The Believer’s Walk as Revealed in the Song of Solomon – Chapter 4

This book was written by Solomon to recount his love relationship and marriage to a lovely young Shulamite maiden. It is also a portrait of God’s relationship with Israel. The Song of Solomon is cherished as a guide and an inspiration for the Bride of Christ, the Church, and her relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and seeks to lead the believer toward a closer and more OBEDIENT walk with the Lord. The Song of Solomon became one of the five scrolls of the third part of the Hebrew Bible, each of which was read publicly at one of the annual Jewish Feasts. This one was assigned to be read at the PASSOVER. Passover also marks the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land.

• Jesus indicated in John Chapter 15 that obedience is the highest form of love. The forth chapter of the Song of Solomon attests to this statement. The bridegroom’s words of adoration and love increase since the bride left her comfortable world to follow Him to battle.

We cannot DIRECT the wind, but we can ADJUST our sails

Climbing the Mountain of Faith

1Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. 2Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

Her eyes are called “Doves Eyes”. The teeth spoken of pictures the church as washed, unified in spirit and bearing fruit.

3Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

“Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely”. The mouth is a looking glass that reveals the contents of the heart, Mt.12:34. Just as Rahab’s scarlet thread hung over the wall of Jericho to express the faith within her house, Joshua 2:18-21, so the lips of the bride’s mouth open wide to proclaim the faith within her heart.

4Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

In the natural a bride who was militant or warlike would not be appealing. However, for the bride of Christ, militancy is a most gracious quality and necessary to complete her portrait of beauty. In Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary MILITANT implies a FIGHTING disposition with extreme devotion to a cause. Related words include AGGRESSIVE and ASSERTIVE. Aggressive emphasizes the disposition to DOMINATE by determined pursuit. Assertive stresses SELF-CONFIDENCE and BOLDNESS in action.

5Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

The breast (bosom) is the seat of emotions. Two speaks of balance and evenness. Lilies always indicate purity and wholesomeness. Our emotions can be misleading, but balanced by THE WORD and the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT they too can feed among the lilies of purity and wholesomeness.

• The next voice is the voice of the bride. Having been encouraged and strengthened by his words of praise, the bride makes a vow.

6Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

Where would she go? “To the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense”. “Until the day break” or until the rapture call, the bride vows to dwell in the mountain of the Lord. You will recall that myrrh is a precious herb that is both fragrant and bitter. When we surrender our will, we are conceding to both the fragrance of the consecrated life and the bitterness of the Cross. Frankincense also is a very fragrant herb used for worship in the temple and also very bitter. The message is clear: we are called into His calling having counted the cost, Luke 14:25-30. The cost includes both the bitter and the sweet; both the Cross and the Resurrection.

7Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. 8Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

• Compare the first four words of (v1) with the first four words of (v7). What word has been added? “ALL”. When we manifest a willingness to give “ALL” to Him, the Lord will call to us and challenge us to even higher places of spiritual life.

Amana, Shenir, and Hermon are three of the highest peaks among the mountains of Lebanon. Lions’ dens and the dwelling places of Leopards represent places of authority and power. The fierce elements of spiritual warfare are also suggested by this picture. Clearly, the call to the maiden is to come up higher. The words “WITH ME” tell us that we do not tread these high places alone!

9Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

The bridegroom’s response to her willingness to go with him tells us what is truly pleasing to the Lord, Heb.11:6. God created man for fellowship and to share in His glory. John 15:15; 17:21-22. Therefore, when we are willing and obedient to proceed to His high mountains and partake in both the danger and the glory of the Lions’ dens, it ravishes the heart of God.

One eye refers to the maiden’s spiritual vision and her willingness to see the beauty of the bridegroom’s high calling. The chain about the neck concurs with Solomon’s words in Proverbs 1:7-9, where chains about the neck are linked to obedience through the fear of the Lord.

10How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

What does the bridegroom commend in the first two exclamations? “THY LOVE”. Not until the bride manifested willingness and obedience did the bridegroom celebrate and extol her love to him, John 14:15, 21, 23.

11Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

The lips of the bridegroom’s spouse “DROP AS THE HONEYCOMB”. It requires a great deal of work for bees to manufacture even the smallest amount of honey. The believer must have experienced the labor of following the Lord and have climbed many mountains to obtain such lips as the honeycomb.

Sanctified speech is spiritual grace that is learned through the labor of discipline. What does he say of her garments? “LIKE THE SMELL OF LEBANON”.

Garments speak of external appearance. It is interesting to note that the smell and not the sight of the garments are mentioned. Outwardly, an obedient and willing Christian may not look any different, yet there is a sweet fragrance about their life.

12A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

She is called three things “A GARDEN ENCLOSED, A SPRING SHUT UP, A FOUNTAIN SEALED”. This figurative language expresses a picture of the sanctified life. When we keep ourselves wholly set apart exclusively for the Lord’s pleasure and His work, we are not as an open field but as a garden enclosed. Our fruit and inner fountain are not for random public use, it is the Lord’s, Romans 14:8.

13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

The enclosed garden is further described. The various plants and trees mentioned reveal fruitfulness, beauty and fragrance. This reminds us that everything lovely in our life comes with spiritual maturity.

16Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

The maiden calls for two winds to blow upon her garden “NORTH AND SOUTH”. The north wind is a frosty and whipping wind that can bring treacherous storms. The south wind is a mild, gentle and pleasant breeze. When we have labored and planted fruit, we are confident that whatever winds sweep across our garden they will only serve to release the inner fragrance.

http://youtu.be/4YwPQNUrYZM

(To be continued…)

The Believer’s Walk as Revealed in the Song of Solomon – Chapter 2

• This book was written by Solomon to recount his love relationship and marriage to a lovely young Shulamite maiden. It is also a portrait of God’s relationship with Israel. The Song of Solomon is cherished as a guide and an inspiration for the Bride of Christ, the Church, and her relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and seeks to lead the believer toward a closer and more OBEDIENT walk with the Lord. The Song of Solomon became one of the five scrolls of the third part of the Hebrew Bible, each of which was read publicly at one of the annual Jewish Feasts. This one was assigned to be read at the PASSOVER. Passover also marks the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land.

The DISCIPLINE of the Lord Is Not Forced OBEDIENCE

Climbing the Mountain of Faith

¹I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys.

• The bridegroom calls Himself “The Rose Of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys”. The rose is considered to be the zenith among all flowers. The lily has always been a symbol of purity. In the lowlands of humanity where the swamps of human degradation abound, there is a spotless lily, Christ the Lord.

²As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

• The bride is called “The Lily among Thorns”. And so the church should be, so very different from the world and so pure that she resembles a lily among thorns.

³As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

• The bride compares her beloved to “The Apple Tree among the Trees of the Forest”. The apple tree “viewed” as the king of fruits is here described as sweet, fragrant and suitable for shade.

• The fruit was used figuratively to show how precious we are to God. The bride described “THE TASTE OF HIS FRUIT AS SWEET”.

⁴He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.

• The king takes his maiden “To the Banqueting Table”. At a banqueting table no ordinary or common foods are served. A banquet is a feast of the choicest foods.

• When we enter into close fellowship with the Lord we will no longer be restricted to a common prayer and study life, but we will find delicacies in THE WORD served in grand abundance (Prov.15:15).

⁶His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me.

• The bride describes the bridegroom’s all encompassing care and protection as “His Left Hand Is Under My Head, And His Right Hand Doth Embrace Me”, Deu.33:27.

⁷I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

• The maiden charges the daughters of Jerusalem “That Ye Stir Not Up, Nor Awake My Love, Till He Please”. Solomon’s maiden was insisting that the other women not disturb this precious time of intimacy. We too, must insist that the cares of this world not disturb and destroy our time alone with the Lord.

v.8 begins a transition in our story. Of course there is more to Christianity than just building a love relationship with the Lord. However, our relationship must be established FIRST in order to hear His call to go further. From henceforth, the bride is called out of her protective place to follow Him and to serve Him in the power of the resurrection.

⁸The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

• The bride hears “The Voice of Her Beloved! Leaping upon the Mountains, Skipping Upon the Hills” portrays Christ the bridegroom coming in majesty and power.

⁹My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. ¹⁰My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. ¹¹For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; ¹²The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; ¹³The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

• Where did the bridegroom stand? “Behind Our Wall”. What did he call to her? “Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One, And Come Away”.

What time of year did he tell her it was? “Springtime”. Springtime has always been symbolic of the resurrection. The Lord calls to His people to rise up and come away from the self-life and enter into the springtime of His resurrection power.

¹⁴O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

• The bridegroom’s request of the maiden “Let Me See Thou Countenance, Let Me Hear Thy Voice”. Solomon speaks of a day when he went to call his Shulamite bride to come to the palace. For some reason, although she heard his voice, she did not respond. Some Christians assume that if they feed in the Lord’s green pastures (read their Bibles and go to church) and dine at His banqueting table (read books, listen to tapes and watch Christian television), then the will of God has been done in their life, Ecc.12:12.

• The bride speaks of a wall between them v9 and the bridegroom is twice forced to call for her response, vv.10, 13. We can become like Peter on the mount of transfiguration who wanted to build a tabernacle and stay in the presence of God, while human need was crying out at the bottom of the mountain, Luke 9:38. Many Christians are still seated at the banqueting table delighting in the banner of Hid love when there is much work to be done for the Lord, and the call has come to go to work in the field, Mt.9:37-38.

¹⁵Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

• While remaining in her place of comfort the maiden discovered “Her Vines Have Tender Grapes and the Little Foxes were spoiling them”.

• The little foxes hide under the leaves of the vine and when all is quiet they eat the tender fruit and slip away unnoticed. The maiden’s observance recorded here is direct instruction for the believer. It is the little things that spoil our vine and keep us from responding to the Lord’s greater call. These little areas may hide from everyone’s eyes, except the Bridegroom’s.

• Foxes are very fond of tender young grapes. If they are permitted to remain in the vineyard, they will eat away at the tender fruit of our relationship with Jesus, and our spiritual growth will be hindered, Gal.5:9; I Cor.5:7.

¹⁶My beloved is mine and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

• Here the bride reveals that she is confident in her position and that she knows just where to find the bridegroom. This points to an overconfident attitude. An attitude that often yields to a common deception; that we can respond when WE choose and not as HE chooses.

¹⁷Until the day break and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

• She asks her beloved to “Flee Away until the Day Break”. The maiden didn’t respond to Solomon but thought that she could call to him later. Poor foolish bride! And poor foolish Christian if we think we can determine the time of our response.

• The Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man (Ps.103:9). You’re have heard it said, “It’s never too late to serve God.” that’s partly true. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance,” but THE OPPORTUNITIES are not (Ro.11:29).

http://youtu.be/CvIxwc90BEI

 

(To be continued…)

The Believer’s Walk as Revealed in the Song of Solomon – Chapter 1

This book was written by Solomon to recount his love relationship and marriage to a lovely young Shulamite maiden. It is also a portrait of God’s relationship with Israel. The Song of Solomon is cherished as a guide and an inspiration for the Bride of Christ, the Church, and her relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and seeks to lead the believer toward a closer and more OBEDIENT walk with the Lord. The Song of Solomon became one of the five scrolls of the third part of the Hebrew Bible, each of which was read publicly at one of the annual Jewish Feasts. This one was assigned to be read at the PASSOVER. Passover also marks the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land.

The Proof of DESIRE is in PURSUIT

Climbing the Mountain of Faith

¹The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

By divine record we are informed that King Solomon wrote 1005 songs (I Kings 4:32). However, he entitled this story “The Song of songs”. Just as the inner sanctuary of the temple was the Holy of holies and Christ is King of kings, so this book is indeed “The Song of songs”.

• The story begins with Solomon’s bride speaking.

²Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

The bride’s intense longing is expressed as desiring “The Kisses of His Mouth”. We are all familiar with the kisses on the cheek. Even so, our longing will increase from seeking mere kisses on the cheek, occasional blessings, to pursuing a closer and more intimate relationship with Christ through His Word.

The bride says that His great love is “Better Than Wine”. Many times in Scripture wine represents the joys of the world. Once we have tasted of the kisses of His mouth, the meat of the Word, how far better is the love of God than all the pleasures of the world.

³because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

The virgins love the king because “Thy Name Is As Ointment Poured Forth”. His name has not been kept as bottled ointment but rather as ointment poured forth upon His people who now find new identity and power through the name of Jesus.

⁴Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

The bride says to the king “Draw Me”. As we serve the Lord, we become increasingly aware of the fact that “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Mt.26:41. We not only need to desire Him, but we need to be drawn.

How do the virgins respond? “We Will Run After Thee”. The king takes his running bride “Into His Chambers”. When the king brings us into his chambers, we have entered into the secret place of the Most High, Psalm 91:1.

⁵I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. ⁶Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

The maiden had attended to other vineyards: job, ministry, and etc, but what vineyard had she left unkept? “Her Own Vineyard”; represented by the disregard for her complexion. If we are successful in all other areas of life, but neglect to attend to THE WORD, the source of our spiritual complexion, we have failed to keep the most important vineyard of all. Our vineyard can bring forth much fruit by abiding in the vine, THE WORD, John 15:5-7.

The maiden stated in v5 that “I Am Black”. She recognized that she did not have her own beauty, but through the love of the king she could declare to others “O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem” that she was lovely. The tents of Kedar were dark in appearance but the curtains of Solomon were delicate fine linen.

The closer we draw to the Lord the more conscious we become that we are arrayed in fine linen and made to be glorious, Eph.5:27. In Rev.19:7-8, the Bride of Christ, at the marriage supper of the Lamb, will be wearing “Fine Linen, Clean and White”.

⁷Tell me, O thou whom my soul loves, where thou feeds, where thou makes thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of thy companions?

The maiden ask the bridegroom to tell her “Where Do You Graze Your Flock and Where Do You Rest Your Sheep at Noonday?” The maiden specifically requested the place of the noonday feeding. When the ancient shepherds in the east fed their flocks, they took them to the grassy riverbeds and springs when the heat of the noonday came. Therefore, the richest food was to be eaten at noon. We should covet earnestly the finest possible spiritual food, I Cor.12:31.

As lovers of God’s Word we should be in earnest pursuit of the rich grasses of the noonday feeding. For the shepherds of the east it was a difficult journey down the steep mountainside to the cool river valley. Likewise, to feed delicately on spiritual things may require extra labor to obtain the rich valley grass necessary to continue the inner chamber relationship with the Lord.

The maiden ask the bridegroom “Why Should I Be Like One Who Wanders Beside the Flock Of Thy Companions?” Why should the church be like one who wanders outside the blessings of God – the rich grasses of the noonday feeding?

⁸If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

Solomon calls her “O Thou Fairest Among Women”. In Deu.32:10; Ps.17:8, God’s people are called “The Apple Of His Eye”, an old English expression referring to the pupil of the eye. The phrase is used symbolically of something cherished, precious, and protected.

The king tells the maiden to “Go Thy Way Forth By The Footsteps Of The Flock”. The footsteps of the flock refer to the pathway trodden by other saints who have also chosen to pick up the Cross and follow Him.

⁹I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

To what are we compared? “A Company Of Horses In Pharaoh’s Chariots”. The horses of Pharaoh were reputed to be the best in the world. Along with their great beauty, they were strong, swift and courageous in battle!

¹¹We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

“WE” speaks of the trinity of God. “Borders Of Gold With Studs Of Silver” refer to the crown being prepared for us that we will receive when in the eternal presence of God.

¹²While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth the smell thereof.

The maiden perceives that the king could smell “Her Spikenard”. Spikenard was a very costly ointment that was extremely fragrant. It was a plant not native to Israel but imported at great expense. At His great expense, the Lord has planted the Christ life within that makes us lovely and fragrant with a savor far beyond any earthly plant.

¹³A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

The maiden says that her beloved is to her “A Bundle Of Myrrh”. Myrrh was a highly fragrant and costly spice imported to Israel. At great cost, our Savior was imported from afar and is highly fragrant to all who know Him. Myrrh was used to deaden pain, as walking with the Lord comforts us through the heartaches of this life. Myrrh was very bitter to the taste and refers to the cross we must bear as we serve Him, Mt. 10:38. Myrrh was used medicinally and was a cure for many ailments as our great Physician is health and healing to all who believe in Him.

To those who experience these various aspects of the Lord’s character, He is truly a bundle of myrrh; The Balm of Gilead; The Bread of Life; The Lamb of God, Jer.8:22; Gen.37:24-26; Gal.3:13; Is.53:5.

¹⁵Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.

Hearing her loving evaluation, the king responds wholeheartedly and says of her eyes “Thou Hast Doves’ Eyes”. Eyes are the window of the soul and have always been recognized as the place where character can be seen. The dove is the emblem of simplicity, innocency, and fidelity. We have been washed in the blood of Jesus and made to be innocent and pure like the dove.

¹⁷The beams of our house are cedar and our rafters of fir.

Solomon’s bride refers to the beautiful and strong wood to build their home together. When we are living close to the Lord, we too are building a strong and lovely home for His habitation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whjZTug_O-Y

(To be continued…)