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The Bible’s Song of Love Verse by verse through 7:10 In words of strong, unhesitating confidence, the Bride continues: "I AM MY BELOVED’S, AND HIS DESIRE IS TOWARD ME." Such confidence comes from heart experience. We can never say this merely on the basis of an understanding of doctrine. This is the assurance which comes of love itself working in our hearts for our Lord not only promised that "He that loveth me…I will love him" but He added "and will manifest myself unto him." (John 14:21) When His love has borne full fruit in us and produced in us the full stature of His betrothed then we shall be able to take His arm, as it were, and to walk with Him. Hers is the confident expression of a bride who is to live not only in His love but is to share as His marriage partner in all His life work. So He says 7:11 "COME, MY BELOVED, LET US GO FORTH INTO THE FIELD; LET US LODGE IN THE VILLAGES." "Behold the Bridegroom—go ye out to meet Him," expresses a similar call, for our Lord is here commencing the great work with which His Bride is also to be associated. And He calls to her to look with Him at the first signs of His direct influence in the affairs of men. "The field is the world." (Matt.13:38) "The villages" suggest small groups scattered throughout the world. Throughout the Song the Bride has been pictured as being apart from settlements of mankind for hers is a wilderness calling. What then do the villages mean? Is it not a reference to the Millennial work? (Rev.21:3) It is also significant that the phrase is "lodge in the villages" which gives the same thought of temporary dwelling as "the tabernacle of God is with men." (Rev.21:3) Is it not implicit in Paul’s statement in 1 Cor.15:25,28? Is it coincidence that the Hebrew word for village is "kaphar" translated elsewhere "atonement" (for it has the meaning of "to cover")? It is certainly appropriate that a picture of the work of the Bridegroom and His Bride should have association with the word "atonement." 7:12 "LET US GET UP EARLY TO THE VINEYARDS;" He continues "LET US SEE WHETHER THE VINE HATH BUDDED, AND ITS BLOSSOM BE OPEN, AND THE POMEGRANATES BE IN FLOWER: THERE WILL I GIVE THEE MY LOVE." Lodging for the night suggests the short time of our Lord’s second and secret presence whilst His bride is being prepared for the marriage. Getting "up early" would then refer to the early hours of the new Millennial Day. This verse would seem to refer to the restoration of Israel which occupies the "early" period of the Millennial Day. The time has come when the vineyard which has become waste and desolate should begin to "flourish." The "tender grape" or vine blossom speaks of the promise of fruit which will provide blessing for all the families of the earth. With what joyful anticipation the Beloved enters upon His work with His Bride. "Let US lodge—let US get up early—let US see etc." "We are members of His body." 7:13 "THE MANDRAKES GIVE FORTH FRAGRANCE," he says thus telling in the picturesque language of the East that the days of barrenness are over, for mandrakes (or love apples) were popularly associated with fruitfulness in natural birth. (See Gen.30:14‑17) Moreover they grow and ripen during the wheat harvest. In this verse do they not symbolise the days of Israel’s revival, particularly as they are found in the days of the wheat harvest—the harvest period spoken of by our Lord? Now is the time when Israel’s barrenness and blindness is to begin to pass away. "AND OVER OUR DOORS (mar.) ARE ALL MANNER OF PRECIOUS FRUITS, NEW AND OLD, WHICH I HAVE LAID UP FOR THEE, O MY BELOVED." What are the precious fruits which He has laid up for His Bride? What is this which is laid up "over the door"? Our Lord spoke of "laying up treasures in heaven." Our Lord shall preserve them for us or, as Paul puts it "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord…shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved His appearing." (2 Tim.4:8) These words of the Bridegroom express Paul’s thought in different words. The fruits laid up are over the doors into which the Bridegroom and the Bride enter into their glorious marriage. It is appropriate that the crown of victory—the crowning glory of the fruits of a life of love for Him should be pictured as being "over the doors"—at the very threshold of the new life in glory. 8:1 The Bride is now so closely identified with Him that her first thoughts are for those who lacked the spiritual growth to stand with her in such grace and favour. "OH THAT THOU WERT AS MY BROTHER," she says "THAT SUCKED THE BREASTS OF MY MOTHER!" This expression of great desire that their relationship could have been closer could not apply to the Bridegroom for with Him she has reached the closest possible communion. This it seems clear continues the thought of the previous verses which refer to natural Israel. The mother of the Bride is the Sarah Covenant and it is to this close family communion that she would that Israel could have adopted. The same emotions moved our Lord when He wept over Jerusalem "How often would I have gathered thy children together…and ye would not." In Romans, Chapters 9:10 and 11 the Apostle expresses similar sentiments (see particularly 10:1) and shows that such feelings towards natural. Israel truly befits the Bride, particularly at this time when we see the beginnings of the return of Israel to favour. "WHEN I SHOULD FIND THEE WITHOUT, I WOULD KISS THEE; YEA, AND NONE WOULD DESPISE ME." Does this not take us back to the typical setting in Gen.21:9 when Ishmael, who typified the seed of the Law, mocked Isaac the "seed" of the Sarah Covenant? She would have had things so much different. "If only thou wert as my brother" and then makes the definition even clearer by adding the words "my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother!" This it will be seen is not suggesting that he should be born of the same mother. "If only thou wert as my brother" then, she says, the seed of the Sarah Covenant should not have been despised. 8:2 "I WOULD LEAD THEE, AND BRING THEE INTO MY MOTHER’S HOUSE, THAT THOU MIGHTEST INSTRUCT ME." (Mar.) And so the Bride refers gratefully to all she has learned through Israel’s experience of covenant relationship with God. For "the law" says Paul has "been our tutor to bring us unto Christ." (Gal.3:24) But there is much that Israel has to learn which can only be learnt in her "mother’s house." In Chapter 3 verse 4 the maiden shows the great importance of her mother’s house. (Note. She does not say Father’s house thus emphasising that she realises that her earthly standing is under the cover of the Sarah Covenant.) In that reference she shows that to her the best way to make Him really hers is to have Him with her in the place which typifies her spiritual home on earth. There she received instruction re‑emphasising how important it is that we shall recognise the deep significance of our standing in relation to the covenants. Only from that standpoint can God’s purposes be clearly understood. In that spiritual home she says "I WOULD CAUSE THEE TO DRINK OF SPICED WINE, OF THE JUICE OF MY POMEGRANATE." In other words she would have been able to give him the fragrant wine of doctrine and the refreshing fruits of the spirit which revive hope. Is that not what natural Israel needs? Does not their spiritual plight make those with bridal love say with Paul "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record (witness) that they have a zeal of (for) God, but not according to knowledge." (Rom.10:1‑2 KJV) It is this knowledge which is taught in her "mother’s house." 8:3 In Chapter 2:6 the maiden prays for the rapture of having His left hand under her head, and His right hand embracing her. The Bride uses similar words to conclude this fifth part of the Song but there is a difference. She is now mature and speaks with deep and heartfelt understanding. Now she longs to be entirely with Him. "OH THAT HIS LEFT HAND MIGHT BE UNDER MY HEAD," she says "AND THAT HIS RIGHT HAND MIGHT EMBRACE ME." (Leeser) But this loving desire can only be understood in the fulness of Bridal affection so part five closes with a similar adjuration of the Bridegroom to that with which other parts have closed. (Note. Leeser’s translation here and in verse 4 does not introduce any new thought but helps the understanding.) 8:4 "I ADJURE YOU, O DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, WHY WILL YE AWAKEN, AND WHY WILL YE EXCITE MY LOVE, UNTIL IT PLEASE (to come of itself?)" (Leeser) for Christ’s love cannot be commanded. It does not derive from what we do but from what we are. EEA/ LB |
