Read Song of Songs 1:2–7
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the bride ask “Him” to do (Song of Songs 1:2a)? Why (verse 2b)? To what does she compare His Name (Song of Songs 1:3a–b)? Who do what (verse 3c)? What does she ask the King to do (Song of Songs 1:4a)? What will she (and the virgins) do (verse 4b)? How, and how quickly, is this request answered (verse 4c)? What do the bride and her virgins do with the King in His chambers (verse 4d–e)? What is the bride’s assessment of this (verse 4f)? Whom does the bride now address (Song of Songs 1:5b)? What does she note about herself (verse 5a)? To what does she compare herself (verse 5c–d)? What does she urge them not to focus on (Song of Songs 1:6a)? How did this occur (verse 6b)? Who had instigated this (verse 6c)? By doing what (verse 6d)? What did she fail to do as a result (verse 6e)? Whom does the bride address again in Song of Songs 1:7a? What does she wish Him to do? What does He do in that place (verse 7b–c)? What does she want to be careful not to be (verse 7d–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 Song of Songs 1:2-4, the daughters of Jerusalem in Song of Songs 1:5-6, and the King again in Song of Songs 1:7. She expresses her desire (Song of Songs 1:2-4), then cautions others with what has occasioned the need for it (Song of Songs 1:5-6), before detailing the specifics of her request (Song of Songs 1:7).
The Bride begins the Song from the perspective of already being joined to the King, as she not only asks to be kissed (Song of Songs 1:2a), but is brought into His chambers (Song of Songs 1:4c). She is not, however, speaking from her state of glory, for she has defects (Song of Songs 1:5-6) that must be addressed via the means of grace (Song of Songs 1:7).
Her great desire is to experience the special expression of His love. This is what the kiss (Song of Songs 1:2a) indicates, as it is immediately equated with His love (verse 2b). 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,” Song of Songs 1:3b), 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. Song of Songs 2:7, Song of Songs 3:5, Song of Songs 5:8, Song of Songs 8:4); and, the “sons of my mother.” The Bride notes that these excellencies of Christ (Song of Songs 1:2-3b) move the pure-hearted in the church to love of Christ (Song of Songs 1:3c).
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 (John 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 (Song of Songs 1:4a), and the desire to run after Him (verse 4b), is immediately answered (verse 4c). Such is the way of the sovereign God with His praying people (cf. Isaiah 65:24). Their running after Him (Song of Songs 1:4b) results in rejoicing (verse 4d) and remembering (verse 4e). 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 (verse 4f).
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 (Song of Songs 1:5a), that stain that has resulted from being looked upon by the sun (Song of Songs 1:6b), when she permitted her attention to be diverted from the maintaining of her own fruitfulness unto the Lord (verse 6e), and unto other occupations instead (verse 6d). But, she asserts that she does have some loveliness (Song of Songs 1:5a), and urges that the daughters of Jerusalem do not make her darkness the object of their consideration of her (Song of Songs 1:6a). 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. Matthew 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 (Song of Songs 1:3c), and the still-immature daughters of Jerusalem (Song of Songs 1:5b). But it was the “mother’s sons” (Song of Songs 1:6c) 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 (verse 6c). 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 (Song of Songs 1:7a), 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 (verse 7b). Even at the scorching heat of noon (verse 7c, cf. Song of Songs 1:6b), 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"
No comments:
Post a Comment