| OUT OF THE WILDERNESS |
|---|
| Friends 5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Beloved Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you. 6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol.* Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD.† 7 Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. |
| Song 8:5 who is this – these are the saints come up out of the wilderness, meaning that New Jerusalem will now be visible to all again, “a great mountain burning with fire” (Rev 8:8). leaning upon her beloved – the true Bride is in the bosom of Christ; those who keep His commandments abide in His love (John 15:10). under the apple tree I aroused you – with the outpouring of the holy spirit, “after two days He will revive us” (Hos 6:2). Song 8:6 set me as a seal on your heart – the end time saints will be sealed by the holy spirit (Rev 7:3). a very flame of Yihvah – literally “a flame of Yah,” that is used by different translators to describe either the love or jealousy of God. The saints will be sealed by fire, the spirit of God. God is jealous for His Church (2 Cor 11:2). Song 8:7 many waters cannot quench love – it is the love of Christ that compels the saints (2 Cor 5:14-15). |
| Brothers 8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. |
| Song 8:8 she has no breasts – describing the false Church without the milk of the Word, the truth, with which to nourish the saints – mystery Babylon, the Great Harlot (Rev 17:5). Song 8:9 we will enclose her – describing the Woman of Babylon, in Zech 5:7-8, who is shut in by a lead covering by the saints. |
| Beloved 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels‡ of silver for its fruit. 12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover 13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Beloved 14 Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices! |
| Song 8:10 my breasts like towers – the Shulamite is the true bride, the New Jerusalem, who uses the word of God to strike down the Gentiles (Rev 19:15). She has the pure milk of the Word (1 Pet 2:2). I was in His eyes like one who found peace – called “faithful and true” in Rev 19:11. From Zech 6:8, the Rider on the White Horse, followed by the Armies of heaven, is described this way, “see those who go toward the North Country have given rest to My spirit in the North Country.” Song 8:11 he leased out the vineyard to keepers – Jesus described the kingdom of heaven as a vineyard that was leased out to others, in Matt 21:33-46 But, they were unfaithful. The Pharisees would have certainly recognized the connection of Jesus’ message to the Song of Songs. Song 8:12 the thousand are for you – the true bride is “faithful and true” (Rev 19:11). She ensures that the Lord, and all those with her, are repaid for their faithfulness. Song 8:13-14 you who dwell in the gardens – the final words of encouragement for the saints (who dwell in the gardens) and the Lord. |
