complete, it leaves the future open and unfinished in one way, but it assures us that there is a completion that lies ahead. The song these songs is written as it is, to show us the intimacy that God has in His heart for His people because of Jesus. The redeemed of the world from any age, any time, any dispensation are only credited with salvation because of what He has done. And yet it is clear from these final verses that our participation is included. But it is not participation that merits salvation. Rather, we understand and accept the salvation by faith that has been offered by God. The woman gave the silver of her field, meaning herself, to Solomon. Our redemption rightfully belongs to Jesus because we are betrothed to him. Who we are and what we do in maintaining our vineyard, our cultural expression, is because we are members of his called out people. There would be no church without Christ, who heads the church. The interactive nature of our relationship with God in Christ is on full display in the pages of this wonderful, tender, and amazingly beautiful book. The intimacy of the two beloveds should be considered and meditated upon by each of us as we await the final consummation of our relationship with God. God is sharing himself with us in Christ, and we are to reciprocate by sharing ourselves with him through Christ. We can do it now through the fellowship of the Spirit, and someday it will be realized in its fullness when we are brought before him for all eternity. And may that day be soon. Amen. I'm lost in my days again and again. I fail you, Lord, the same and the same. My ups and my downs keep rolling in. I try and I fail again. Keep on failing. But believe, your love never changes. Your love doesn't roll in and out like my failing scroll. Your love is the same on my ups and my downs. Forgiveness doesn't change, doesn't turn around. Like grass in a field tossed back and forth, my life's accomplishments surely sometimes fall. Oh, everlasting Father, oh Lord above all ages, in a stream of time of sorrows, your love never changes. And when the blessings come, in spite of all my fears, your love finds me there and helps my disbelief. Oh, praise your holy name. Praise your goodness, Lord. Praise that you remain the same no matter where I go. Your hand will find me there. Your voice will bring me in, since you are my shepherd, Lord, and I'm one of your sheep. Oh, grass on the fields tossed back and forth. My flesh may be weak, but my soul is strong. The power in me is not of myself, but from the day I found my faith. Oh, everlasting Father. Oh, Lord above all ages. Oh, praise your holy name, for your love never changes. that was written by my friend Isabella Bednara on 2 February of 2025, which was the same day I started the Song of Solomon. Thank you, Isabella. Our closing verse comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 1, it is verse 9. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son. Jesus Christ our Lord. Next week is 1 Samuel 1, yes! Verses 1 through 7. Two ladies at odds, oh man ah, what could it mean ah? Their names are Hannah and Penina. That'll be our first 1 Samuel sermon. I hope you enjoy the Book of 1 Samuel. I'm up to, I've typed, I think, half of chapter 6 so far, and it is really fun. I said during, spoiler alert, turn off if you don't want to know, I said it during the Bible study, the main subject of these first six chapters so far has been perfectly evident. It has been unbelievably perfectly evident. Law, versus grace. We keep seeing the same theme come in again and again and again. We see all kinds of themes. We've seen the rapture, we've seen this and that one thing another, but I'm telling you what, the Lord wants us to understand that the very first words he ever spoke to humanity were words of law and they got us in all of this trouble. The last words of his word are of grace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. And in the middle of the Bible, right at the end of the Old Testament, there is a curse because of the law. lest the land come and strike you with a curse. And then what happens on the first page of the New Testament? The birth of the Savior, the grace of God. Let us learn this lesson. We shouldn't even have to go any further than those four positions in the Bible to say law is not what we need. We need grace. But so far I'm really enjoying 1 Samuel and I hope that you will be here for those sermons. I just am really enjoying them. Hannah and Peninnah. What is that telling us? What is that telling us? Go read the story and see if you can figure it out. It's very short. It's wonderful. I'm telling you, this book is unbelievable. The Song of Songs, it's unbelievable. The Book of Jonah, it's unbelievable. It's God's Word telling us a story of love. Just trust me, and I will get you back to where you were. That's all God wants, is just that trust. Please trust him today. The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and a purpose for you. He alone is the perfect example of love, untarnished, unblemished, and completely pure and holy. He offers His love to you, so follow Him, live for Him, and trust Him, and He will do marvelous things for you and through you. All right? I've got a question for you from the EZ File. Yes, I remembered to put one down today. What was the name of the land God promised Avram? Canaan. There you go. Canaan. All these faces and then, oh yeah, that's right. It was so easy that it tricked you. You all knew that. Canaan. Okay, which today we call Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. Okay, Song of Songs 8, 8 through 14. Sister to us little, and breasts none to her. What do to our sister in the day that spoken in her, if wall she build upon her enclave silver, and if door she confine upon her tablet cedar? I, woe, and my breasts according to towers, then became in his eyes according to finding peace. Vineyard became to Solomon, and Baal Hamon gave the vineyard to the guardings. Man, he caused to bring in his fruit, thousand silver. My vineyard that to me, to my faces, the thousand to you, Solomon, and two hundred to guardings its fruit. the sitting in the gardens associates causing to hearken to your voice cause me to hear both my beloved and resemble to you to gazelle or to fawn the stags upon mountain fragrances heavenly father thank you for the song of songs thank you that you have given us in your word the key to understanding your love for us It's a simple act of faith given by your act of grace in the giving of your son. Help us to be faithful and to be people of faith as we pursue you all the days of our life, not looking to our own righteousness, but to that which stems from the work of Jesus culminating in the cross, the internment, and the resurrection. Thank you for what you have done to bring us back to yourself. Thank you for the rest that we have entered because of Jesus. Thank you. And it's in his name we pray. Amen. I hope everybody enjoyed the book. If not, there is a box over there. It's got a full refund for you. Just take out your portion of the money. And don't take any extra. Leave some for everybody else that needs their refund. What a wonderful thing God has done by giving us Jesus. And then to express this love relationship in such a beautiful way, such a simple and yet beautiful way. And it's almost mysterious when you read it. I mean, I think I've told you this. I had no idea that after reading that book 150 times probably, no idea what it was telling us other than a guy loves a girl and there's all kinds of symbolism I just don't get. But you get into the study, and you know what? I just, I'm so thankful that it was suggested and that we followed through with it. So, praise the Lord for this. We get the instruction for the Lord's Supper. It comes directly from Scripture. It's 1 Corinthians chapter 11, where Paul wrote these words. He said, for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And he would have blessed us, Brad. He would have said, Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech haolam ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. And he broke it and he said, take and eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, and he would have blessed this as well. He would have said, Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu, melech haolam, borei peri hagafen. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine. This cup is the covenant in my blood the new covenant in my blood this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the lord's death until he comes therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the lord But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. Body in the blood of the Lord Jesus Body in the blood of the Lord Jesus And Shannon is included in this blessing. I know she's a bit distant from us, but I know she's having a good time the body in the blood of the Lord Jesus The body in the blood of the Lord Jesus The body in the blood of the Lord Jesus Body in the blood of the Lord Jesus you look like you did not get much sleep All right, okay. Oh There was get me I you know what the one that thunders and lightnings I just lay there and love it I'd love it the dogs hate it, but I love it the body of the blood of the Lord Jesus The body in the blood of the Lord Jesus I Yeah, they were all there going to it was like getting a free massage. I mean they were all piled up on in It's great the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus One of them was still shaking in the morning the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus Give me a report when you get it, okay, right? the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. Guess what I'm doing tonight about six o'clock. Well, whenever. It's usually about six when we get... I work right up until... She'll take care of that. As soon as I get home, I'll shove it in, then she can handle it. Can I join you? Yes, you can. Oh yeah, yes you can. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. 18th September, Air Force. Oh gosh, oh gosh. The U.S. Air Force, flying by. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. I never saw you come in. Did you come in late or were you here? I didn't even see you. Good to have you here, Brian. Okay. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus I Know a lot of animals were upset last night. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, July 4th is the big one especially resounds down the bay echoes You didn't mention the Talmud. The what? Talmud. He's putting a twist off the two testaments. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. It doesn't work, folks. Sorry. No, it doesn't at all. You're absolutely right about that. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. Oh, thank you. Oh, it's a beautiful book. Beautiful book. The what? Wingnut. There you go. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. The body and the blood of the Lord Jesus. Come here, let me get a kiss for my little sweetness and apple pie here. Little Charlie, you're so, so sweet. Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute. All right. Lunch! Got lunch! I haven't snuck in any of that. I never eat sweet stuff, ever. Biggest liar on the planet, too. I'd sit and basically eat candy all day. But on Sunday and Monday, there's no eating, except this. Yeah. He's a little cutie. Okay, so I have one more prayer request. My friend called me, and I talked to him this morning. A guy I went to high school with, and somebody you don't know, but it's somebody I went to high school with, and he is, it has, liver problem for a long time he's been taking holistic medicine and finally it's just kind of taken over and he went to the hospital he's been in there a couple weeks and now he is apparently got cancer all the way through his body and he's going to hospice Marcy Austin her husband Marcy who used to live in sea winds when we were young we all hung around to get yes her husband Don is so If you keep Don in prayer, it doesn't look like he's got much longer to go and he's considerably younger than us, but went to school together. And one other thing that I thought I'd give some advice. for people that struggle with children that whine a lot. We'll say one that's about a year and three, four months old, maybe that age. Because I have a wife that has this child that she takes care of quite often, a lot. And very quickly, You know, you learn that they know your buttons and when you have a button that they want to push, they push it. And one of the ways they do it is by making a scene, okay? And you may not have figured this out, but I have. It took me only one day. And if a scene is being made, like, okay. What I want you to do is do the exact same thing. And then they'll stop. And then what you do is you say, I can do it, too. And now she's learned this. Every time I say, I can do it, too, she stops. And then I'll even go further and I'll say, come over here. We'll do it together. And boy, do I get a bad face from that one. But it works. So if you haven't learned that simple lesson when they go, ah, ah, you do it, too, and then invite them to join you. It ends, OK? There you go. Okay, last note. It is Father's Day. We got a lot of fathers here and online, and I want to wish them all a happy birthday, but I've got my own father here. And there's two things that I need to tell you about my father. The first is that today is Father's Day, so I'm wishing him a happy Father's Day. But secondly, His birthday is coming up on the 20th, which is this week before next week. He will be a year older So make sure you wish my dad a happy birthday 92, correct? Yeah 1933 June 20th. And so here we go. Happy birthday. Happy Father's Day and Happy day in Jesus, right? I mean, wow, what a wonderful book. I hope you enjoyed it. Like I said, if you didn't, there's plenty of money to refund all of you. Don't worry about that. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the chance to come into your presence and to hear your word and to think on it and to understand the depth of the love that you possess for your creatures if they're just willing to come to you by faith. It's unbelievable that that's all you want from us, but apparently that's all you want from us, is just to believe that you are who you say you are, that you have done what you said you did, and to trust that act with our lives, and to commit ourselves to you because of that. How simple that is, and yet how difficult it is for the world to understand. G-R-A-C-E. But thank you for the grace of God, which is found in Jesus Christ our Lord, We thank you for it. We praise you for it. We thank you for Him, our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen.