Read Song of Songs 2:3–7
Questions from the Scripture text: To what does the bride compare the Beloved (v3a)? Among what else? Among whom is He (v3b)? Where did she sit down (v3c)? With what experience? What did He provide her (v3d)? How did she find it (v3d)? Where did He bring her (v4a)? What did He fly over her (v4b)? What two things does she ask the daughters of Jerusalem to do (v5a–b)? With what two items? Why (v5c)? Whom does she find sustaining her in what way (v6)? Whom does she charge (v7a)? By what (v7b)? Not to what (v7c)? Until when (v7d)?
What can steady us under the overwhelming love of Christ? Song of Songs 2:3–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ Himself sustains believers in the overwhelming experience of His love.
As in 1:16–17, the bride once again commends her Beloved, both in Himself (“Like an apple tree,” v3a) and in her experience of Him (“in His shade with great delight,” v3c … and “His fruit was sweet to my taste,” v3d).
And just as, before, the scene changed from His pasture (1:7–8) to His table (v12); so, here also, it changes from under the apple tree (v3) to His house of wine (v4, more literally translated). He is her shade, her protection from the scorching sun of her own sin and guilt (v3c). And, while under His protection, she finds Him dropping sweet fruit (v3d). He Himself (“He brought me,” v4a) is how she came under His protection and provision. And, He brought her by display of His love. She knows where she belongs, because she is His beloved, and He flew that flag to summon her there (v4b).
This love is literally overwhelming. In v5, she needs reviving. The plural verbs indicate that she is asking the daughters of Jerusalem, but the raisin cakes (v5a) come from the same place as the house of wine, and the apples (v5b) come from the apple tree. In other words, as she faints from the immensity of His love (5c), she asks the church to revive and refresh her with that which comes from the Beloved.
The wonderful thing about having the church revive you with the fruit of Christ is that you find that it is Christ Himself Who is reviving you. This is her realization in v6. She is not merely sustained by that which is of Christ; she is sustained by Christ Himself. His own left hand under her head (v6a), His own right hand embracing her (v6b). Isn’t this a wonderful realization, dear Christian? When you are overwhelmed by the experience of His love, and He steadies you under it with the sound theology of Who He is and what He has done, it is He Himself, Who is upholding you. As she comes-to from her swoon, she finds herself in the arms of Him Who caught her. What a beautiful image for when our spiritual emotions are fortified by sound doctrine in the church!
And genuine experience of His true, spiritual love comes only from Him, in His way. If we try to stir it up, or awaken it ourselves (v7c), it is like the gazelle or doe of the field (v7b), it runs away before we have begun to lay hold of it. It can only come on its own, proper, terms (v7d; the feminine verb indicates that it is love itself which is pleased to do the stirring up). Genuine experience of Christ’s true love does not come by our stirring it up, but from Him, by His Word, by which also He steadies and strengthens us under it.
Believers are steadied in the overwhelming love of Christ by the theological reality of their union with Him.
When have you been overwhelmed by Christ’s love? By what sturdy doctrines has He held you up under that love?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for making us to know Your reviving, sweet love. Uphold us by Your grace, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP45AB “My Heart Is Greatly Stirred” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”
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