Read Song of Songs 1:2–7
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the bride ask “Him” to do (v2a)? Why (v2b)? To what does she compare His Name (v3a–b)? Who do what (v3c)? What does she ask the King to do (v4a)? What will she (and the virgins) do (v4b)? How, and how quickly, is this request answered (v4c)? What do the bride and her virgins do with the King in His chambers (v4d–e)? What is the bride’s assessment of this (v4f)? Whom does the bride now address (v5b)? What does she note about herself (v5a)? To what does she compare herself (v5c–d)? What does she urge them not to focus on (v6a)? How did this occur (v6b)? Who had instigated this (v6c)? By doing what (v6d)? What did she fail to do as a result (v6e)? Whom does the bride address again in v7a? What does she wish Him to do? What does He do in that place (v7b–c)? What does she want to be careful not to be (v7d–e)?
What does the Bride of Christ desire? Song of Songs 1:2–7 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Bride of Christ desires that His love would take the initiative in stirring up her love to Him.
In these six verses, the Bride makes the first speech in the Song, addressing the King in v2–4, the daughters of Jerusalem in v5–6, and the King again in v7. She expresses her desire (v2–4), then cautions others with what has occasioned the need for it (v5–6), before detailing the specifics of her request (v7).
The Bride begins the Song from the perspective of already being joined to the King, as she not only asks to be kissed (v2a), but is brought into His chambers (v4c). She is not, however, speaking from her state of glory, for she has defects (v5–6) that must be addressed via the means of grace (v7).
Her great desire is to experience the special expression of His love. This is what the kiss (v2a) indicates, as it is immediately equated with His love (v2b). The comparison to wine gives both the excellence of that experience, and some of the benefits that are so excellent. Like wine, the expressions of His love gladden, strengthen, and comfort His people. Just as these are communicated by the use of wine at the Lord’s Table, directing our souls to Christ Himself as the supreme Source of all of these, so she makes that comparison now in the Song. She expresses the sweetness of knowing His communication of Himself (His “Name,” v3b), comparing it to fragrant oil. When once those who love Him begin to remember His communication of Himself, it fills the room of their life with pleasure that infuses everything.
There are three groups within the church that are considered in the Bride’s speech: the virgins (whose affections and devotions are not spoiled upon the world, but purely directed toward Him); the daughters of Jerusalem (church members, who need correction and direction; cf. 2:7, 3:5, 5:8, 8:4); and, the “sons of my mother.” The Bride notes that these excellencies of Christ (v2b–3b) move the pure-hearted in the church to love of Christ (v3c).
The Bride addresses the King in v4, both for herself and in behalf of the virgins within her. She makes her second request, and in both she asks that He would initiate: “Let Him kiss me…” and “Draw me.” Just as the Lord Jesus teaches (Jn 6:44), the Bride does not have it in her to run after Him from herself; she is dependent upon His drawing her. The request to be drawn (v4a), and the desire to run after Him (v4b), is immediately answered (v4c). Such is the way of the sovereign God with His praying people (cf. Is 65:24). Their running after Him (v4b) results in rejoicing (v4d) and remembering (v4e). How effective is His drawing! Love for Him will never be put to shame; He is worthy of it, and always proves Himself worthy of it (v4f).
So the Bride has made her initial appeal to Him, together with those pure-hearted members of the Bride styled “the virgins.” But there are others in the church, including the “daughters of Jerusalem”—those yet in need of instruction. As perfect as the King is, His Bride yet has defects. And while the virgins, rightly, love Him, there is a danger that the immature will be discouraged or made to stumble by the imperfections in the church. This is a perennial problem in the church, still, today.
So, the Bride admits her darkness (v5a), that stain that has resulted from being looked upon by the sun (v6b), when she permitted her attention to be diverted from the maintaining of her own fruitfulness unto the Lord (v6e), and unto other occupations instead (v6d). But, she asserts that she does have some loveliness (v5a), and urges that the daughters of Jerusalem do not make her darkness the object of their consideration of her (v6a). Those who focus upon the blemishes of the church are focusing upon the wrong thing. Just as those who would focus on the fact that the wealthy nomads of Kedar live in a tent, or those who would focus upon the curtains of Solomon rather than the glory that is behind those curtains, so also is the one who focuses upon the blemishes of the church rather than the glory that is within her. Jesus rejoices over the field for the sake of the treasure that is in her (cf. Mt 13:44), but too many despise the faults in the field, and thus disregard that which Christ treasures.
Note that the occasion of these blemishes in the church is yet another group of church members. We have seen the single-hearted virgins (v3c), and the still-immature daughters of Jerusalem (v5b). But it was the “mother’s sons” (v6c) who had occasioned the blemishes that the Bride here bemoans. The greater trial for the faithful in the church is not those who are outside, but those worldly ones within the church who despise true piety (v6c). Their worldliness is a most subtle persecution, pressuring the godly into the keeping of other vineyards; and, the Bride gives the sad confession that, under that pressure, in focusing upon worldly things, she has failed to focus upon her fruitfulness unto the Lord.
It is precisely because she has been lax toward Him that the Bride needs the King to kiss her and to draw her. Now, she turns her attention toward Him Whom her soul loves (v7a), for He is not only King but Shepherd, and she is not only Bride but flock. He does this kissing and this drawing by way of feeding a flock (v7b). Even at the scorching heat of noon (v7c, cf. v6b), His shepherding gives them rest. There are those who profess to be companion-shepherds, and the church is ever-plagued with false pastors and preachers. What the bride needs is not the ideas and techniques of man, but Christ’s own means of Christ’s own grace—particularly, the Word, sacraments, and prayer. It is in these that He kisses the Bride, draws her after Him, brings her into His chambers, and pastures her. True longing for Him has its proper form in a desire to be fed by Him from His Word.
What, in your life, diverts attention and desire from the Lord Himself, in the means of His grace? Whose initiative can overcome this? By what means does He give you to seek it? In what ways have you been focusing on what is wrong with the church, rather than the loveliness that Christ has given her?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for making us to know the expressions of Your love, and for drawing us to run after You. Thank You for feeding us and giving us rest. Grant that we would be glad and rejoice in You, meditating upon Your love and living in response to it, we ask in Your Name, Lord Jesus, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP23B “The LORD’s My Shepherd” or TPH471 “The Sands of Time Are Sinking”
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