Salem's Deer Hunter Service Sermon, Notes on Solomon's Song

You are probably sitting here, looking for a deer hunter theme for this service and wondering, "Why is John preaching on the Song of Solomon?" Certainly seems like an odd pairing. The Song of Solomon is known for being a love poem and certain facets of love expressed between lovers. Some of these facets are so well-known that when I suggested this text to Pastor Sonnemann, and recited it to him, there was silence. I asked what's wrong. He laughed and said, "Nothing. I'm just waiting for the anatomical reference."

But Solomon mentions more than anatomy in this Song. Did you know he also mentions the outdoors? Solomon mentions nineteen plants and thirteen animals. It obviously fits in with Solomon's reputation of his knowledge of nature (1 Kings 4:33). So as you head outdoors in search of "The Trophy," think about the plants and animals Solomon mentions in this book.

The Song is mainly about love. At the basic level it is the love between a husband and wife. It is the picture of marriage. Taking it a step further, it is illustrative of the love God shows to His Bride, the Church. Ironically, the Song was read every Passover in the days when Jesus walked upon the earth. And so it shouldn't surprise us that Jesus used illustrations from weddings and marriages when speaking at Passover time! In the marriage illustrations in Scripture a common theme comes out: Jesus' love for his Church. Jesus looks out for the Church and he protects the Church. Tonight's text tells us that "Our Lord, Like A Stag, Watches Over Us." He is near us as He keeps an eye on us. He protects us like a stag protects his does.

"Our Lord, Like A Stag, Watches Over Us." He is near us as He keeps an eye on us. No doubt as you heard the verse, "My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice," you may have wondered about what kind of person this lover is. It almost sounds like the lover is a peeping tom! But what we have is a lover keeping watch over his beloved. Notice what the beloved is saying. These are words of admiration. These are words spoken in safety and confidence that a protector stands nearby, someone who is trusted and whom the beloved loves and is loved by the lover. These are not words of surprise or fear or of shame.

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