Philip Graham Ryken - The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs

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Phil Ryken is a master expositor of the Scripture, and he uses all his ability to beautifully unpack one of the most intriguing and difficult books of the Bible to understandthe Song of Solomon. Historically, interpreters have read the book as either/or. It is either about human romance or about our relationship with Jesus . Ryken reads the book as both/andboth in its immediate historical context (about romance) and its whole canonical context (about the spousal love of Jesus Christ.) And, of course, biblical wisdom about love and sexuality has perhaps never been as crucial and needed by the church as it is today. An important book for us all!

Timothy C. Keller, Pastor Emeritus, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs is a book that every serious Bible student will want. A thoroughly researched, insightful, and challenging treatment of one of Scriptures most engaging and relevant books, written by one of our generations finest pastoral theologians!

J. D. Greear, author, Not God Enough ; President, Southern Baptist Convention; Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh -D urham , North Carolina

Our culture is deeply confused about sexuality and marriage. Not coincidentally, it is equally confused about the God who created humanity for a committed, exclusive, loving relationship with himself. This book shows us the remedy in the Song of Songs, the divine love song that shows us how our human marriages ought to work and how they ought to mirror Christs passionate love for his bride. Ryken shows us how the song speaks to everyday relationships and, in doing so, how it points us to the One who made us for himself.

Iain M. Duguid, Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary; author, Song of Songs (Reformed Expository Commentary)

Phil Ryken looks at this neglected book of the Bible, Song of Songs, on its own terms and with wonderful gospel awareness. He presents a truly thrilling vision of human sexuality along with the lovers heart of God himself. It has had a deep impact on me already, and Id love for you to benefit from it too.

Sam Allberry, Speaker, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; author, Is God Anti-Gay? and 7 Myths about Singleness

After reading The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs , I will never read this biblical book in the same way again. Ryken skillfully weaves into each passage Gods wisdom about both the magnificence of human marriage and the romance of our redemption. I cant think of any Christiansingle or marriedwho wouldnt benefit from this book.

Jani Ortlund, Executive Vice President, Renewal Ministries

Here is a book of costly value for both single and married people! I have been blessed to read this, and through Rykens exposition I see how the Word made flesh in the Song of Songs is brighter and more wonderful than I imagined. Rykens call for obedience to Scriptures authority is convicting, but we are given hope and help as we read. He says that this Song operates simultaneously on at least two different levels, teaching us about Christ with his bride, which speaks to what a truly godly marriage can be, and how all of us in the body, single or married, are his true bride.

Valerie Elliot Shepard, author, Pilipintos Happiness and Devotedly: The Personal Letters and Love Story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs

Philip G. Ryken

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs

Copyright 2019 by Philip G. Ryken

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Connie Gabbert

First printing 2019

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked NKJV are from The New King James Version . Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NLT are from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation , copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL, 60189. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: --4-6-2
ePub ISBN: --4-6-3
PDF ISBN: --4-6-9
Mobipocket ISBN: --4-6-6

Library of Congress Cataloging -i n -P ublication Data

Names: Ryken, Philip Graham, 1966 - author.

Title: The love of loves in the Song of songs / Philip G. Ryken.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018019951 (print) | LCCN 2018042521 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433562549 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433562556 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433562563 (epub) | ISBN 9781433562532 (tp) | ISBN 9781433562563 (epub) | ISBN 9781433562556 (mobipocket)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Song of SolomonCriticism, interpretation, etc.

Classification: LCC BS1485.52 (ebook) | LCC BS1485.52 .R95 2019 (print) | DDC 223/.907dc23

LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2018019951

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2019-02-04 12:11:28 PM

To Josh and Anna,

whose amazing love story is still being written,

and to the Savior who is also our Lover, our Friend

Contents

I Love You Always, Forever

The woman slipped into the pew in front of me and sat down, alone, just a few minutes before the worship service began. I had never seen her before, although at College Church in Wheaton it is common to see people with Down syndrome. She stood up for the opening hymn and so together we sang, Fairest Lord Jesus , Ruler of all nature, Son of God and Son of Man! Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my souls glory, joy, and crown.

What the woman did next caught me by surprise. She put down her worship folder, a little impatiently, as if somehow it was in the way. Then she sang the rest of the hymn from memory and at the same time used her hands to express its words in American Sign Language. She wanted to praise God with her whole person, body as well as soul.

As I watched, the womans gestures made the words of the hymn come alive. I found myself walking through fair meadows and spring woodlands, or looking up at the twinkling, starry host. Most of all, I could see the face of my beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ, whose hands were pierced for my transgressions.

As my spiritual sister gave glory and honor to the Lord of all nations, her face was radiant, her visible words had a graceful beauty, and I had the unmistakable impression that she was deeply in love. Jesus Christ was the predominant passion of this womans life. She was not disabled, as some would say, but divinely empowered to worship. Nor was she single, as I had assumed from the absence of a ring on her finger. Rather, she was engaged to be married, for the beauty of her worship came from a heart that was betrothed to the Son of God.