INTRODUCTION:

    1. Vv. 1-9 -- Are a detailed description of the bride's beauty by her bridegroom.
    2. Chap. 7 -- Not just a repetition but an expansion of the praise of chap. 4.
        a. Chap. 4 -- Praise given immediately upon their espousal.
        b. Chap. 7 -- Praise given upon her return from a by-path (ch. 6:13).
        c. Shows the constancy of Christ's love for His people -- "to the end."
    3. Vs. 1 -- He calls her "prince's daughter."
        a. As believers, we are children of the King by the new birth, born from above, begotten of God.
        b. We bear the image of the King of Kings. We are guided by His Spirit.
        c. By being espoused to Christ as a church, we are made a "prince's daughter."
    4. Vs. 1 -- "How beautiful are thy feet . . . "
        a. (Truth) When they stand fast in the faith.
        b. (Testimony) When they are shod with the Gospel.
    5. Vs. 1 -- Compares her joints to "jewels, the work . . . of a cunning (skilled) workman."
        a. What is the source of unity in a church -- our love for Christ, resulting in doctrinal purity --
        Eph. 4:16 ; Col. 2:19.
        b. The church is comely in Christ's eyes through:
            1) The unity which comes through His love -- John 13:34-35.
            2) The communion (fellowship) of the saints.
            3) Teaching/actions which are according to the Word of God.
        6. After he reveals his love for her, she shows the proper response to such caring in vv. 10-13.

  I. DECLARES HER COMMITTMENT TO HIM -- VS. 10.

    A. The Realization Of It.
        1. "I am my beloved's." This is confidence -- not self-confidence, but confidence in her beloved.
        2. Saying: "I am not my own, but devoted to and owned by Him."
            a. Acts 20:28.
            b. I Cor. 6:19-20.
            c. I Cor. 3:16-17.
        3. As a church & as individual children of God, we must remember that it's not "my life, and I can do
            as I want" (Gal. 2:20).
        4. This statement is the triumph of relation.
            a. Her interest is in him.
            b. In his name she will boast.
            c. She knows to whom she has committed herself and reckons it an honor to serve him.
        5. As a church, we have the same triumph.
            a. Boast in His name -- pleased to be called a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
            b. Know who we have trusted (II Tim. 1:12) & reckon serving Him through His body an honor indeed.

    B. The Recognition Of It.
        1. "And his desire is toward me."
        2. She realizes this love is not a one-way street.
            a. She loves her shepherd & has committed herself to him.
            b. He loves his bride and has made the same committment of himself to her.
        3. Here is the key to any successful union.
            a. Eph. 5 -- Wives to submit to (leadership role) of husbands; husbands to love wives with a
                self-sacrificing love.
            b. Recognizes different duties in the home and the responsibility of each party to keep them.
        4. Christ's desire is toward His churches.
            a. He desires their faithfulness.
            b. He desires their committment.
            c. He desires to bless them, etc.

 II. DESIRES HER COMMUNION WITH HIM -- VV. 11-12.

    A. She Desires Fellowship.
        1. Expresses her desire to know him better -- "Come, my beloved . . . "
            a. She wants to be alone with him -- "let us go forth into the field."
            b. Wants to spend time alone with him without the interruption of the world.
        2. Husbands & wives need uninterrupted time together.
            a. Many "grow apart" over the years.
            b. Why? Busy with many things, then the children are gone, and they find themselves living in the same
                house with a stranger.
        3. "Those that would converse with Christ must go forth from the world and the amusements of it, must avoid
            everything that would divert the mind and be a hindrance to it" and be wholly taken up with Christ.
            a. Matthew 6:5-6.
            b. We're never less alone than when we are alone with Christ.
        4. We can fellowship with Christ, but we must do it on His terms.
            a. Isaiah 59:1 -- a pure life.
            b. I John 1:7 -- Obedience to His Word.

    B. Devotion To Fellowship.
        1. Vs. 11 -- She desires to do what is necessary to be alone with her beloved. She says:
            a. "Let us go forth into the field."
            b. "Let us lodge in the villages."
        2. I John 1:7 -- "If we walk in the light as he iss in the light . . . "
            a. This is the condition of true fellowship.
            b. 1st "We" = individual believers.
            c. 2nd "We" speaks of fellowship between a believer and the Lord.
            d. A blessed fact: God wants to fellowship with us!
        3. As children of God, we should be willing to do whatever is necessary to fellowship with God.
            a. Col. 3:5-9 -- Put off some things.
            b. Col. 3:10 ; Romans 13:14 -- Put on some things.

    C. Dedication To Fellowship -- Vs. 12.
        1. "Let us get up early . . . "
        2. Dedication to fellowship may mean making some sacrifices.
            a. Shulamite willing to rise early to go with her beloved.
            b. Reveals her desire to make opportunities for fellowship.
        3. We are told to take up our cross daily and follow Him -- Luke 9:23.
            a. Need to begin the day in communion with Him.
            b. Need to begin every day with Him. (Seek Him early; seek Him diligently.)
        4. She is not only willing to rise early, but to lodge where he lodges.
            a. In the villages, huts or cottages, in mean, cold buildings if it means being close to her beloved.
            b. "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus"

III. DETERMINES HER CONDITION IN HIM -- VS. 12.

    1. "Let us see if the vine flourish . . . "
    2. Speaks of a desire to be better acquainted with the state of our lives in relation to Christ.
        a. Some just get saved & presume things O.K. from then on.
        b. We should be concerned to look into our own lives to see whether "the vine flourishes."
        c. I Cor. 11:28a, 31-32 -- Self examination.
            1) Must examine ourselves individually and as a church (by the Word).
            2) Part of what letters to 7 churches of Asia are about.
    3. Especially inquire whether "the tender grape appear" and "the pomegranates bud forth."
        a. Are we producing fruit for the Lord?
        b. John 15:8.
    4. Therein (in our obedience & fruit production) is our love for the Lord revealed.
        a. Easy to sing "Oh, How I Love Jesus."
        b. The truth of our love is seen in the fruit of our lives.

  CONCLUSION: