The Song of Solomon — Part 1

Sermon Details

• Title: The Song of Solomon — Part 1
• Speaker: Wade E. Taylor
• Date: June 25, 1981
• Occasion: Not explicitly stated, appears to be a Bible study series

Introduction

This sermon, delivered by Wade E. Taylor on June 25, 1981, is the first part of a series on the Song of Solomon. Taylor, known for his deep spiritual insights, presents the Song of Solomon as a profound book that outlines the Holy Spirit's work in bringing believers to full spiritual maturity. This study sets the stage for a deeper exploration of spiritual growth and intimacy with God.

Overview of the Main Message

The central theme of this sermon is the process of spiritual growth and maturity as outlined in the Song of Solomon. Taylor emphasizes that this biblical book contains, in cryptic form, a clear outline of how the Holy Spirit works to bring people into a full process of redemption. He presents the idea that God, as a master workman, is shaping believers into His image through various life circumstances and spiritual experiences.

Taylor stresses that the Song of Solomon is "totally subjective," focusing on the personal relationship between Christ and the believer. This subjective interpretation is key to understanding Taylor's approach to the text and its application to personal spiritual growth.

Theological Framework

The sermon is grounded in several key theological concepts:

1. Divine Workmanship: Taylor emphasizes Ephesians 2:10, which states that we are God's workmanship. This forms the basis for understanding spiritual growth as a process orchestrated by God.
2. Stages of Spiritual Growth: Drawing from Philippians 3:10, Taylor outlines three stages of spiritual development: knowing Christ, experiencing the power of His resurrection, and participating in the fellowship of His sufferings.
3. Hunger for God: Taylor presents spiritual hunger as a fundamental aspect of growth, citing 1 Peter 2:2 about desiring the pure milk of the word.
4. The Bride of Christ: The Song of Solomon is interpreted as an allegory of Christ and the Church, with the bride representing individual believers or the Church as a whole.
5. Laboring to Enter His Rest: Taylor touches on the concept of "laboring to enter into His rest," suggesting a balance between active pursuit of spiritual growth and yielding to God's work in our lives.

Detailed Exposition

The Importance of Spiritual Hunger

Taylor begins by emphasizing the crucial role of spiritual hunger in the growth process. He states, "As babes in Christ, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2, KJV). He argues that this hunger is not something that can be created by ministry but is a part of our spiritual DNA that needs to be awakened and fed.

Taylor suggests that the most profound prayer one can pray is for God to increase spiritual hunger. He ties this to the Song of Solomon 1:4 (KJV), "Draw me, we will run after thee," explaining that "Draw me" is a plea for God to create spiritual hunger, while "we will run after thee" is the believer's commitment to pursue God in response to that hunger.

God's Ways of Answering Prayer

To illustrate God's methods of answering prayers and developing Christ-like character, Taylor shares an anecdote about a housewife and her mother-in-law:

A young housewife prayed for an experience of God's love, expecting a warm, emotional feeling. Instead, her difficult mother-in-law came to stay with her. Through this challenging situation, God taught the woman to love unconditionally, truly demonstrating His agape love. This story highlights how God often answers prayers in unexpected ways, using life circumstances to shape our character.

God's Workmanship

A significant portion of the sermon is dedicated to exploring the concept of believers being God's workmanship, based on Ephesians 2:10 (KJV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Taylor likens God to a master craftsman, carefully shaping each believer. He emphasizes that this process often involves difficulties and challenges, as these are the tools God uses to form His image in us. Taylor states, "All the devil can do is perfect. If I'm in the Lord, that's all. He can help perfect me."

Stages of Spiritual Growth

Drawing from Philippians 3:10, Taylor outlines three stages of spiritual growth:

1. Knowing Christ: This involves gaining knowledge and understanding of God's word and ways.
2. The Power of His Resurrection: This stage involves experiencing the transformative power of Christ in one's life, which comes after a process of dying to self.
3. The Fellowship of His Sufferings: This highest stage involves sharing in Christ's heart for humanity and His mission.

The Song of Solomon's Structure

Taylor introduces the Song of Solomon as a book that outlines the stages of spiritual growth in detail. He mentions three key confessions made by the bride in the book, each representing a different stage of spiritual maturity:

1. "My beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon 2:16) - Representing a self-centered spiritual life.
2. "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon 6:3) - Representing a mixed state of self and Christ-centeredness.
3. "I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me" (Song of Solomon 7:10) - Representing a fully Christ-centered life.

Practical Applications

Taylor encourages his listeners to:

1. Pray for increased spiritual hunger.
2. Commit to pursuing God wholeheartedly ("running after Him").
3. Submit to God's shaping process, even when it involves difficulties.
4. Seek to move through the stages of spiritual growth, aiming for full maturity in Christ.
5. Study the Song of Solomon for insights into the spiritual growth process.
6. Understand the spiritual principle of giving and receiving, including the importance of being willing to receive offerings as part of ministry.

Historical or Contemporary Context

While the sermon doesn't explicitly tie into specific historical or contemporary events, Taylor does make reference to the broader context of Christian spirituality and the need for deeper, more mature faith in the modern church.

Unique Insights

1. Taylor presents an intriguing analogy of corn as a metaphor for spiritual growth, with different levels of maturity (30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold).
2. He suggests that the current life is "the most important part of eternity" as it's the time when the "seed" of our eternal nature is being formed.
3. Taylor proposes that creating humanity with free will was a greater challenge for God than creating the universe, as bringing people to spiritual maturity is a complex process.
4. Taylor discusses the concept of receiving a "new name" in heaven, suggesting that this name will be based on the spiritual character developed during one's earthly life.

Conclusion

Taylor concludes by emphasizing the importance of yielding to God's work in our lives. He encourages listeners to pray for increased hunger for God and to commit to pursuing Him wholeheartedly. The sermon sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the spiritual growth process as outlined in the Song of Solomon, promising further insights in the upcoming parts of the series.

Study Questions

1. How does Wade Taylor interpret Ephesians 2:10, and what implications does this have for our understanding of spiritual growth?
2. Explain the three stages of spiritual growth Taylor outlines based on Philippians 3:10. How do these relate to your own spiritual journey?
3. Why does Taylor emphasize the importance of spiritual hunger? How can one cultivate this hunger according to the sermon?
4. Describe the three confessions from the Song of Solomon that Taylor mentions. What do these represent in terms of spiritual maturity?
5. How does Taylor's interpretation of the Song of Solomon differ from a literal reading of the text? What benefits might this allegorical approach offer?
6. Reflect on Taylor's statement that the current life is "the most important part of eternity." What does he mean by this, and do you agree?
7. How does Taylor's sermon challenge common perceptions about spiritual growth and maturity?
8. In what ways does Taylor suggest we can cooperate with God's "workmanship" in our lives?
9. How might Taylor's teachings on spiritual hunger and growth be applied in a contemporary church setting?
10. Considering Taylor's emphasis on "running after" God, what practical steps could you take to pursue a deeper relationship with God?
11. How does the anecdote about the housewife and her mother-in-law illustrate God's methods of answering prayer and developing character? Can you think of a similar experience in your own life?
12. What does Taylor mean by "laboring to enter into His rest"? How do you understand this paradoxical concept in light of the sermon's overall message?
13. Discuss Taylor's concept of receiving a "new name" in heaven. How does this idea motivate spiritual growth, and what implications does it have for how we live our lives now?
14. How does Taylor's teaching on the importance of receiving offerings relate to broader spiritual principles? How might this challenge or affirm your understanding of giving and receiving in a spiritual context?
15. In what ways does Taylor's subjective interpretation of the Song of Solomon enhance our understanding of the personal relationship between Christ and the believer? What are potential benefits and drawbacks of this approach?