Song of Solomon 2 UNITED IN LOVE The beautiful Shulamite woman who was as “black as the tents of Kedar,” now sees herself through the eyes of her Beloved. That is the wonder of divine grace, so that she can say without arrogance and pride, but in truthful humility, she is now known to Him as “the rose of Sharon” who has unique beauty and fragrance that is not seen in any other combination but in a rose. The rose has a beauty of its own and a fragrance that is suited to its color.
Not only does she appear as the rose of Sharon, but as a lily of the valley of quiet beauty among thorns, not a flower of garrulous color in the city that preens itself among the painted women who live there. True, there are thorns in the valley as a result of the curse that sin brought, but in the same place there is the delicate beauty of the lily that stands out and claims the attention of her Beloved One.
To the bride the Beloved is beyond all others. No one compares to Him. The fragrant blossoms of the apple tree bring abundance of fruit to give satisfaction and pleasure. Seldom does an apple tree grow in a forest, but this One stands out among all the other impressive, but fruitless trees that seem so majestic and yet have no taste to pass on to bless the appetite of the one who sits in its shade.
She delights in giving Him pleasure as He sees her, and He delights in providing a place of shade and comfort with Him from the heat of the day that burns around her. She finds delight in giving Him the sweet tastes of her true love and in finding from Him the assurance of His protection and the great bounty of His full banquet that is spread at His house. In that place of sharing the joys of divine fullness, there is an unlimited supply of the grace needed to live in and ungodly world. There is security under the unfurled banner of love that declares to all that this bride-to-be is His loved one.
The banner of love provides the place of the perfect rest that unfeigned faith gives. The banner doesn’t only give a public testimony of the love of Christ for the church, and our security under His protective strength, but it gives warning to those who would impose themselves in falsehood on the church, either universally or locally, that they have no part in this holy unity.
There is full sustenance in the provision of the Beloved for His lover to satisfy, strengthen and give her the joy of every need being supplied. The farther we go in partaking of the full provisions of our Lord to meet our need, the more we realize is there for our taking. It is in times like these that we are overwhelmed with the love of our Lord for us, and we become “faint with love.” Rather than be satisfied, our appetite is stirred and we find our thoughts being brought into captivity; our desire to be obedient to Him becomes very important to us; our guidance by Him is our earnest anticipation.
In such holy and meaningful times, we do not want anything to distract us or disturb the joy and fellowship we have with our Lord. In marital joys, we find such intimacy with our loved one to be of great significance, and we remember such times as high places of real and deep love being expressed. Memories of blessed fellowship and unrestrained joy, filled the mind and heart of both the lover and the Beloved. Now He comes toward her and she hears His voice before she sees Him. Mountains, hills and walls are between them, but are no obstacle to Him. His voice is unmistakable.
He is coming! He is on his way to get His bride! Nothing will keep them apart when that time comes! His promised coming will happen! We have foreshadowing of His promised return even before our Lord Jesus went back to heaven. He saw and talked with Mary, with Peter and with James. He walked and talked with two on the Emmaus road, opening the scriptures to them as they journeyed into joy. He met with His own briefly on the first day of two successive weeks, and he met with the disciples in Galilee, and with over five hundred believers at one time. Even as He left for heaven from the Mount of Olives, He wanted to be with His blood-bought people. It is no different today as we gather together unto Him.
Yet a greater and more glorious coming is ahead when He calls His bride to be with Him. The cold winter of unbelief and trials will be past. The rains bringing the promises of His coming, like a bow in the sky, will be past and the real Beloved will be seen, “whom having not seen, we love.” The promise will be fulfilled. A new day of glory is ahead. We see the “flowers” of promise now. We hear the voice of the “dove” from time to time as we hear good news from far and hidden places telling of the glories of His grace bringing hope and blessing to the lost. People who were dead are now alive and have abundant life. There is even evidence that the “fig tree” (Israel) is starting to grow and a new age for His chosen earthly people is not far ahead.
The true bride of Christ longs to see Him and to hear His voice. He hears her voice in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” He hears her voice in public and private prayer. He hears her voice in audible and silent worship. He gets from her “The fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” The problem of the “little foxes that spoil the vine,” are still a hindrance. Things that may seem small at the moment, can have a very adverse effect on that which maintains fellowship with the Lord Jesus, both in public and private.
The love of the Beloved Shepherd is far greater than that of the lover, but still, He is her life and she is His. He bought her with His blood. He is the Shepherd of her heart; the Lord of her life; the Friend of her soul; the Mediator of the covenant of love between them. The mountains of Bether (separation) will not stop our Beloved, Lord Jesus Christ, when He comes to receive His own.
Today the true church waits and longs for His coming. We keep our eyes toward the promise of His coming, our hearts cleansed from sin that would make us ashamed before Him at His coming. We keep our hands full in His service so that we will be able to present to Him the results of “occupying till He comes,” with those spiritual gifts that have been given to us to use for Him. Our thoughts and ambitions are to those things that we can do “as unto the Lord,” knowing that our loyalty to Him will bring the fruits of grace that He enjoys.
It will be similar to the rapture of the church to our heavenly Bridegroom, when the nation of Israel is gathered to the King who sits on the throne of David. Two lovers who have been apart find their reunion a very special time of joy and celebration when they are able to say, “I am yours.” Times of separation can be difficult – even cold and dark. But at the return of the one who is loved above all others, that reunion is of special blessing and deeper joy than if the separation had never taken place.