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The Bible’s Song Of Love Verse by verse through 8:9"AND IF SHE BE A DOOR, WE WILL ENCLOSE HER WITH BOARDS OF CEDAR" i.e. if she tends toward human union (Heb. means figuratively a damsel easy of access—one whose sanctity may be violated) then under divine care she will be "boarded up" meaning figuratively, "kept within strict confines." The Bride and Bridegroom in glory and power appear to say—"We will so watch over her that she will not be approachable to any seducer." These promises are the natural complement to the promises to bring Israel back to God. This national weakness of "going a whoring after other nations and gods" is to be guarded against until Israel has grown to maturity. In the early stages of Israel’s return to favour the overtures of other nations will be her greatest danger. Israel’s independence and prosperity will then provoke the hostility of some nations. Then shall the prophecy of Ezekiel 39 be fulfilled. But when full‑grown and standing firm in God’s favour the prophecy of Zech.8:23 will be fulfilled that "men…out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." 8:10"I AM A WALL" says the Bride "AND MY BREASTS LIKE THE TOWERS THEREOF" "In verse 10 the spouse is able to say, ‘I am a wall, and my breasts like towers.’ She can secure all that is of God in holy separation, and along with that her affections are fully developed." (C.A.C.) To be a wall is to be built firmly on the sure foundation laid in Zion, and to have "breasts like towers" thereof is to be filled with faith and love to Christ, and to all that belong to Christ. These words express the sentiments of the completed "Bride class" and the recognition that a condition of maturity has been attained. "The time of her deliverance is at hand"–the time for nurturing and nourishing the children of the "Everlasting Father." (Isa.9:6) "THEN WAS I IN HIS EYES AS ONE THAT FOUND PEACE." Oh for the blessed consciousness of having thus found favour. It seems to be the special privilege of the far advanced believer who can confidently affirm—"I am a wall, and my breasts like towers." Then and perhaps not till then—not until we have decided evidences that we are in very deed the espoused ones of Jesus, can we secure ourselves that we have found favour in His eyes. (1 John 3:22) "For the Kingdom of God is…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom.14:17) 8:11"SOLOMON HAD A VINEYARD AT BAAL‑HAMON; HE LET OUT THE VINEYARD UNTO KEEPERS." Throughout these closing passages there recurs the note of regret that others have not responded to the privilege of living close to the Lord. Now in this verse the Bride looks back to an earlier vineyard owned by the "Lord of a multitude" (the meaning of the word Baal‑hamon.) Out of the multitude of nations one only was chosen to be His vineyard—"You only have I known of all families of the earth." (Amos 3:2) Solomon represents our Lord throughout the Song. This association of Israel with our Lord in those far‑away days gives a new significance to the words of Isa.5:1‑7 "My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill…For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel." "EVERY ONE FOR THE FRUIT THEREOF WAS TO BRING A THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER." This word picture illustrates in brief the relationship of God’s people under the law in contrast to that state of future blessing portrayed in Isa.55:1 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat…without money and…price." Israel was a vineyard—the vine that God brought out of Egypt (Psa.80:8) but God sought not merely payment but fruit. "Fruitfulness is the great end of God’s ordinance in the vegetable kingdom. Fruitfulness is the consummation of all God has done in creation, in human history and in redemption. The vine is one of the most conspicuous of plants in this connection…the vine produces a fruit whose exceptional excess of nourishment is intended for the use of men. Some plants are grown for blossoms; some for seed, but the vine is grown for fruit alone." (M.M.B.) 8:12The reader can almost sense an ominous silence after verse 11, until, as the Beloved contemplates His Bride, He says "MY VINEYARD, WHICH IS MINE, IS BEFORE ME." These are also prophetic words for they reveal the transfer of divine favour as set out by our Lord in Matt.21:43 when He addressed the Jews of His day with the words: "The Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." This is the fifth vineyard setting in the Song. The first was unkept—"Mine own vineyard have I not kept," the second vineyard was unguarded and the Lord warned against the "little foxes," the third vineyard was budded, the fourth vineyard was in blossom, while the fifth was yielding fruit. Now in an expression of ardour the Bride turns to her Beloved and says "THOU, O SOLOMON, SHALT HAVE THE THOUSAND" and then, as she recollects the present blessing that the Lord’s people themselves receive from the fruits of the spirit she adds "AND THOSE THAT KEEP THE FRUIT THEREOF TWO HUNDRED." "The thousand" seems to represent what is due to the Lord. It is a figure used in scripture to denote a full amount due to a king. For example David took a thousand chariots from the King of Zobah (2 Sam.8:3‑4), Menahem gave a thousand talents to the King of Assyria. (2 Kings 15:19). Nevertheless if we produce fruit to meet our Lord’s full due He will see that we get our "two hundred." This figure is a double tithe. God asked for one‑tenth from His ancient people but to those who give Him His full due He gives double. In these words of the Bride we have the final expressions of personal yieldedness and affection. They represent the sentiments of those who have come to see that all that she is (7:12‑13) all the service she can render (8:10), and all her possessions (8:12) are only possible because she belongs wholly to Christ. The Song now draws to its close with words of touching significance for, alas, we are more prone to speak of Him to others, than to Himself; more prone to bring our burdens and sorrows, and joys and hopes, anxieties, experiences and fears to the "companions" than to Jesus and so He says: 8:13"THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE GARDENS, THE COMPANIONS HEARKEN FOR THY VOICE: CAUSE ME TO HEAR IT." Do we observe that He speaks of gardens in the plural. "There are other gardens in the Song. In the fourth chapter the Bride is compared to an enclosed garden; in the fifth chapter the Beloved comes into His garden... and in the last chapter is dwelling in the gardens with her beloved. Five gardens…" (MMB) His first request (2:14) was that she should let Him hear her voice. It is His closing request also. To speak of Him is one thing, to speak to Him is another. Service can never take the place of communion; rather every service should be the result of fresh communion. In such a day of confusion and rush, how we need to pause and let our Beloved Bridegroom "hear our voice"—not merely in petition, but in worship and praise. And what does she say in reply? 8:14"MAKE HASTE, MY BELOVED, AND BE THOU LIKE TO A ROE OR TO A YOUNG HART UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF SPICES." Her immediate response is "Make haste." It is beautiful to note that the very last utterance of the Bride is in the form of a plea to the Bridegroom for His intimate presence. Is it so with us? The Bride could enjoy lovely thoughts of the Bridegroom, but she could not be really satisfied until she could be with him. "upon the mountain of spices" See note on 2:17 Thine alone am I, beloved; rests thy love on me, Not a spot of sin or failure, beautiful in thee, Dressed in robes of virgin whiteness, fearless now I come, Drawn by love which leads me upward to my only home. Oh, to hear thy voice beloved, ‘Rise and come away’— Thou art longing, I am watching for that bridal day; Then to dwell with thee forever, storms of sorrow past, My beloved and I together, while all ages last.’ V. Reeson And so the Bride brings to a close this spiritual Song of Love ending with the same plea as that on which the last page of scripture closes–"EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS" (Rev.22:20 KJV) "MAKE HASTE, MY BELOVED." May it be our prayer too. EEA/ LB |
