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Sermon – Life Under the Apple Tree

Dave Roberts — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:30:03 +0000

Life Under the Apple Tree

(Song of Solomon 2:3-14)

Preached at Poulner Baptist Chapel

25th January 2009

Dave G Roberts

Introduction
1. The Beloved’s Portrait of the Lover (SoS 2:3-6)
2. The Beloved Encourages Others about the Lover (SoS 2:7-9)
3. Lover is like no other and wants to hear your voice (SoS 2:10-15)
Recapitulation
Conclusion

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Introduction Please do open your bibles to the Song of Solomon! It can be found on page 679 in the Church Bibles. I of course don’t know when you last read it, heard a talk about it or if you have ever read it or heard a talk about it! So, if you are in that category, it’s a new thing for you! In my preparation, as I talked to other Christians about this book, I have found that some people are aghast at some of the very frank and provocative language used! But this should not stop us from reading it, studying it and learning from it. It is, after all, part of the Bible and therefore part of God’s Written Word. Jesus Himself and the Disciples would have read this book at Passover time.

It is a book that tells of the love of a woman (the Beloved) for a man, the man probably being Solomon. Different translations have different places where the beloved, the lover and others are actually speaking. But for ease of use tonight, we will use the guidelines of the church bibles, the New International Version.

The Jews called it the Greatest Song of All Songs. Martin Luther called it the noblest of all songs! It is poetry that is full of love, romance and some say eroticism. Greater than Shakespeare’s sonnets if you can believe that!

Tonight, we are delving only into Chapter 2. Historically this book has been interpreted in 3 ways Firstly as a treatise on the joys of biblical sexual love; Secondly as an allegory for God’s love for His people Israel; These two interpretations have great merit! However, some of you may be sad to know, and others very happy to know, that I am going to concentrate principally on a third way that encompasses those two and that is seeing it as a picture of the immense love that exists between Jesus Christ for His church and its people, where the bridegroom is Jesus and His bride is the church. Paul highlights this relationship in his letter to the Ephesians.

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Oh, taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!

jeanettesozpix — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:24:15 +0000

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!, originally uploaded by Jeanette’s Ozpix.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVE (EMPTYBELLY)!!! Today is his day!!
Today is his day!! Glory to God!!

His online ministry is being launched. Dave is an Aussie who lives in England. And this morning, British time, his church is holding a special commissioning service to launch Partake Ministries.

His podcasts are here… davegroberts.podbean.com/

The Lord has been growing this ministry, with many people from around the world listening to the podcasts, especially in China. Isn’t God GOOD??? And isn’t it wonderful to know that He is also a high-tech God?… even bigger that the Internet!!

He commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, and look at the way that is happening today!!

Please check out Dave’s Podbean site, and listen to and/or download his podcasts. Please pray as the gospel goes out around the globe, and especially pray today!!

Dave is also working on a new homepage for Partake. I will give you the link when it is ready.

Thank you, and may God bless you!! If you support Dave and this ministry, I know you will be more than blessed!!

Questions!!??

jeanettesozpix — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:05:16 +0000

Questions!!??, originally uploaded by Jeanette’s Ozpix.

Ever feel like that life doesn’t make sense?… that it has dealt you a raw deal?

King David did too!! But he did find an answer…

Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be…

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Saviour and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you…
I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

(Psalm 42:3-11, NLT)

Let’s sit down and chat!!

jeanettesozpix — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:05:47 +0000

Let’s sit down and chat!!, originally uploaded by Jeanette’s Ozpix.

Notice how seats like this are not made for one!! They are made to share.

How easy is it for us not to take time for the people that matter to us in life? And not to mention the other people around us, who we’d sooner not matter to us?

I had this hit home to me this morning!! Lying in bed, listening to the Christian radio station, I heard a message about how relationships matter.

At one time, someone had asked Jesus what was the most important thing to God. He said…

“Which is the first commandment of all?”
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
“And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31, NKJ)

So our relationship with God, and our relationship with others, go together. Our love for God is seen in our love for one another.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7, NKJ)

Psalm 19

Dave Roberts — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:44:29 +0000

Psalm 19

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19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God.

The expanse shows his handiwork.

19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech,

and night after night they display knowledge.

19:3 There is no speech nor language,

where their voice is not heard.

19:4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth,

their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

19:5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room,

like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.

19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens,

his circuit to its ends;

There is nothing hidden from its heat.

19:7 Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.

Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.

19:8 Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.

Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.

19:9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever.

Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.

19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

19:11 Moreover by them is your servant warned.

In keeping them there is great reward.

19:12 Who can discern his errors?

Forgive me from hidden errors.

19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I will be upright.

I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.

POD – Psalm 17

Dave Roberts — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:43:41 +0000

Psalm 17

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17:1 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea;
Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
17:2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence.
Let your eyes look on equity.
17:3 You have proved my heart.
You have visited me in the night.
You have tried me, and found nothing.
I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
17:4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
17:5 My steps have held fast to your paths.
My feet have not slipped.
17:6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
Turn your ear to me.
Hear my speech.
17:7 Show your marvelous loving kindness,
you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
17:9 from the wicked who oppress me,
my deadly enemies, who surround me.
17:10 They close up their callous hearts.
With their mouth they speak proudly.
17:11 They have now surrounded us in our steps.
They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
17:12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
17:13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him.
Cast him down.
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
17:14 from men by your hand, Yahweh,
from men of the world, whose portion is in this life.
You fill the belly of your cherished ones.
Your sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.
17:15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

Keith Green – Sheep and the Goats

Dave Roberts — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:07:30 +0000

Please note that this was not done by me!

Matthew 25:31- 46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’

“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’

“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

POD – Psalm 14

Dave Roberts — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:50:35 +0000

Psalm 14

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14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”: They are corrupt.; They have done abominable works.; There is none who does good.
14:2 Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men,: to see if there were any who understood,; who sought after God.
14:3 They have all gone aside.: They have together become corrupt.; There is none who does good, no, not one.
14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,: who eat up my people as they eat bread,; and don’t call on Yahweh?
14:5 There they were in great fear,: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
14:6 You frustrate the plan of the poor,: because Yahweh is his refuge.
14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!: When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people,; then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

POD – Psalm 16

Dave Roberts — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:58:44 +0000

Download this Psalm (right click and save)

Psalm 16

1 Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.
2 My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord.
Apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 As for the saints who are in the earth,
they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god.
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
nor take their names on my lips.
5 Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup.
You made my lot secure.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7 I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel.
Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set Yahweh always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices.
My body shall also dwell in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,
neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life.
In your presence is fullness of joy.
In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore

Pea Flower Parade!!

jeanettesozpix — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:21:34 +0000

“And why worry about your clothing?

“Look at the (flowers) of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

- Jesus (Matthew 6:28-30, NLT)