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The Bible’s Song of Love Verse by verse through 6:10 Part 4 closed with the daughters of Jerusalem praising the spiritual beauty of the Bride. Like them we also may recognise spiritual qualities more beautiful than our own but are we always ready to identify that superiority in particular individuals? Part 5 opens with the daughters being brought to a more definitive position. In the first verse of Chapter 6 they had recognized the spiritual quality of the Bride but had, as it were, classed themselves alongside her. "Whither hath thy beloved turned him?" they asked her "that we may seek Him with thee." And again in verse 9 they praised her but in verse 10 they are made to realise her superiority. "WHO IS SHE THAT LOOKETH FORTH AS THE MORNING, FAIR AS THE MOON, PURE AS THE SUN, TERRIBLE AS AN ARMY WITH BANNERS?" (Mar.) But this challenge is worded very significantly. It is not personal qualities that are to be admired but the reflection of heavenly influences in the life of the individual. The apostle John conveyed a similar thought when he gave us the assurance that "we know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." (1 John 3:14) In other words the evidence of the spirit of Christ in us is the recognition of it in Christ’s brethren. If "the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the holy spirit which was given unto us" (Rom.5:5) then its glow will be seen by others of like precious faith. If we keep the reflecting surface of our hearts free from impurity then we too shall look forth "as the morning dawn" and reflect (like the moon) the brighter heavenly light "pure as the sun." We might also observe that in vv.4‑7 the Maiden is likened to things terrestrial but in this verse she is compared with things celestial—the morning, moon, sun and stars (majestic as bannered hosts). "But we all," says the Apostle "with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory." (2 Cor.3:18) This is essentially a portrait of the Gospel Age. "The ‘dawn’ of the kingdom day is to be seen in the spouse. Peter speaks of the day dawning and the morning star arising in the hearts of believers. (2 Pet.1:19)" (C.A. Coates An outline of the Song of Songs) We also remember that in the Kingdom parables of Matt.13 those who were to make up the Bride were shown not in resurrection glory but "shining forth" (v.43) the kingdom to come. The moon shines but not with its own light: it is never wholly free from spot or shade, nor does it always shine with equal light. Fit emblem of the child of God, as in himself a dark opaque body, shining only with the reflected beams of the Sun of Righteousness—he never reflects that light perfectly, nor does he need to be told how he shines more or less brightly as he comes nearer or recedes further from the sun from whom his light is borrowed…just as "the moon" was divinely constituted "to give light" by night. (Gen.1:15‑16). So does the Church of Christ shine forth as a light in the world, all through the present night of darkness, until the shadows flee away, and she shines forth "clear as the sun." Another commentator has observed that "the moon…has only one‑half illuminated, i.e. the side facing the sun." When the Bride is resplendent in Kingdom glory the words of our Lord will be fulfilled. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (i.e. no longer with the paler light of the moon) "in the Kingdom of their Father." (Matt.13:43) "The Bride…is to be seen of myriads, a luminous body, and this she is called to be morally now. Reflecting Christ, and shedding forth the effulgence of God…She appears publicly in the character of one who has power to overcome all that is hostile. Troops with banners flying have not sustained defeat; they are victorious." (C.A. Coates An Outline of The Song of Songs) "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." (Psa.60:4) "But thanks be unto God, which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and makest manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place." (2 Cor.2:14) 6:11 In these closing days of the Age those who have Bridal love have a special charge from their Lord and a special desire also to look for the signs associated with His second coming and so the Bride says "I WENT DOWN INTO THE GARDEN OF NUTS, TO SEE THE GREEN PLANTS OF THE VALLEY, TO SEE WHETHER THE VINE BUDDED, AND THE POMEGRANATES WERE IN FLOWER." In all the prophecies concerning our Lord’s second coming those signs which refer to new growth and future fruitage are those associated with the Nation of Israel. The symbol used is that of the fig tree. This verse, however, does not refer to the putting forth of the leaves of the fig tree spoken of by our Lord as a sign of Israel’s revival. The Bride, we read, is looking for signs of the budding of the vine and the flowering of the pomegranate. We are so accustomed to associating the vine with our Lord and His church—spiritual Israel—that we sometimes overlook that the vine was a type of the Israel of God from the earliest days. The Psalmist writing of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt said "Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt: thou didst drive out the nations, and plantedst it." (Psa.80:8) In the prophecies of Hosea Israel is spoken of as "a luxuriant vine." (Hos.10:1) Moreover the Messianic prophecy of the "shoot out of the stock of Jesse" and the "branch out of his roots" describes the growth and habit of the vine. (Isa.11:1) The scriptures only appear to use the fig tree as a symbol of Israel during the period of God’s disfavour. The Bride is looking for the first signs of the budding of the vine, for the vine of Israel in full fruit will represent the day when through Israel God will give "times of refreshing to all mankind." What of the pomegranates? In the furnishing and decoration of the Temple of Solomon pomegranates were the most prominent decoration associated with the Crowns (Chapiters) which surmounted the two great pillars named respectively ‘Jachin’ (He shall establish) and ‘Boaz’ (in it is strength). The Bride was looking, therefore, for the flowering of the pomegranates–the first signs of the future crowning beauty of the Kingdom of God in the days when it shall be established is strength upon the earth. Those thoughts are further confirmed by the words "the green plants of the valley" for in Zech.14:4 we read that the day of the Messiah’s second presence shall be marked by a great valley of blessing. That will be the day of the valleys for "Every valley shall be exalted…and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed." (Isa.40:4,5) Before leaving the verse we might also observe that the reference to the garden of nuts is incidental but it is a fitting picture of an Israel described by the Apostle Paul in the words "a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Rom.11:25) 6:12 These signs of the presence of the Lord set the heart of the Bride aglow and so in the next verse she continues "OR EVER I WAS AWARE, MY DESIRE SET ME AMONG THE CHARIOTS OF MY PRINCELY PEOPLE." (Mar.) All translators agree that this verse is expressive of surprise–"Before I was aware" or, more literally "I did not know" or "suddenly," "unwittingly." Young (concordance) translates Ammi‑Nadib as "My liberal people." The prime meaning of the word ‘liberal’ is "befitting a man (person) of free birth." (Webster) Thus the entire verse seems to express the sudden delighted surprise of the Bride as she finds herself carried away (as by chariots) in the spirit which animates the members of the body of Christ (the princely people). What is it that so transports her? Is it not the sudden realisation that she was in "the day of small things." (Zech.4:10) Israel of old is showing signs of regeneration and this means that "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom.11:25) and the marriage of the Lamb’s wife is near at hand. Could any single thing do more to transport with joy those who wait earnestly to join their Lord than the sudden evidence that "He is nigh, even at the doors." (Matt.24:33) The Hebrew text ends the chapter at this verse thus helping us to distinguish a change of speaker. 6:13 "RETURN, RETURN, O SHULAMMITE; RETURN, RETURN, THAT WE MAY LOOK UPON THEE." These words come clearly from the daughters. In Chapter 6 verse 1 they asked to accompany the Bride "that we may seek Him with thee." But Bridal love is too strong to be restrained and so the daughters, like the foolish virgins, have been left behind. At this point the R.V. translators assert there should be a space. This appears to mark another change in speaker. Once again there is the tone of mild reproof that we noted in verse 10. Then the daughters were asked to recognise the spiritual superiority of the Bride, now they are asked "WHY WILL YE LOOK UPON THE SHULAMMITE, AS UPON THE DANCE OF MAHANAIM?" This is the first time that the Bride has been given a name and it is that of her beloved for "Shulammite" is a feminine form of "Solomon." As Solomon is the "peace‑giver" so Shulammite is "peace‑receiver." "My peace I give unto you"—"Justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom.5:1 KJV) The word "Mahanaim" appears also in Gen.32:2 where it is used as a title for that place where there were two hosts (1) Jacob and his host (the earthly host). (2) God’s host (the heavenly host). The rebirth of the Nation of Israel tells us that now there are two hosts coming into view, the heavenly host, now complete in the Song, and the earthly host of Israel after the flesh, for the spiritual and earthly emancipation of Israel was to be a feature of the time when "the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Rom.11:25) 7:1 At last the daughters recognise the true qualities of the Bride. In these next few verses of praise the daughters give evidence of spiritual maturity. It is appropriate that the daughters should leave the pages of the Song revealing that under divine guidance their experiences have brought them to a full appreciation of the spiritual qualities of the Bride. "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THY STEPS IN SANDALS, O PRINCE’S DAUGHTER." (Mar.) The Bride is now surveyed from head to foot. In chapters 4 and 6 only parts of her person were noticed; but she has now advanced to great maturity of Christian experience, even to perfection to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph.4:13) Like her description of the Bridegroom in Chapter 5 it is a clothed figure. The word translated "feet" in the A.V. is more correctly rendered "footsteps" referring rather to the ways and goings of the children of God. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD." (Psa.37:23 KJV) "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." (Col.2:6 KJV) It is interesting also to note that in chapter 5:11 the maiden commences her description of the Beloved with His head. Here in 7:1 it would seem that her walk has attracted attention—it is now consistent with her professed love for her Lord in contrast to chapter 5:2. "If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk." (Gal.5:25) In 5:3 her shoes are removed, but here her feet are in shoes, suggesting obedience and therefore "beautiful." Shoes presuppose her to be fully dressed: they are not worn inside the house in oriental lands, but put on as one goes outside. Slaves never wore shoes. In the parable of the Prodigal Son the father brought shoes for the son who returned. This illustrates that "every one that committeth sin is the bondservant (slave) of sin" (John 8:34) but "there is…now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." (Rom.8:1 KJV) "When the saints return to view as overcomers spiritual features appear in them, such as are described in a figurative way in the opening verses of this chapter…What the spouse is in her movements is brought before us in verse 1. Her ‘footsteps’ are beautiful. There is a royal dignity about them, and a peaceful character, for one would connect the ‘sandals’ with having feet shod with the preparation of the glad tidings of peace. (Eph.6:15) ...The Lord said ‘into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house’ (Luke 10:5 KJV) Wherever His disciples went their feet were to be beautiful as announcing glad tidings of peace." (C.A. Coates An Outline of The Song of Songs) "THY ROUNDED THIGHS ARE LIKE JEWELS, THE WORK OF THE HANDS OF A CUNNING WORKMAN." (Mar.) This part of the portrait has been well explained by Fausset:‑ "Joints—rather ‘the rounding:’ the full graceful curve of the hips in a female figure like the rounding of a necklace (as the Hebrew for jewels means) or, applying it to the girdle, binding together the robe round the hips." Such is the beautiful symmetry of the Church of Christ—"the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth ‑." It would seem as though the Apostle Paul had this verse in mind when he exhorted us in Eph.6:14,15 "Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." EEA/ LB |
