Read Song of Songs 8:1–4
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the bride wish about the Bridegroom (Song of Songs 8:1a–b)? For what circumstance (verse 1c)? To be able to do what (verse 1d)? Without what (verse 1e)? Where would she bring Him (Song of Songs 8:2a–b)? What had happened there (verse 2c)? What would she make Him to drink (verse 2d–e)? How would He support her (Song of Songs 8:3a) and hold her (verse 3b)? Whom does she address in Song of Songs 8:4a? Not to do what to what (verse 4b)? For how long (verse 4c)?
What does the bride desire most? Song of Songs 8:1–4 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that what the bride desires most is more of the pleasure of the Bridegroom.
The bride has “taken the words out of His mouth” (Song of Songs 7:9), and made a welcome to Him (Song of Songs 7:10–11) to enjoy the first signs (Song of Songs 7:12) of the fruits that are produced (Song of Songs 7:13) from the lives of sleepers (Song of Songs 7:9).
Now, she expresses her desire to be more openly approved, more plentiful, more dependent, and more undisturbed in her pouring out of love to Him.
More openly approved. He has called her His sister (cf. Song of Songs 4:9, Song of Songs 4:10, Song of Songs 4:12), and Scripture describes Him as our elder Brother (Song of Songs 8:1a, cf. Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11–12). Additionally, He and the saints are children of the same mother (cf. Revelation 12:1–5, Revelation 12:17). There is even a sense in which they were, indeed, nourished by that mother (Song of Songs 8:1b).
In their culture, brothers and sisters could show affection in public, but it was frowned upon for a husband and wife. The bride is desiring that the day would come, when open affection between Bridegroom and bride would be universally approved. We ought to desire, and pray, and labor for reformation!
And, we ought to be longing for the perfect and permanent reformation that comes at last. That day is coming, dear Christian! Don’t you long for it? The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” (cf. Revelation 22:17).
More plentiful. In their reunion from her first backsliding, she had expressed a desire to bring Him to the house of her mother (Song of Songs 8:2a–b, cf. Song of Songs 3:4), and now she says it again, using His own language—the spiced wine recalling the mixed/strong wine from Song of Songs 7:2, and the pomegranate recalling Song of Songs 4:3, Song of Songs 6:7. The pomegranate (Song of Songs 8:2e), its blush color indicating modesty, and flushing with pleasure, has thus far appeared behind her veil. Now, she desires His fellowship in the assembly of the church, where the instructional ministry of the church (verse 2c) increases the welcome and refreshment of the wine (verse 2d).
It is the church’s desire to be employed by Christ for the instruction of believers, increasing their delight in being the objects of His affection. This is like the wine of refreshment and gladness, celebration and fellowship, to Him. The bride longs to refresh the Bridegroom with more instructed, more sanctified, more delighted saints.
More dependent. Although she is producing life for Him (cf. Song of Songs 7:11–12), and bearing fruit for Him (cf. Song of Songs 7:13), unto His enjoyment of the juice and wine of that fruit (cf. Song of Songs 8:2), she wants to testify that it is really He, Who does all the heavy lifting. Song of Songs 8:3 is quoting all the way back from Song of Songs 2:6, where she had fainted from His overwhelming love (cf. Song of Songs 2:5). Now, even though she is serving Him with life and vigor, He is still bearing her up in His arms (Song of Songs 8:3). In all of her love and service to Him, she continues to be sustained by Him. Such is the sweet experience of the church and the Christian—not only to serve the Lord, but to do so in entire dependence upon Him. Thus, the believer’s service to Christ produces gratitude, where the flesh would have produced a sense of accomplishment and pride.
More undisturbed. As He sustains her (Song of Songs 8:3), so that she can please Him with the final product of her ministry to the saints (Song of Songs 8:2), she now charges those saints not to disrupt this. The picture is of the Bridegroom and the bride in a loving embrace, and how hateful toward both of them it would be to disrupt them. But this is exactly what they do, who hinder the faithful preaching, teaching, and shepherding of the church—whether by diluting or altering the theology, or by deemphasizing the teaching, or distracting from the Lord’s ordinances by the ideas of men. Don’t disrupt the Lord’s delight in shepherding His church by His means!
What part does reformation have in your prayers and efforts? How does Jesus’s pleasure in the teaching ministry of the church affect your participation in it? When you serve the Lord fruitfully, do you find more of a feeling of achievement, or gratitude? How do you participate in sustaining and advancing the reformation and revival of the church? How are you in danger of disturbing or hindering it?
Sample prayer: Lord, how we rejoice to be assembled with Your church, in the house of our mother. Come, and delight in the spiced wine of our pleasure in Your instruction. Sustain us, with Your left hand under our head, and Your right hand embracing us. And do not let Your love for us be disturbed until You have accomplished all Your holy will for our worship, through Your grace, which we ask in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP22C “I’ll Praise You in the Gathering” or TPH95A “O Come Before the LORD, Our King”
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